Jaén Province

Jaen province clockwise: Ubeda, Baeza and Jaen © Michelle Chaplow
Jaen province clockwise: Ubeda, Baeza and Jaen

Jaen Province

Jaén is probably best known for its abundance of olive trees which dominate the landscape and punctuate the horizon, interspersed by stark white-washed farms and houses against a deep orange backdrop; the colour of the soil. This province is the world's leading producer of olives and olive oil. Little wonder that it is also the venue for the world's largest trade fair devoted to this quintessentially Mediterranean crop which takes place in Jaén city during the first week of October.

The landscape of Jaén province is expansive, unspoilt and very beautiful. The small towns boast numerous magnificent Renaissance buildings - exuberant palaces, richly endowed churches and stately public squares. Some of the towns and villages worth visiting here include Baeza, Ubeda, Alcalá.

Jaén City, Úbeda, Baeza are the most visited towns and other areas of interest are La Campiña, Área Metropolitana, Sierra Sur, Sierra Morena, La Loma y Las Villas, El Condado, Sierra Mágina, Sierra de Cazorla and Sierra de Segura.

Jaen City

Jaén is a city that every lover of Andalucia should visit, enjoy and spend a good deal of time getting to know. Not only does the city have an ancient and fascinating history, but the castle that towers over its winding streets offers some of the most quintessentially Andalusian views there are to be had.

Areas to Explore in Jaén Province

Areas of Jaén province
Areas of Jaén province

La Campiña de Jaen is the rural area in the north western part of the province consisting of the following municipal districts. Andújar, Arjona, Arjonilla, Cazalilla, Escañuela, Espelúy,… More →

The Area Metropolitana of Jaen consists of the following municipal districts. Fuensanta de Martos, Fuerte del Rey, Higuera de Calatrava, Jaén city, Jamilena, La Guardia de Jaén, Los… More →

Jaén is a city that every lover of Andalucia should visit, enjoy and - if possible - spend a good deal of time getting to know. Not only does the city have an ancient and fascinating history, but… More →

Ubeda (pronounced OO-bay-da), with its wealth of Renaissance palaces and churches, has much in common with its counterpart Baeza. The outstanding feature is the monumental square, the Plaza de… More →

Baeza is a compact provincial town with a kind of perpetual Sunday air. At its heart are the combined Plaza Mayor and paseo which, flanked by pavement cafes, are delightfully low key and… More →

The Sierra de Cazorla comarca or area of Jaen province is the rural area and the large natural park in the north east of the province.

The Sierra Sur comarca or area of Jaen province is the mountain range in the southern part of the province.

The Sierra Morena comarca or area of Jaen province is the mountain range in the northern part of the province. It composed of the mountain range that separates Andalucia with the plains of… More →

The Sierra de Segura comarca or area of Jaen province is the rural area in the far north-east part of the province.

The La Loma and Las Villas comarcas or areas of Jaen province is the rural areas in the centre of the province. The area is best know for the twin renaissance towns of Ubeda and Baeza.

El Condado comarca or area of Jaen province is the rural area in the northern part of the province.

The Sierra Mágina comarca or area of Jaen province is the mountain range in the southern part of the province.

Natural Parks and natural monuments in Jaen Province

The rugged Sierra Mágina Natural Park covers 19,900ha of rocky, steep limestone terrain, with precipitous cliffs and high summits that are often snow-capped in winter. Evocatively named by the… More →

The gently rolling 74,774ha Sierra de Andújar, part of the vast Sierra Morena, is densely wooded and boasts one of Andalucia's best preserved expanses of Mediterranean forest and scrubland.… More →

With a total surface area of 209,920ha and covering almost a fifth of Jaen province, this is Spain's largest protected area and one its most extensive forested zones. Located in eastern Jaen… More →

The Despeñaperros Natural Park is a magnificent sheer-walled rocky river gorge that forms the backdrop of the most dramatic gateway into Andalucia. As the only natural break in the 500km-long… More →

Close to the Andalucia-La Mancha border and the Despeñaperros Natural Park are a series of magnificent waterfalls (cascadas), making a total protected area of 534ha. On the Guarrizas river, the… More →

The Alto Guadalquivir Natural Area comprises three reservoirs (embalses) covering 663ha, which are situated along the upper reaches of the Guadalquivir river. To the east is the largest one, the… More →

This is one of two sites in Andalucia with dinosaur prints. The 24 prints cover an area of sandstone only 20m² on a site near Santisteban del Puerto, northeast of Úbeda. They date from the Late… More →

El Piélago Natural Monument consists of a Roman bridge, the Puente de Vadollano, which spans the Guarrizas river and its granite rock formations. The river has two impressive waterfalls.

Los Órganos Natural Monument is located within the Despeñaperros Natural Park very close to the Andalucia-La Mancha border. It is a spectacular geological feature, with massive layers of vertical… More →

Located on the fringes of the Sierra Mágina Natural Park, this centuries-old woodland of Aleppo pine trees (pinus halepensis) is one of the best preserved of its kind in Andalucia. The trees, aged… More →

This magnificent gall oak, the Quejigo del Amo o del Carbón, is thought to be more than 500 years old. Its name (del Carbón) reflects a common use of gall oaks, to make their wood into charcoal.… More →

Located near the Laguna del Chinche Natural Reserve is the 65ha saltwater Laguna Honda, with an additional 220ha area around the lake shores. It usually dries up in summer, so it's best to visit… More →

Situated just to the north of the Laguna Honda Natural Reserve is this small lake, the 6.5ha Laguna del Chinche, surrounded by olive groves, with an additional 39ha of protected area around the… More →

Just east Ubeda and Beaza lies the Sierras de Cazorla nature park, arguably one of the most beautiful nature parks in the Andalucia.

Many travellers enter Andalucia through another nature park named Despeñaperros. Here the twin carriages NIV motorway are forced to part company to negotiate the narrow gorge aptly named "Gateway to Andalucia" (240 km South of Madrid and 40 km south of Valdepeñas.

Destinations