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Jaen is a lovely province in Andalucia.
It is also one of the least populated
- the whole of Jaen, 13,498 Km²,
has just 628.000 inhabitants.
The fact that for years it was
one of the least visited province
in Spain owes much to the terrible
roads and communications leading
to this province. But since the
new motorways have been opened,
and local roads improved, more
and more travellers - from Spain
and further afield - are starting
to discover the delights of this
beautiful and singular province.
One of Spain's most important
rivers, the Guadalquivir, crosses
Jaen, adding to its attractive
landscape and fertile lands.
The Cazorla and Segura mountain
ranges are visited by tourists
all year round, attracted by the
area's natural beauty and wealth
of flora and fauna which thrive
in its more remote areas. The
province has four large natural
reserve parks.
The northern part of Jaen province
has the largest plantations of
olive groves in the whole of Spain,
and indeed the production of olive
oil is central to the local economy.
The olives are picked by hand,
and the olive oil produced here
(D.O. Sierra de Segura and
D.O. Sierra Mágina)
has a distinctive aroma and, according
to experts, rank among the best
olive oils in the world.
The province of Jaen was occupied
by Romans during Roman occupation
of Spain, and then by Visigoths
until the Arab invasion at the
beginning of the 8th century.
Once finally reconquered by the
Christians, the influence of Jaen
grew, and in the 16th century
the cities of Baeza and Ubeda
were among the most important
cities of southern Spain. Both
cities still retain contain remnants
of their former glory today, in
their respective old quarters.
Fiestas in Jaen: Holy
Week celebrations in Jaen are famous and people travel from all over Spain to
watch the processions. Other important local include San Antón's Day in
January when people gather round bonfires, eat and dance, Carnaval in February,
Corpus Christi in June and finally Cruces de Mayo, a festival celebrated in many
villages and towns throughout Jaen where people decorate the streets and patios
with altars made of flowers to commemorate the Holy Cross. The City of
Jaen. With just 116,012, Jaen is the least populated capital of all
the provinces in Andalucia. In its old quarter, it conserves some of what must
have been a spectacular city. It is also home to the world's largest collection
of Iberian objects. In the 1970s, a unique collection of sculptures dating from
about 500 BC were discovered nearby and they are now proudly exhibited in the
city's main museum. The Castle of Santa Catalina, built originally during Arab
occupation, presides over the city of Jaen. The city has a thriving university
- one of the oldest in Spain. Jaen does not have its own airport - the nearest
one is at Granada, must 99 km. away. Market days are on Thursdays. History
of Jaen: The name "Jaen" is thought to derive from the old Arab
word describing a place of rest on a caravan route, and indeed the city of Jaen
was perfectly placed to provide a stopping place to armies moving from one main
city to another during Moorish occupation of Spain. What to see in Jaen
city: - Museo Provincial de Bellas Artes: The Provincial Fine
Arts Museum in Jaen has the World's best permanent exhibition of Iberian objects
- Arco
de San Lorenzo: The only remains of the medieval Parish Curch of San Lorenzo
is this arch, Gothic-Mudejar style, which was recently designated a National Monument.
- Castillo
de Santa Catalina: Moor castle which was rebuilt during the Rennaissance
- Cathedral:
Built between the 16th and 18th century.
- Capilla de San Andrés:
16th century chapel. Inside is the chapel dedicated to Inmaculada.
- Iglesia
de la Magdalena: 16th century church
- Monasterio Santa Clara:
12th century monastery, still inhabited by monks. Beautiful cloister. The church
is only open to visitors during hours of worship
- Palacio de Villadompardo:
16th century stately home which houses the Museum of Popular Arts and Customs.
- Arab
Baths: Located in the narrow streets in the old quarter, underneath the Palacio
de Villadompardo, these 11th century baths once belonged to Ali, a Moorish king
of Jaen.
- Royal Monastery of Santo Domingo: Used to be headquarters
of the University of Jaen, this impressive monastery is located within the district
of Magdalena.
 What
to eat in Jaen: Not surprisingly, much of Jaen's local gastronomy uses olive
oil in more generous proportions than most of the rest of Spain. The local dish,
ajilimoje, is made with olive oil, vinager, potatoe and red pepper and is delicious,
spread on thick chunks of freshly-made bread. Another local dish is pipirrana,
salads made from ingredients chopped very finely - a bit like un-puréed
gazpacho). Fresh game is a common dish all over the province, roasted, grilled
or eaten in stews, and local lamb, goat, beef and pork is delicious too. As far
as fruit is concerened, the peaches grown in Alcaudete are famous all over Spain
for their flavour, as are melons grown in Grañera and figs in Quesada.
Where to eat in Jaen: - Restaurants
in Jaen: Casa Antonio, traditional and creative; Asador La Abadía,
traditional dishes with local produce; Casa Vicente, traditional and creative;
Mesones 14, typical Andalusian cuisine.
- Tapas bars in Jaen:
Meson Rio Chico and Bar Nuevo, both in the pedestrian street, Calle Nueva;
El Gorrión near the Cathedral; El Pilar del Arrabalejo in c/Millán
de Priego.
- Restaurants in the Province: Juanito: one of Spain's
classic restaurants and certainly a must for visitors, see the description in
the
best restaurants in Spain.
Hotels in Jaen: Parador of
Jaen**** in the impressive Santa Catalina Castle; Infanta Cristina****comfortable
hotel with spacious rooms.  Hotels
in the Province of Jaen: Nature lovers read our detailed review of the
Parador
in Cazorla. Visitors looking for more rustic rural hotel, try Molino
de La Farraga, also in Cazorla. There is another Parador hotel in
Ubeda. Also worthy of mention, Hotel Puerta de la Luna in Baeza, set
in a 17th-century palace.
Places of interest in the Province of Jaen:  Baeza
(click on link for further information). See also photos
of Baeza.- Ubeda
(click on link for further information). See also photos of Ubeda.
- Cazorla.
Beautiful natural reserve with wild deer, wild boar, buck, mountain goats, mouflon
sheep, and all sorts smaller game and birds.
Districts within the
Province of Jaen: - Sierra Segura: Located in the northeastern
part of the province, this district forms part of the mountain system of the Sierras
de Cazorla, Segura and Las Villas and occupies the northern part of the Nature
Reserve. Mostly Mediterranean flora.
Alto Guadalquivir: Located
in the south-east part of Jaen Province, around the river Guadalquivir. Much of
the district belongs to the Cazorla, Segura Las Villas Natural Park. Trout fishing
is common. - Sierra Magina: Located in the southern part of the province
of Jaen, much of this district has been declared a protected Nature Reserve. Some
of the highest mountain peaks are in this area. Farming is almost exclusively
olive plantations.
- La Loma y Las Villas: Mountainous in the north,
flatter in the south. Historical towns Ubeda
and Baeza
are both found in this district.
- El Condado: Mountains covered
with trees in the north of the Province. Good hunting grounds.
- Norte:
As its name suggests, in the north of the Province of Jaen. The most important
town in this district are Linares and Bailén.
- La Campiña:
In the plains, mostly olive production with some other non-irrigated and irrigated
crops. In the mountain areas, the relief system is made up of the Jabalcuz, la
Grana, Grajales, Los Propios and La Pandera hills. Abundance of small game.
- Jaen:
Olive groves, agriculture, timber industry. Flatter in the center and towards
the north, more mountainous in the south
- Sierra Sur: As it name
suggests, the most southern district which borders with Cordoba and Granada.
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