Rus
The economy and culture of Rus are rooted in olive growing, olive oil production and textiles. Its proximity to and good road links with Úbeda and Linares mean that trade routes are well established with these municipalities. It has about 3,500 inhabitants.
History
According to various sources, Rus corresponds to the ancient Ruradensis Republic of 202 AD, the time of Emperor Aurelio, although there have been some suggestions of a prior Iberian nucleus on the site. From the Visigoth period, there are two important settlements in the municipal area with two oratories or monasteries: Valdecanales and Cueva de la Veguilla. In addition to these settlements, the discovery of ceramic remains, decontextualized by the territory, point towards a possible population nucleus from this time. More>
Hotels in Rus
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Things to see
Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción
The church was constructed between 1565 and 1576. The building responds to the premises of the Vandelvira School, with a centralised plan, ribbed vaults and flat front which is accessed through a main arch. Its architect introduced mannerist compositional elements, especially on the covers, with an initial Renaissance design. The interior space is divided into three naves, divided in turn into two sections, by means of cylindrical column pillars of the Doric-Tuscan order raised on a square base and a flat presbytery integrated into the central nave. Towards the exterior, three facades are presented. (Location)
Torreón Árabe
From the remains of an old castle-fortress from the eleventh and twelfth centuries, we find the Arabian watch tower. The stone tower, with a perimeter of 12m, has a solid cylindrical structure. It is known that two other towers, now disappeared, were part of the complex. (Location)
Ayuntamiento
The twentieth-century Town Hall has a classicist air, with a door flanked by pilasters, lintelled and fenced openings and, in the upper part, the municipality’s coat of arms. (Location)
Museo Fosforina
The Fosforina Museum is a private collection containing more than 3,000 pieces that document the history of ancient trades. The objective of this museum is to recover and maintain the traditions of local people and learn what life was like for previous generations, both in work and leisure, and for future generations to know where they come from and learn what life was like for their grandparents. (Location)
Casa de Triana
This house represents the typical architecture of the nineteenth century, comprising two facades, basement, body and chamber. The main facade has a central door, four basement windows and two large windows with bars on each side. The adjacent one would have been the accessory entrance for servants and farmers; it had large patios holding the oil mill. (Location)
Auditorio José Manuel Campos “Chinelo”
This outdoor performance space was inaugurated in September 2016. It is composed of a semicircular concrete amphitheatre and a modernist structure on the stage imitating the Visigoth Oratory of Valdecanales. It is structured around a 14m diameter fountain, with changing rooms, toilets and storage under the stands. The open air space is accessible and scenic, and serves to promote culture through concerts, charity festivals and performances. (Location)
Things to see
Oratorio Rupestre de Valdecanales
This sixth- or seventh-century Visigothic Oratory is a monumental complex made up of three caves excavated from a layer of sandstone and protected with granite. It was discovered by Rafael Vañó Silvestre in 1968. The main cave has a monumental facade simulated by a porch in the form of blind arcades with classic horseshoe arches, all carved into the slope of the hill. (Location)
Hipogeo de la Veguilla
This structure dates from the same period as the Oratorio Rupestre de Valdecanales, but is more rustic and simple in style. It is one of the few examples of pre-Islamic Christian religious architecture in Andalusia. Located on the banks of the Guadalimar River, it is usually under the waters of the Giribaile Reservoir. (Location)
Caracoles de Rus
Known as the ‘Snails of Rus’, these huts are made of dry stones extracted from plowing and situated on agricultural land. The huts were used by their owners as refuges, surveillance points or warehouses. Up to 103 huts were found distributed throughout the municipality, the oldest dating back to 1914. (Location)
Countryside Walks
Ruta de los Caracoles
This route is made up of 4 sections: Ruta de Algarrobo Franjana Obispalía (13km), Ruta El Majolón la Isla Cerro Santiago (7.6km), Ruta Los Llanos Viña Cerrá Pozuela (9km) and Ruta La Hoya Pedro Vela Cuatro Caminos (9km).
Natural Areas
Paraje La Lambra
An ideal place to enjoy a day out in the country, with views of the Giribaile Reservoir, Giribaile Caves and Castle, as well as the town of Vilches. The vegetation is typically Mediterranean and includes species such as oak, mastic, broom, olive thyme, asparagus, steppe rockrose, horehound and cuckoo thistle. (Location)
Embalse de Giribaile
The Giribaile reservoir is situated on the Guadalimar River, in the Guadalquivir Basin between La Loma de Úbeda and El Condado. Built between 1993 and 1997, its wall is located on the slopes of La Lambra, and submerges part of the municipalities of Ibros, Vilches, Rus, Canena, Úbeda, Navas de San Juan and Sabiote. The lake known as “Mar de La Loma” is the second largest in Jaén and the third in the Guadalquivir basin, with a capacity of 475 hm³. (Location)
Bus Services
There are various bus services from Rus. (Location)
Gastronomy
To taste the traditional delicacies of the cuisine of Rus, one must try dishes such as guiñapos (rabbit stew, sometimes made with cod), relleno de San Blas (chickpea stew), sobreusa (broad beans), lentejas con chorizo (lentils and chorizo), estofado de patatas (potato stew), sopa de ajo con almejas (garlic and clam soup), conejo con tomate (tomate and rabbit stew), truchas a la serrana (trout) and calabaza frita (fried pumpkin). Sweet treats include arroz con leche (rice pudding), flan con galletas (egg custard and biscuits), tortillas de San Antón (aniseed biscuits) and cuajada (milk pudding).
Festivals
Popular festivals in Rus are San Antón, La Candelaria, San Blas, Real Feria and Fiesta de Mozos.(Location)
Weather Forecast
The weather forecast for the next few days for Rus. (Location)
Tourist Office
The tourist office of Rus is located in the Town Hall. (Location)