Baños de la Encina

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Baños de la Encina, Medieval stone castle in Sierra Morena, Spain

The Burgalimar Castle stands on a rocky outcrop with fifteen towers built from clay, sand, and lime mixture called tabiyya.

The fortress was constructed in 968 under the orders of Caliph Al-Hakam II during the Al-Andalus period in Spain.

The Church of San Mateo combines Gothic architecture with pointed arches, Mannerist entrances, and an octagonal tower from different construction periods.

The municipality covers 392 square kilometers at 450 meters elevation, with a population density of 7 inhabitants per square kilometer.

The archaeological site of Peñalosa, a Bronze Age settlement, now rests partially submerged beneath the waters of Rumblar Reservoir.

Location: Jaén Province

Elevation above the sea: 450 m

Part of: distrito notarial de La Carolina, Mancomunidade Intermunicipal del Guadiel, Sierra Morena

Shares border with: Andújar, Bailén, La Carolina, Guarromán, Villanueva de la Reina, Viso del Marqués, Carboneros, Mestanza, San Lorenzo de Calatrava

Website: http://bdelaencina.com

GPS coordinates: 38.16667,-3.76667

Latest update: May 27, 2025 11:42

Hidden sites in Andalusia: troglodyte villages, medieval castles, and natural parks

Andalusia offers many sites away from typical tourist routes. This southern region of Spain is home to ancient troglodyte dwellings in Guadix, mountain villages like Zahara de la Sierra perched around medieval castles, and natural parks such as Cabo de Gata-Níjar extending over 50 kilometers of coast. Geological formations include the red volcanic rocks of Riotinto, a result of 5,000 years of mining, and canyons housing 240 Bronze Age dolmens in Gorafe park. Villages like Setenil de las Bodegas feature unique architecture, with houses built beneath natural rock overhangs shaped by the Trejo River. The Castle of La Calahorra, built in 1509 at an altitude of 1200 meters, combines Spanish fortifications with Italian Renaissance decoration. Further north, Baños de la Encina hosts the Burgalimar Castle dating from 968, surrounded by extensive olive groves. These sites showcase different facets of Andalusian heritage, from prehistoric remains to Moorish inscriptions, in environments ranging from mountains to Mediterranean coastal zones.

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« Baños de la Encina: Medieval stone castle in Sierra Morena, Spain » is provided by Around Us (aroundus.com). Images and texts are derived from Wikimedia project under a Creative Commons license. You are allowed to copy, distribute, and modify copies of this page, under the conditions set by the license, as long as this note is clearly visible.

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