Cárcheles

by Saskia Mier

Cárcheles is a small town, ideally situated for engaging in rural tourism. It is composed of three population centres: Cárchel, Carchelejo and Cazalla. In addition to its beautiful natural environment, it boasts historic and artistic architecture which attest to its rich past. It has around 1,300 inhabitants.

HISTORY

The first written documentation of the three nuclei (Carchelejo, Cárchel and Cazalla) dates to the conquest of these lands by the Castilian Kings. Around 1256, Alfonso X "el Sabio" donated the Castle of Cárcheles to the Bishop of Jaén, the ruins of which are located in what we now know as Castillejo. From 1271, a Lordship owned by Don Día Sánchez appears documented, comprising Cárchel and Cazalla, border enclaves that passed through various jurisdictions and owners before returning to the hands of the Bishopric of Jaén. More>

THINGS TO SEE

Iglesia Parroquial de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles
The sixteenth-century church is constructed on the ruins of a previous structure. In 1582, Juan Ruiz Castejo "el Viejo" and his son Juan Ruiz Castejon, natives of Jaén, undertook the construction according to designs by Francisco de Quesada. The contract stipulated a single-nave church, with the chapel separated from the temple and sacristy by an archway. On October 9, 1680, there was a strong earthquake that caused serious damage to the church, which had to be reconstructed gradually throughout the rest of the century. The current neoclassical form of the church is the work of the eighteenth century. The façade, restored in the nineteenth century, presents a simple vertical arrangement and the presbytery, which had already been enlarged in the 1960s, has recently been remodeled by the architect Luis Alonso Salcedo. Located in Plaza de la Constitución.

Iglesia Parroquial de Nuestra Señora de los Remedios
This church sits next to a Visigothic cemetery and on top of another former church. A tombstone appeared in the 1960s, documenting the existence of a Visigothic burial in the area. This tombstone is currently on display in the Visigothic Room of the Provincial Museum of Jaén. Elements of the former church are still visible, and indicate that the previous structure was much larger. Located in Plaza de la Constitución.

Ermita de San Marcos
The former chapel was moved from its location in the mid-1980s. In its stead today are a replacement hermitage and a public square. Of the original structure, only the entrance arch and the small stone belfry, topped with a cross, have been maintained. Located on Calle San Marcos.

THINGS TO SEE OUTSIDE THE TOWN

Convento de Cazalla
In the fifteenth century, an Augustinian Monastery was established in Cazalla, which in 1578 was ascribed to the Order of San Basilio Magno. The convent reached its maximum splendour in the eighteenth century, housing 13 monks, three laymen and eight servants and possessing more than 130 hectares of cultivated land. This convent is closely linked to Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza, who is associated with Seville's Holy Week. Many do not know that the saint in fact originates from Jaén, specifically the Sierra Mágina region. The convent is located southeast of the town.

NATURAL AREAS

Parque de la Fuente
This recreation area is equipped with picnic tables, a water spring and a children's park, ideal for spending an afternoon with family.

COUNTRYSIDE WALKS

For those interested in hiking in the area surrounding Cárcheles, some recommended routes include SL-A 55 (Llano de Palomares), SL-A 56 (Cazalla, Convento y Ruinas del Castellón) and SL-A 57 (El Chaparral).

BUS SERVICE

There is a bus service from Cárcheles to Jaén, Granada, Málaga, Noalejo, Campillo de Arenas, Zaragoza and Punta Arenas. More>

GASTRONOMY

The gastronomy of Cárcheles follows the seasonal rhythm of the land; in spring, the hornazo (pastie) is typical at Easter, as well as roscos fritos (doughnuts) or the Lenten meals, such as encebollado (onion stew), bacalao (cod) and sardinas arenques (herring). In summer, enjoy dishes such as pipirrana (pepper, egg and tomato salad), gazpacho (cold tomato and pepper soup) and membrillo (quince cheese). During the autumn, gachas y bacalao (porridge and cod) is a typical dish for All Saints' Day and, in winter, everything derived from the slaughter of the pig stands out, such as sausages, black pudding and chorizos.

FESTIVALS

Popular festivals in Cárcheles are San Antón, San Antonio, Romería de la Virgen de Cabeza, Fiestas Patronales de la Virgen del Rosario y de San Roque and Fiestas de Moros y Cristianos. More>

WEATHER FORECAST

The weather forecast for the next few days for Cárcheles. More>

TOURIST OFFICE

The tourist office of Cárcheles is located in the Town Hall. More>

NEARBY PLACES

The neighbouring villages to Cárcheles are Noalejo and Pegalajar.