Baños de la Encina

Baños de la Encina is a municipality in Jaén, situated in the Sierra Morena region. It boasts a series of heritage buildings of great significance as well as a truly remarkable natural environment. It is a settlement whose occupation dates back to the Bronze Age, having been inhabited by Iberians, Romans, and Muslims.

On the one hand, regarding cultural heritage, it is worth mentioning the Church of San Mateo, which possesses an alleged painting attributed to Murillo. At the same time, there are several Hermitages within the municipal area. These include the Cristo del Llano, Virgen de la Encina, Jesús del Camino, and Santa María del Cueto, of which only a small cistern and some parts of its walls remain.

Within the municipal area of Baños de la Encina is the Bronze Age site of Peñalosa. Excavated by the University of Granada, it has been discovered to date back more than 4,000 years and was a significant centre for the extraction of minerals native to the Sierra Morena, such as malachite and azurite.

Above all, the Burgalimar Castle is very well-known. This 10th-century construction, of Umayyad origin, is considered the second oldest fortress in Europe still standing today. It is a truly impressive structure, where events ranging from the birth of Ferdinand III the Holy to its occupation by Napoleonic troops have taken place.

Additionally, Baños de la Encina is renowned for its truly unique natural surroundings. The Rumblar reservoir is truly impressive, a space fed by the river of the same name and a genuine tourist attraction.