Must-see of Jaén, the inner Andalucía
Are you planning to pay a visit to Andalucía? For sure you have read about Sevilla or Granada. But Andalucía is made of 6 provinces more: Huelva, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Almería…all of them known because of its beaches, or its Andalusia monuments. But there is a hidden one, one province that is located between Córdoba and Granada, that has no beach, and that its monuments are not so well known even for inhabitants (jiennenses). Here is what you must-see of Jaén another place of the inner Andalucía.
what you know about jaén
I was born and raised in Jaén, one of the eight provinces of Andalucia. For me, it is one of the most interesting regions, although through the years it was not very valued by politicians or even inhabitants. If you ask people what they know about things to visit or see in Jaén, probably they will just say olive trees. And it has a reason, because Jaén is the region with the highest number of olive trees in the world. We produce one third of the olive oil that will be consumed in the whole world. That’s why we see Jaén with the proud of the best olive oil, but also with the sadness of hectares and hectares of olive trees, calling it the “ocean of olive trees”
I always say that one of my childhood memories is to travel during the night and see a silver landscape with the light of the moon bathing the leaves of the olive trees. And I love this memory, but also I would love that people, visitors and locals, could understand how amazing this province can be.
Natural Jaén
Maybe you don’t know it but one of the highlights in Jaén is the nature. It is true that our landscape is full of olive trees, but also, it is that we have the larger green extension in Andalucía, with four natural parks, each of them with a high amount of biodiversity to enjoy.
- Sierra Mágina natural park. Here is the heart of our mountains as it has the highest mountain of the province the Maginas Peak (2167m) and a place spotted with little white villages where you can still enjoy the nature and the local life of Jaén.
- Sierra de Despeñaperros natural park. The borderline of Andalucia, it has one of the most amazing locations of the province, the Cimbarra waterfall, the highest one in the province and a magnificent place that attracts a lot of people during the rain season.
- Sierra de Andújar natural park. Personally, it’s a place where I have to go every year. The reason? the animal diversity. This space is full of different birds, some of them are very difficult to see in other places, for example the Spanish imperial eagle. But it is not only the birds, it is also the place for one of the most endangered cats, the iberian lynx, and here you can see it. The mountains, the river, and the general environment make of this park a “must see” in Andalucía.
- Sierra de Cazorla, Segura y las Villas natural park. I have dreamed the moment they call it a national park, although I don’t think this is going to happen. This park is three in one, as you can visit Cazorla, or Segura or las Villas, or everything together. Just to say, here is the wider paramo in Spain. Not the best place to visit in summer, but for sure an amazing one, and much more if you have the opportunity to watch the lammergeier, or bearded vulture, flying around.
Each of these parks will connect you to the real natural side of inner Andalucia, and if you are one of those who loves searching butterflies, plants, or birds, you will have loads of opportunities to “catch” them with your camera.
cultural jaén
But it is not only nature what may attract our visitors. Jaén is rich in culture, not only the moorish culture, also the castilian one. And even from the ancient times of Iberians as Jaén has one of the most unique museums dedicated to this civilization. In the same place you can see a large number of castles or fortresses built by moors, maybe you don’t know it but it is one of the places with the highest number of castles in the world. Many of them were later occupied by christians, and others just fell into oblivion. But you can visit a good number of them, such the Burgalimar castle in Baños de la Encina. Or Alcaudete’s castle, or the amazing fortress of la Mota.
And if we speak about Jaén, also known as the Holy Reign province, we will also talk about a huge christian heritage, like the most brilliant example of Renaissance: the cathedral in Jaén city. And even world heritage places like the cities of Úbeda and Baeza. Not in vain, our province was once the border line between catholics and muslims reigns, with all its pros and cons.
a lot to discover
And if you want to visit one of its villages. You will find not overcrowded places, with a natural and genuine way of life. Full of traditions, beliefs, a marvellous gastronomy with a high influence of the arabs cuisine and an Andalucia that is ready to be discovered. And its location will make it easy to move around and also visit those popular places that you already know.
And why I write about Jaén? Because this is my homeland, and I am a touristic guide. This region is wonderful but very unknown, and I want you to know that in this region are amazing hidden gems, and if you visit them, you will be happy to see something beyond the popular places.