Génave
Génave is host to some beautiful views, especially from the Zarracotín watchtower. The town is a pioneer in Spain in the production of organic olive oil, known by the “Oro de Génave” brand. In addition, its extra virgin olive oil has the Sierra de Segura denomination of origin. It has about 600 inhabitants.
HISTORY
Génave’s location at a natural crossroads explains why it has always been a connecting corridor between upper Andalusia and the eastern peninsula. Among other remains of road infrastructure, a section of Roman road from the first and second centuries has been preserved, with an approximate length of about 100m and a width of 3m in which the construction technique shows their workmanship. It is still unknown what role this road would have played in the communication scheme of Roman times between Baetica and Levante, considering the hypothesis that it was the road between Cástulo and Saetabis. A strategic position next to the roads that ran through the Guadalimar and Guadalmena valleys, determined that between the eleventh and thirteenth centuries, before the advance of the Christian armies through La Mancha, the Muslims undertook a systematic program of fortification. There is still a tower in the centre of the current town that served as a refuge, today it is known as La Torre de la Tercia.More>
THINGS TO SEE
Centro de Interpretación del Olivar Ecológico
The Ecological Olive Grove has been the only one existing since the appearance of olive growing in the middle of the twentieth century. This Ecological Olive Grove Interpretation Center tells visitors of its history, in one of the largest protected areas in Europe, the Sierras de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas Natural Park. The itinerary begins in the main building and it is a tour of the culture of the ecological olive grove. From the reception we glimpse an Andalusian patio, where the room documenting the history of the last 10,000 years of olive growing is located. The itinerary continues towards the upper floor. A mural on the ecological olive grove of the Sierra de Segura accompanies us in the background in the Agrosistema del Olivar Hall, which highlights the importance of practicing sustainable agricultural systems, such as organic olive groves.
The next room introduces us to the different uses of the olive grove, which are varied and deeply rooted in Mediterranean culture. Finally, access to the Art and Olive Tree Exhibition Hall, with reproductions of works related to the olive grove and where videos on the olive grove are projected. Located on Avenida de la Estación.
Opening Times:
Visits by appointment only.
[email protected]
Iglesia Parroquial de la Inmaculada Concepción
The construction of the church began in the thirteenth century with Gothic characteristics and in the following centuries most of the building was configured according to the artistic iconography of the Renaissance and the works that finished in the eighteenth century are in the Baroque style. It has a rectangular nave, structured in five sections with arches on semi-pillars. The right side presents four chapels covered with half barrels, and on the left side there is a chapel-niche. The presbytery is accessed through a round arch and is covered with a barrel vault with lunettes. From the outside, the square, Renaissance-style tower stands out, as does its Plateresque façade and entrance portico, of which the Gospel stands out. Located in Plaza de la Constitución.
THINGS TO SEE OUTSIDE THE TOWN
Torre de la Laguna o Zarracotín
The Zarracotín or La Laguna tower sits on a rocky outcrop that dominates much of the surrounding terrain. It is a hybrid construction and remains a rectangular tower measuring 6.25m by 4.40m inside which traces of up to two superimposed rooms can be seen, the upper one resting on beams. Around the tower there are remains of walls and a lot of loose stone that could correspond to the enclosure that surrounded it. Of Christian workmanship, it had to fulfil functions as a watchtower and control of the fields that surround it in moments of frequent hostilities and it appears mentioned in the relation to 1575 that speaks of a tower of the Alventosa located to the north of Génave.
La Torre de la Tercia
It was here in this tower that the taxes paid to the church were collected. Known also as Torreón de la Tercia, the tower is what remains from the Christian castle built between the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries.
NATURAL AREAS
Sierras de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas
With a total surface area of 209,920Ha and covering almost a fifth of Jaén province, this is Spain’s largest protected area and one of its most extensive forested zones. Located in eastern Jaen province, it connects the Sierra Morena and the Subbética mountain ranges. The highest peak in this immense park is Pico Empanada at 2,107m and the entire park is higher than 600m.
Recognising its exceptional ecological importance, it was designated a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 1983 and it was deemed a natural park in 1989. First impressions of the park may consist of barren rocky crests and vast pine forests, but the area’s botanical importance within Andalusia is matched only by the Sierra Nevada, with a fifth of the vascular plants in the Iberian peninsula being found in the Sierra de Cazorla Natural Park. It is also home to 51 species of mammals, 185 birds, 21 reptiles (including an endemic lizard), 12 amphibians, 11 fish and one of the highest number of butterfly species in the Iberian peninsula, with 112 varieties found here.
GASTRONOMY
Visitors to Génave can try traditional dishes such as gachas (savoury porridge), migas (friend breadcrumbs served with pork), andrajos con conejo (rabbit, chicken and vegetable stew), ajoatao (mashed potato), sopa de ajo (garlic soup) and bacalao a la serrana (cod stew). Sweet treats include perrumillas (lard cakes), arroz con leche (rice pudding), suspiros (meringues), flan (set egg custard) and bizcocho de yogurt (yogurt sponge cake).
BUS SERVICE
There are bus services from Génave to Villarrodrigo and Jaén. More>
FESTIVALS
Popular festivals in Génave are San Antón, San Marcos, Día de la Virgen del Campo and Fiestas Patronales en Honor a la Virgen del Campo. More>
WEATHER FORECAST
The weather forecast for the next few days for Génave. More>
TOURIST OFFICE
The tourist office of Génave is located in the Town Hall. More>
NEARBY PLACES
The neighbouring villages to Génave are Puente de Génave, La Puerta de Segura and Torres de Albánchez.