Baños De La Encina: Castle, Old Town and Trails

Baños de la Encina offers several distinct points of interest to help you plan your trip: a historic centre with buildings from different periods, trails connected with the Embalse del Rumblar, and sightseeing options focused on local history and the landscape. If you are looking for a hotel, you can first consider whether architecture, routes or a specific itinerary is more important for your trip. The information below explains how these focuses differ.

Historic Centre and Buildings

The historic centre of Baños de la Encina was designated a historic-artistic ensemble in 1969. At the parish church of Iglesia de San Mateo, the Gothic nave dates from the last third of the 15th century, while the main portal belongs to a later design phase: it was created in the Mannerist style in 1576. The transition from the Gothic architecture of the nave to the Mannerist portal can thus be seen in two specific parts of the building.

Castillo de Burgalimar was completed in 968 on the orders of Caliph al-Hakam. It has fourteen towers with an approximately square ground plan. There may originally have been fifteen, if the last tower was replaced in the 15th century by the large keep that stands today. The dates span the 10th century, the church’s late medieval construction phase and the design of its portal in the 16th century.

Trails Between the Town Centre and Rumblar

The municipality of Baños de la Encina is included in the Sierra de Andújar Natural Park. The Geosendero de la Pizarrilla offers points of interest in both the town centre and the surrounding landscape: a circular section runs along the town centre, while a branch offers views of the Embalse del Rumblar. The trail starts near the football ground in the town centre and leads into the Dehesa del Santo Cristo public forest, which lies within the LIC Cuencas del Rumblar, Guadalén y Guadalmena (ES 6160008).

Part of the Sendero Del Bronce borders the Embalse del Rumblar and offers views of its waters. An alternative trail leads to Fortín de Migaldías, a territorial control fort associated with mining in the basin during the Bronze Age. Cerrillo del Plomo represents a different period: during the Roman era, it was one of the most productive mines and one of Spain’s most important sites for galena extraction. Together, these sites illustrate different mining histories, one shaped by the Bronze Age and the other by the Roman period.

The Sendero El Rumblar runs from the Embalse del Rumblar and the Colonia del Rumblar settlement to Los Escoriales. The route passes through forest landscapes, areas shaped by dryland farming, olive-growing landscapes and dehesa areas. The trail starts beside the reservoir; from Baños de la Encina, drive there via the JH-5044. While the town centre and the public forest are landmarks on the Pizarrilla trail, the description of the Sendero El Rumblar also names its endpoints and the different types of landscape along the way.

Another part of the region’s history is preserved along the Camino “Romano”, also known as the Real del Puerto del Rey. Along its route through Baños de la Encina, more than 200 metres of a paved road and a small stone bridge have survived. The condition of the surface may vary.

Museum, Visits and Traditions

The Museo del Territorio is located on the building’s top two floors, which house the municipal tourist information office. It is accessible by lift or stairs. If you are planning a museum visit, check the access arrangements in advance, as they may change. The permanent exhibition “Historias al viento”, designed by José María Cantarero, covers types of windmills and their development, the connection between Baños de la Encina and the mills, and work related to grain. It also presents routes in the area around the town.

The municipal tourist information office organises visits to Baños de la Encina and its old town, monumental and immersive visits, hiking and archaeological routes, canoe trips on the Rumblar, and evening and theatrical visits. If you would like to take part in a specific activity, ask about current dates, as schedules may change.

La Candelaria is celebrated every year on 2 February with large bonfires made from pruned olive branches. The fixed date makes it easy to plan your visit around this tradition; the specific programme may vary.

Discover more destinations: Tíscar, La Iruela, Cazorla, Siles, Pegalajar, Bélmez De La Moraleda, Alcalá La Real, Villanueva Del Arzobispo

For the main travel overview: Jaen.