Beas de Segura
Beas de Segura is situated within the Sierras de Cazorla, Segura y las Villas Natural Park, designated a biosphere reserve by UNESCO. The name comes from the Latin term “Veha”, which means path or way. It was given this name due to the settlement being at the crossroads of three Roman roads that went to the mountains, the east and the county. It has about 5500 inhabitants.
HISTORY
Its first human settlements took place in the Lower Paleolithic period, in the area surrounding the Guadalimar River, where small populations lived in the open air, taking refuge in small caves and supplying themselves with the natural resources offered by the land. Excavations carried out in 1913 and other successive ones in later years have found tools corresponding to the Abbevilliense culture, followed by the Acheulean and reaching the Mousterian, interspersed with the industries of the Clactonian, Tayacian, Levalloisian and Micoquiense already in the Middle Paleolithic era. This makes this settlement one of the oldest in Andalusia. More>
THINGS TO SEE
Monasterio de San José del Salvador e Iglesia
A convent founded by Santa Teresa de Jesús in 1575. This monastery played a fundamental role in the reform undertaken by Teresa de Jesús following the Teresian reformers such as Father Jerónimo Gracián, Ana de Jesús or San Juan de la Cruz, as well as Santa Teresa herself. Declared a Site of Cultural Interest. Located in Plaza de Santa Teresa.
Antigua Casa de la Audiencia
A seventeenth century building with an imposing Renaissance façade topped with a lintel where the town’s coat of arms appears in stone. Currently the tourist office and space dedicated to temporary exhibitions. Located in Plaza de Iglesia.
Casa Palacio de los Sandoval
A manor house from the fifteenth century of one of the great families of Beas de Segura, the Sandovals. On the current façade you can see the old family coat of arms in stone. In addition, the western part of the house ends in a large viewpoint facing the town. It is currently private property, however sometimes its current owner, a cartoonist, is happy to display the large collection of antiques and many works of art inside. Located on Calle de la Villa.
Fortaleza de la Villavieja
Remains of the old Arab fortress of the town. The passage of time, erosion and the construction of houses have caused the almost total loss of the enclosure. There is currently an approved plan for its recovery and enhancement. Located on Calle de la Villa.
Torre del Reloj
A defensive tower belonging to the northern wall of the primitive Fortaleza de la Villavieja, with an escape passage inside and a spiral staircase for access to the upper part. Located on Calle de la Villa.Ermita de la Villa
A chapel built on top of the previous Convent of the Divina Pastora with alms from the town to venerate the image of the patron saint, Virgen de la Paz. Located on Calle de la Villa.
Iglesia Parroquial de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción
The church was built in the eighteenth century but it was burnt down during the War of Independence by French troops, for which reason it had to be rebuilt almost entirely in 1825. Subsequently, it suffered attacks during the Spanish Civil War and its current appearance is from the nineteenth century. Located in Plaza Iglesia.
Centro de Interpretación
The Interpretation Center occupies the property of a convent built in the nineteenth century next to the sanctuary of the patron saint. The building was built on the ruins of the town’s castle, taking advantage of and reusing a large part of the walls. Structured in several rooms, the centre shows visitors what Beas was like in the sixteenth century using aspects such as its history, the different noble families, the castle-fortress, the Order of Santiago and the Commandery. It also reveals in great detail the footprints left in the town by the two great mystical poets: Santa Teresa de Jesús and San Juan de la Cruz. The exhibition has original pieces from the Carmelite Monastery. Located on Calle Villa Sor Consuelo.
Opening Times
Summer, Tuesday-Sunday, 11:00-14:00hrs and 17:00-20:00hrs.
Winter, Wednesday-Sunday, 11:00-14:00hrs and 17:00-20:00hrs.
Price:
General, €3
Over 65 and Children (6-12yrs), €2
Tel: 902 43 04 18
Museo Municipal de Usos y Costumbres de Antaño “Cantero”
As a tribute to the rural world and the trades of yesteryear, the museum brings together hundreds of pieces of great ethnographic value. Divided into several rooms, it serves as a space to understand the way of life of our ancestors, their customs, traditional trades..., dedicating a large part of the space to agriculture and oil, the main base of the economy of the area. The museum’s creation has been possible thanks to the efforts of Cristóbal Cantero, former mayor of the town of Beas, who for years personally has been collecting and inventorying a number of pieces of unforgettable historical value that today he has donated to the City Council to ensure, through its exhibition and interpretation, its conservation for future generations. Located on Calle Manuel Ardoy Romero.
Opening Times:
Thursday and Friday, 17-00-18:00hrs.
Tel: 673 73 20 29.
Museo Municipal de Humor Gráfico “Fernando García Garreta”
On the occasion of the Centenary of the birth of Lorenzo Goñi, at the proposal of Fernando García Garreta, a national graphic comedy award was created in 2011 that bears his name. The success achieved in the editions carried out has provided a large number of drawings that required the creation of a space to exhibit them. At the same time, Fernando Garreta donated complete collections of magazines among which “La Codorniz”, “Hermano Lobo” or “Don José” stand out. Currently, in addition to being a graphic museum, it is a comedy newspaper library and an exhibition centre illustrated by humorists. The space is open to academic acts, especially related to the theme of the centre. Located on Calle de Casas Nuevas.
Opening Times:
Tuesday and Wednesday, 17:00-8:00hrs.
Thursday and Friday, 10:00-14:00hrs.
Saturday, 10:00-13:00hrs.
Tel: 673 73 20 29.
Museo Relicario del Monasterio de San José del Salvador
Located in various convent rooms open to the public, the reliquary-museum brings together a large number of ornaments, relics and pieces of great artistic and historical value. Among them it is worth noting the Book of Professions, which contains almost a dozen autograph signatures of San Juan de la Cruz, or the Chalice. There are several relics that are preserved from Santa Teresa such as the Renaissance Mechelen Bell, dated 1553. In addition, important works of art are exhibited. In the museum we can also see a recreation of the cell of Santa Teresa de Jesús and the convent parlour. Located in Plaza Santa Teresa.
Museo Hermandad San Marcos
A must is to visit the Headquarters of the Brotherhood of San Marcos to learn about the main festival of Beas de Segura, which is held annually in April in honour of the holy evangelist and is closely related to the world of bullfighting. Located on Calle Palomares.
Things to see outside the town
Puente Mocho
A roman bridge next to the Guadalimar River. It was a place of passage for deer and horses, which led to its conversion into the current path of transhumance. Located north west of the town, on the JA-9100.
COUNTRYSIDE WALKS
The area has many hiking routes such as Ruta Cañada Catena-Los Yeguerizos, Cumbre del Peguera, Circular Poyo del Burgo, Ruta Fuente Pinilla and Cueva del Agua.
NATURAL AREAS
Parque de Valparaíso
A natural enclave located on the Valparaíso River which flows into the Beas River. It is the green lung of the town with fountains, streams, large expanses of vegetation and picnic areas. It is made up of a set of dams built after the strong flood of 1955, used today to play “los bolos serranos”, a native sport of the mountains.
GASTRONOMY
Visitors to Beas de Segura can try traditional dishes such as lomo de orza (stuffed pork loin), migas (friend breadcrumbs served with pork), ajoharina (cod stew), ajomatero (liver) and potaje de garbanzos (chickpea stew). Sweet treats include huevos a la nieve (floating islands), flan de huevo (egg custard), natillas (custard), roscos fritos (doughnuts) and carne de membrillo (quince cheese).
BUS SERVICE
There are bus services from Beas de Segura to Madrid, Granada, Sevilla, Almería, Jaén, Ciudad Real, Torreperogil, Málaga, Córdoba, Villacarrillo, Baeza, Alcaraz, Albacete, Úbeda, Valencia and Alicante. More>
FESTIVALS
Popular festivals in Beas de Segura are San Antón, Feria, Fiestas de San Marcos, Fiesta Virgen de la Paz and Fiesta de San Juan. More>
WEATHER FORECAST
The weather forecast for the next few days for Beas de Segrua. More>
TOURIST OFFICE
The tourist office of Beas de Segura is located in the Antigua Casa de la Audiencia. More>
NEARBY PLACES
The neighbouring villages to Beas de Segura are Arroyo del Ojanco and Villanueva del Arzobispo.