Begíjar
Begíjar is dominated by olive groves and orchards; this town’s traditions have largely been lost over time, especially following the damage caused during the Spanish Civil War . It has about 3,000 inhabitants.
History
The strategic geographical position of Begíjar, situated in an environment of great agricultural wealth, has led communities to settle here since ancient times. The oldest remains are linked to the final Neolithic and Copper Ages (third millennium BC), in the settlement of Las Majadillas, whilst the Bronze Age is represented in that of Terrera del Goterón. More>
Things to see
Iglesia de Santiago Apóstol
Construction of the church began in thirteenth century and was completed in the seventeenth, although the original building has practically disappeared as a result of multiple restorations. During the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, Gothic rulings were followed, but the definitive project was carried out throughout the sixteenth century with Renaissance characteristics. Today, it is the centre of public life, despite the increasingly depopulated historic town centre. (Location)
Castillo de Begíjar
The most emblematic monument of the town and an exceptional witness to the historical evolution of the town. The origin of the castle is linked to the Visigoths, although a fortress possibly already existed prior to this time. It was enlarged and restructured by the Arabs and later reformed by the Christians. After the Christian conquest in 1226, Fernando III el Santo handed over the fortress to the Diocese of Jaén in 1251, based in Baeza. (Location)
Torre del Homenaje
Once the castle’s main defense point, the tower was used as the residence of the Lord, housing the main rooms and, on occasions, granary store. It was positioned on the northern side of the castle, the most sheltered from possible attacks, so that if the rest of the defenses succumbed, the tower would provide a last refuge and defensive stronghold. The Torre del Homenaje also fulfilled the function of a food store and water reserve, with a cistern excavated in its subsoil. An important colony of Lesser Kestrels also nests in the tower, a protected migratory species, which also uses its walls as nesting grounds. (Location)
Ayuntamiento
The Town Hall was built between 1561 and 1576 by Ginés Martínez de Aranda. Of its old plan, only the portal remains, composed of a semicircular arch flanked by columns. In the upper frieze appear the names of the members of the Cabildo who had the cover made and the year of construction. Next to the Town Hall, there is the jail and Torre del Concejo, called the Torre del Reloj (clock tower), all built at the same time. (Location)
Palacio Episcopal
The Episcopal Palace was erected between 1505 and 1510. It represents one of the first examples of the Hispanic Renaissance in the Iberian Peninsula. As one of the main residences of the Bishops of the Diocese of Jaén, it was used as an advanced and transcendental bastion in the formation of the primitive church after the Arab invasion in the territory of the province of Jaén. Declared as an Asset of Cultural Interest in 1985 and protected in NNSS (Subsidiary Norms of Municipal Approach of Begíjar, Urban Planning Ordinances, 2002). (Location)
Casa Natal de Patrocinio de Biedma y la Moneda
This seventeenth-century house is where the writer, poet and columnist, Patrocinio de Biedma y la Moneda was born. Currently, the Youth Culture Project Association is promoting the creation of the Biedma Patrocinio House Museum and the role played by the author feminist history; she is recognized as the ‘first feminist’ of Jaén and one of the first in Andalusia to raise her voice against rural social machismo. (Location)
Museo de Artes y Costumbres Populares
The museum makes an extensive journey through the history and ethnology of the town, standing out for its extraordinary representative quality and the perfect harmony of its staging. The abundant collection is related to trades (barber, doctor, blacksmith, apothecary, shepherd, esparto worker, carpenter, midwife, seamstress, shopkeeper and others) that are exhibited in independent units with a multitude of objects forming realistic reconstructions. (Location)
Things to see outside the town
Puente del Obispo
The Puente de Obispo is a sixteenth-century bridge over the Guadalquivir River, on the old route from Jaén to Baeza. Named the Bishop’s Bridge, it is one of the first of the Hispanic Renaissance, made up of 4 unequal barrel vaults, arranged in rows of unequal height. The tower has a chapel inside, which has access from the bridge roadway, with tombstones on either side inscribed with allusions to the Bishop of Jaén, Don Alonso Suárez de la Fuente del Sauce, who financed it. (Location)
Oleícola San Francisco
The olive oil company Oleícola San Francisco was founded in 1927 and acquired by Manolo Rus and José Jimenez in 1989. They launched a family project that has become a passion and a way of living in Jaén. Today, Oleícola San Francisco has adapted for the future with modern and versatile facilities, whilst maintaining the essence of the mill’s original building. (Location)
Bus Services
There are various bus services from Begíjar. (Location)
Gastronomy
To taste the traditional delicacies of the cuisine of Begíjar, one must try dishes such as lomo de orza (cured pork), albondigón (meatball soup), bacalao encebollado (cod stewed with onions), caldereta (lamb stew), ensalada de pimentón (tomato, pepper and onion salad) and migas (fried breadcumbs served either with pork scratchings, olives, radishes, sardines or melon). Sweet treats include flores de esponja (honey pastries).
Handycrafts
Wickerwork is still very much alive in Begíjar, with locals concentrating particularly on the production of basketry. These are made by interweaving the reeds, either removing the skin or keeping its natural color without peeling to gain a darker shade. Another popular craft is dry-rope pottery.
Festivals
Popular festivals in Begíjar are Festival de la Moto, Fiesta de la Virgen de la Cabeza, Fiesta de Santiago Apóstol, Feria y Fiestas del Cristo de la Vera Cruz and Fiesta de San José Obrero (Location)
Weather Forecast
The weather forecast for the next few days for begijar. (Location)
Tourist Office
The tourist office of begijar is located in the Museo de Artes y Costumbres Populares. (Location)