Valdepeñas de Jaén
by Saskia Mier
Valdepeñas de Jaén is a municipality centred around agriculture and livestock, ideal for those looking to practice rural and active tourism, offering activities such as hiking, fishing or large game hunting. It has about 3680 inhabitants.
HISTORY
The oldest documented remains in Valdepeñas date back to the Bronze Age and were located in the area known as “El Castellón”. The largest archaeological find dates from the Roman era, a treasure formed of 130 silver aces from the time of Caracalla. During this period, there was a proliferation of peasant homes in the territory, as evidenced by the remains found in La Ventilla, Navalengua, El Torcal, La Solana and Pitillos, amongst others. What today constitutes Valdepeñas was founded by Emperor Carlos V in 1539, responding to the purposes of his mother, Doña Juana, in 1508. The founding act of Valdepeñas was motivated by the vast repopulation process that these lands underwent after the conquest of Granada in 1492. More>
THINGS TO SEE
Iglesia Parroquial de Santiago Apóstol
The church was designed by architect and sculptor Juan de Reolid in 1539, but it was not completed and expanded until the end of the sixteenth century, thanks to the intervention of various stonemasons and architects, including Cristóbal del Castillo. During the Spanish Civil War, the temple suffered significant damage, before being restored and reformed by the architect Ramón Pajares Pardo in 1952. It consists of a hall plan with three naves, a main chapel at the head and two eighteenth-century chapels with dressing rooms; Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno and Nuestra Señora del Rosario. In 1597, the altarpiece in the main chapel was completed by Sebastián de Solís, but later disappeared during the Civil War. After the conflict, it was replaced in 1962 by sculptor Julio Pajares Vilches and cabinetmaker Felipe Cobo Campos, with paintings by Francisco Cerezo Moreno. (Location)
Molino Museo Alto de Santa Ana
The hydraulic flour mill, with two grinding stones, was operational from 1540, although the building is medieval in origin. It was the first, and therefore the oldest, to function in Valdepeñas. Its owner, Juanín LeClerque, called it ‘Molino Alto de Santa Ana’ and built a second mill called ‘Molino Bajo de Santa Ana’, which also had two stones. Both mills were the only ones that existed in Valdepeñas until the eighteenth century. From 1566, it was linked to the Mayorazgo de los Arceo-Gamboa, who had the privilege of using the water for the mills, in exchange for the payment of an annual income of 70 bushels of wheat to the Valdepeñas Council. (Location)
Ermita de San Sebastián
The chapel originates from the seventeenth century, and was dedicated to San Sebastián, who is traditionally associated with combatting epidemics. In 1693, a canon of the Cathedral of Jaén, Don Juan Ibáñez de Robles, initiated the celebration of Mass in this chapel during the collection of cereals in the summer months, a practice maintained today. The chapel was rebuilt in 1807 at the personal expense of the Bishop Fray Diego Melo of Portugal, with an annexed cemetery, one of the oldest in the province of Jaén. The chapel was designed by the architects Gregorio Manuel López and Miguel de Landeras, in a neoclassical style, following the architectural models of the Iglesia del Sagrario of the Cathedral of Jaén. (Location)
Puente de Santa Ana
Probably of medieval origin, this bridge is also known as Puente Dehesa or Puente del Hundidero, and is one of the unique landmarks of the town. Built in ashlars of stone from local quarries, it has a single arch under which the waters of the Ranera River, a tributary of the Víboras River, cross. The medieval road that connects Jaén with Alcalá la Real runs over it, and connects the town with the Sanctuary of Chircales. The first documented reference to the bridge appears in the Chapter Accounts of 1580, after its repair for damages suffered during a storm. In 1751, it was repaired again. Located on Calle Santa Ana. (Location)
Antiguo Palacio Episcopal
The Palace was the summer residence of the Bishops of Jaén, from 1655 until the Spanish confiscation in the nineteenth century. The Palace had its origin in the purchase of various houses by Bishop Don Fernando Andrade Castro to establish a residential summer home in them. In 1657, the Palace was renovated by the architect Eufrasio López de Rojas. Shortly before his death in 1664, Bishop Andrade made a donation to the Diocese of Jaén from the Palace, which the Bishops occupied for the summer until 1836. Bishop Fray Diego Melo of Portugal resided in the Palace until his death in 1816. (Location)
THINGS TO SEE OUTSIDE THE VILLAGE
Santuario y Ermitas de Chircales
The origin of the Sanctuary of Cristo de Chircales dates back to the Middle Ages; its first documented reference appears in the Hunting Book of Alfonso XI of Castile. In 1566, a local of Valdepeñas, Juan Ruiz Castellano, donated several lands for the construction of a temple. Twelve rock chapels sit in the immediate surroundings of the Sanctuary. This endowment gave rise to a religious foundation welcomed by the influence of the spirituality spread by Juan de Ávila and his disciples trained at the University of Baeza. Between 1590 and 1609, the church was built, which since at least 1606 housed the painting of Christ of Chircales, which is by an anonymous artist. Located a few kilometers northwest from the town. (Location)
Ermita de Nuestra Señora de las Angustias
This chapel was founded in 1721 by José Antonio de Aguilera y Arceo, an interesting character in the history of Valdepeñas de Jaén; nobleman and holder of the Mayorazgo de los Arceo-Gamboa. After the Civil War, in 1942, it was restored, including the additional of a new sculpture which presides over the chapel. Located in the Parrizoso area, on the bank of the Quiebrajano Reservoir.(Location)
Centro de Interpretación de Valdepeñas de Jaén
The Regional Network of Oil Mills of Sierra Sur is made up of nine Interpretation Centres located in oil factories in this region of Jaén. Each centre focuses on a different element of the production of olive oil, including olive growing methods, oil production processes and classification systems, analysis of the olive oil market and the history of the trees themselves. The one in Valdepeñas de Jaén is dedicated to the history of the olive tree and olive oil. (Location)
Alto de la Pandera
The old military base of La Pandera is the highest point of the Starlight Reserve of the Sierra Sur de Jaén and an emblematic place for observing the night sky. At its peak there is a large esplanade, which has been a meeting place for astronomers for centuries. The site is highly recommended for more expert amateurs, offering both dark conditions and clear visibility; at more than 1,800m, the atmospheric transparency is excellent, offering great opportunities for observation and planetary photography. To get there, you just have to take the detour on the road that connects Los Villares with Valdepeñas de Jaén and go up to the heliport, located at the top. (Location)
NATURAL AREAS
Mirador de Navalayegua
This is a strategic natural viewpoint, located at an altitude of 1,500m, from which magnificent views of the Quiebrajano Reservoir and the Sierra Sur can be obtained. In its surroundings is the “Quejigo del Carbón”, a millenary gall oak that has been declared a Natural Monument by the Delegation of the Environment.
Cortijo El Moralejo
One of the best points in the entire Starlight Reserve of the Sierra Sur de Jaén. The site is only accessible in a 4x4 vehicle, however, it is worth the trek because you reach the bottom of a large valley surrounded by hills and mountains that hide the few remains of light pollution. From this point the darkness and purity of the sky is exquisite.
Pitillos
Declared a Natural Monument by the Junta de Andalucía, this rugged relief around the small valley of the Quiebrajano River is surrounded by three points of elevation higher than 1,200m. The narrow canyons, up to 30m high, particularly stand out, and you can also practise trout fishing in the Quiebrajano River. This area also preserves a unique yew forest, one of the few existing in Andalusia.
GASTRONOMY
Popular dishes to try when visiting Valdepeñas de Jaén include sopa de menudillos (offal soup), cordero asado (roast lamb), tomates rellenos (stuffed tomatoes), pescada a la vinagreta (escabeche), sopa de ajo (garlic soup), pajarillas (liver stew) and choto al ajillo (garlic goat). Sweet treats include nochebuenos (nut bread), torta de aceite (olive oil tort), rosquetas (orange biscuits) and bizcochos con canela (cinnamon cakes).
FESTIVALS
Popular festivals in Valdepeñas de Jaén are Candelaria, Semana Santa, Romería de Cristo Chircales and Feria de San Juan. More>
NEARBY PLACES
The neighbouring villages to Valdepeñas de Jaén are Castillo de Locubín, Los Villares and Fuensanta de Martos.