Castillo de Begíjar
The most emblematic monument of the town and an exceptional witness to the historical evolution of the town. The origin of the castle is linked to the Visigoths, although a fortress possibly already existed prior to this time. It was enlarged and restructured by the Arabs and later reformed by the Christians. After the Christian conquest in 1226, Fernando III el Santo handed over the fortress to the Diocese of Jaén in 1251, based in Baeza.
Over the years, the castle fell into disrepair, until, in the sixteenth century, Bishop Fray Diego Deza decided to demolish it and, taking advantage of the materials, build the Palacio Episcopal in the same enclosure. The work was completed by his successor, Bishop Alonso Suárez de la Fuente del Sauce. The tower was saved from the demolition of the castle, as it was the best preserved part. It was restored and converted into a jail for the Bishopric of Jaén, thus stripped of its defensive function. It was later embedded between the adjoining houses and converted into a family residence.
Location
Located on Calle de Paso Castillo.