La Puerta de Segura
La Puerta de Segura is a natural entrance to the Sierra de Segura, along the Guadalimar River, with a promenade and a unique river beach. It has about 2300 inhabitants.
HISTORY
The strategic position of this town, formerly called “Lugar Puerta”, at the natural entrance to the Sierra de Segura, led to the erection of defensive constructions going back to the Islamic period. It has been populated since prehistoric times. The first settlers in the Middle Paleolithic (Musterian) settled on the banks of the Guadalimar River, dedicating themselves to hunting and gathering. In the Copper Age they occupied the Pastor and Reina caves, to which must be added those of Gallo, Carrascaílla, etc., which would continue to be inhabited in the Bronze Age. More>
THINGS TO SEE
Iglesia de San Mateo
The parish church of San Mateo was designed in 1817 by Sebastián de Azcuaga, architect of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando. It was a project that would replace the old medieval temple, overcoming the irregularities of the terrain and considerably expanding its space to respond to the needs of a growing number of parishioners. The church, despite its generous dimensions, was organised based on a single nave, divided into two sections, with a half-barrel vault roof that opens onto transverse arches. The interior structure of the walls, completely rendered, is articulated from attached pilasters without capital or base – which support the entablature with architrave and projecting cornice – and embedded pillars on which semicircular arches with imposts rest. At its feet, the most notable elements are the lowered arch that supports the choir, the semicircular window that provides light and the two circular bodies that correspond to the access staircase to the bell tower and the baptistery. The head, covered by a hemispherical vault, defines the circular layout of the main altar. The main façade, made of stone, consists of a lintel door of notable proportions, with fencing, a quarter panel, pilasters and two smooth corbels. The tower, not very slender and flattened in appearance, was added later. Located in Plaza La Iglesia.
Teatro
The theatre was built at the beginning of the twentieth century in 1928 and is representative of the dominant eclecticism of the time and the peculiarity of its typology and spatial distribution in a circular plan. The façade is structured into two floors: the lower one opens with a semicircular arched door with a trapezoidal key that rests on pilasters and, in the upper body, the central balcony with baluster parapet and double columns stands out. Two pilasters frame the height of the building, which is crowned by a ceramic panel with the date of construction of the building. Located on Calle Juan José Moreno Mira.
Castillo de Bujalamé
During the Middle Ages, La Puerta de Segura fulfilled strategic functions of interest; the Guadalimar was essential on the Levante route. The Muslims valued the importance of the castle, along with the adjacent dam and bridge, for the control of said road. However, the castle deteriorated and its stones were used by its locals for new constructions. Thus, of the medieval fortress, only the remains of an old tower from the outer defensive belt are preserved today. Popularly known as “El Castillo”, it belongs to the Almohad period, dating back to the last third of the eleventh century and the first half of the twelfth century. Declared an Asset of Cultural Interest in 1985. Loacted on Calle Castillo.
Puente
Built in Muslim times, the bridge served as a dam in case of danger, since it was covered with a door, the waters pooled and rose in level, flooding everything and leaving the bridge impassable. The semi-hidden calicanto and the large and irregular medieval masonry are still preserved, but most of the current factory is modern: an extended segmental arch in a half-barrel vault forms its only eye. The bridge and the dam not only testify to the engineering competence of medieval ancestors and serve as a connection between the premodern and the contemporary, but they also mark the urban and environmental morphology of the municipality. Located on Calle de Pablo Iglesias.
THINGS TO SEE OUTSIDE THE TOWN
La Buitrera
This vulture nest, located at 1,245 meters above sea level, is an ideal place to contemplate beautiful panoramic views of the Natural Park. Located 5km southwest of the town, right on the edge of the Cazorla, Segura and Las Villas Natural Park, off the A-317 in the direction of Santiago de la Espada.
Tierras de Tavara
The family business dedicated to the extraction and production of Extra Virgin Olive Oil, belonging to the Sierra de Segura Designation of Origin, the oldest designation in Andalusia. It also has a wide range of activities to market this production process such as guided visits to the mill and tastings to learn to differentiate between the different types of Extra Virgin Olive Oil that are produced here. Located on the A-310, in front of the Hospital de Alta Resolución Sierra de Segura.
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.
Sierra Oruña
Discover this 18.5 km point-to-point trail, generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 5 hours and 25 minutes to complete. This trail is great for hiking, and it is unlikely you will encounter many other people while exploring. This beautiful route begins at the Plaza de Toros in the town of La Puerta de Segura and heads to Los Castellones along the Sierra Oruña. Views, fauna and vegetation are characteristics that can be enjoyed during this tour. There are some very stony sections of the trail, so it is recommended to wear good hiking shoes.
GASTRONOMY
Visitors to La Puerta de Segura can try traditional dishes such as ajo pringue (liver), andrajos (pasta stew, often made with cod or rabbit), gachamiga (savoury porridge), potaje de garbanzos y bacalao (chickpea and cod stew) and moje de habichuelas (broad beans). Sweet treats include roscos fritos (aniseed doughnuts), arroz con leche (rice pudding), tarta de mantequilla (chocolate butter cream) and huevos embarcados (floating islands).
BUS SERVICE
There are bus services from La Puerta de Segura to Albaladejo, Becerril, Benatae, Casa Peones, Cortijo Moralico, Cozar, El Alamillo, El Cruce, Jaén, La Guardia, Llanos del Caudillo, Madrid, Madridejos, Manzanares, Orcera, Puerta del Principe, Puente Genave, Puerto Lapice, Siles, Tembleque, Terrinches, Torre de Juan Abad, Valdepeñas, Villamanrique and Villarta de San Juan. More>
FESTIVALS
Popular festivals in La Puerta de Segura are San Blas, Día de la Cruz, Virgen del Carmen and Feria de San Mateo. More>
WEATHER FOARECAST
The weather forecast for the next few days for La Puerta de Segura. More>
TOURIST OFFICE
The tourist office of La Puerta de Segura is located in the Town Hall. More>
NEARBY PLACES
The neighbouring villages to La Puerta de Segura are Puente de Génave and Orcera.