Discover Alcaudete: Castle, Lagoons and Olive Oil

The Castillo-Palacio de Alcaudete was built between the 13th and 14th centuries as part of the defensive belt protecting the western border of the Kingdom of Jaén.

Culture and History

The official sightseeing route through Alcaudete begins at Plaza de Santa María. There, the Iglesia de Santa María la Mayor combines a Gothic structure with three naves and a Renaissance main chapel. In 1931, it was declared a Bien de Interés Cultural.

The Iglesia de San Pedro was designed by the architect Francisco del Castillo and completed in the second half of the 16th century by his associate Juan de la Monja. It was built on the foundations of a former hermitage in the new suburbs that developed as a result of Alcaudete’s strong population growth from the 16th century onwards.

The Convento e Iglesia de Santa Clara was founded on the basis of a papal bull issued in Rome by Pope Alexander VI on 21 September 1499. It has the only complete stone portal in the province of Jaén; the portal is arranged over two levels. The Iglesia de la Encarnación o del Carmen is the only surviving part of the former Encarnación convent, whose foundation dates back to 10 October 1590.

The Castillo de Alcaudete is considered a visitor attraction; its medieval walls illustrate the region’s battles and aristocratic history.

More local pages: Martos, Ribera Alta, Villacarrillo, Lopera, Arbuniel, Cazorla, Pegalajar and Segura De La Sierra.

Routes and Trails

The Ruta de los Miradores is a 15-kilometre route. It begins about one kilometre from Alcaudete town centre and climbs uphill to the Sierra Ahillos. There is a variant for bicycles that goes around the Sierra Ahillos.

The stage of the Camino Mozárabe between Alcaudete and Baena is a 25.4-kilometre pilgrimage route through landscapes of centuries-old olive groves, country lanes, streams and minor roads. Its starting point is at Plaza 28 de Febrero next to Alcaudete Town Hall.

The Sierra Ahíllos – vuelta route offers Mediterranean flora and fauna, springs and viewpoints overlooking the Guadalquivir landscape and the Sierra Nevada. After passing the building intended to house railway workers, the Vía Verde del Aceite connects with signposted cycling routes in the Sierra Sur de Jaén.

Nature and Water

The Laguna Honda Nature Reserve covers 65 hectares and also has a 220-hectare protected zone. Laguna Honda is a seasonal endorheic wetland: it fills with the first autumn rains and retains water until spring.

At kilometre 50.5, the Vía Verde del Aceite runs directly alongside the Laguna Honda Nature Reserve; there, visitors can observe the wetland’s diverse birdlife. On the Ruta de las Lagunas, the former railway line is considered a strategic observation point, and winter is regarded as the best time to visit the lagoons.

The Zona recreativa río San Juan leisure area is located at the so-called Puente Palomillas and offers drinking-water fountains, barbecue areas, tables and seating. Seasonal fishing for brown trout and barbel, as well as river bathing, is possible there.

Festivals and Olive Oil

The Fiestas Calatravas de Alcaudete are recognised as a Festival of Tourist Interest in Andalusia and have taken place on the second weekend of July since 2005. For years, the focus has been a medieval re-enactment that includes the “Asalto a la Villa de Alcaudete”.

The Museo del Aceite de Alcaudete displays a true-to-scale 3D model of a modern olive oil mill, illustrating the complete production process. The AOVE Carrasqueño olive-oil tourism experience includes a visit to the “Un día en 1958” museum and a practical introduction to tasting, with a degustation of various extra virgin olive oils from Carrasqueño.

For the higher-level travel overview: Jaen.