| Jaen 
                                                                         is one 
                                                                         of the 
                                                                         8 
                                                                         provinces 
                                                                         within
                                                                         
                                                                          
                                                                          
                                                                          Andalucia. 
                                                                          It 
                                                                          takes 
                                                                          its 
                                                                          name 
                                                                          from 
                                                                          its 
                                                                          capital. 
                                                                          The 
                                                                          natural 
                                                                          wealth 
                                                                          of the 
                                                                          province 
                                                                          makes 
                                                                          this 
                                                                          the 
                                                                          province 
                                                                          with 
                                                                          the 
                                                                          greatest 
                                                                          surface 
                                                                          area 
                                                                          of 
                                                                          protected 
                                                                          wilderness 
                                                                          in the 
                                                                          whole 
                                                                          of 
                                                                          Spain. 
                                                                          In the 
                                                                          provinces 
                                                                          four 
                                                                          nature 
                                                                          parks 
                                                                          you 
                                                                          will 
                                                                          find 
                                                                          villages 
                                                                          with a 
                                                                          rich 
                                                                          cultural 
                                                                          heritage 
                                                                          and 
                                                                          many 
                                                                          colourful 
                                                                          traditions. 
                                                                          One 
                                                                          thing 
                                                                          that 
                                                                          all 
                                                                          these 
                                                                          places 
                                                                          have 
                                                                          in 
                                                                          common 
                                                                          is the 
                                                                          tradition 
                                                                          of 
                                                                          bull-running, 
                                                                          where 
                                                                          bulls 
                                                                          are 
                                                                          released 
                                                                          into 
                                                                          the 
                                                                          streets. 
                                                                          These 
                                                                          bull 
                                                                          runs 
                                                                          date 
                                                                          from 
                                                                          the 
                                                                          18th 
                                                                          century 
                                                                          and 
                                                                          are 
                                                                          still 
                                                                          popular 
                                                                          today.
                                                                          Jaen is also famous for olive production.   
                                                                          
                                                                          
                                                                          Jaen 
                                                                          was 
                                                                          one of 
                                                                          the 
                                                                          most 
                                                                          beautiful, 
                                                                          historic 
                                                                          places 
                                                                          that 
                                                                          we 
                                                                          stayed 
                                                                          at and 
                                                                          it 
                                                                          proved 
                                                                          to 
                                                                          have a 
                                                                          wealth 
                                                                          of 
                                                                          history 
                                                                          and 
                                                                          architecture. 
                                                                          Our 
                                                                          fist 
                                                                          call 
                                                                          was at 
                                                                          the 
                                                                          tourist 
                                                                          office 
                                                                          and 
                                                                          for 
                                                                          the 
                                                                          first 
                                                                          time 
                                                                          ever, 
                                                                          we 
                                                                          found 
                                                                          it 
                                                                          difficult 
                                                                          to 
                                                                          find 
                                                                          and 
                                                                          the 
                                                                          staff 
                                                                          were 
                                                                          very 
                                                                          unhelpful, 
                                                                          almost 
                                                                          bordering 
                                                                          on 
                                                                          rude.
                 | 
            
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                  | However, 
                                                                          we 
                                                                          went 
                                                                          on to 
                                                                          explore 
                                                                          the 
                                                                          city 
                                                                          under 
                                                                          our 
                                                                          own 
                        steam.     The    castle at the 
          top of 
          the 
          hill 
          dominates 
          the 
          skyline. 
          It now 
          houses 
          one of the 
          best paradors 
          in 
          Spain. |  
                  |  |  
                  |  |  
                  | 
                                                                           |  
                  | 
                    |  
                  | The 
                                                                          Cathedral 
                                                                          rises 
                                                                          in the 
                                                                          heart 
                                                                          of the 
                                                                          old 
                                                                          city 
                                                                          which 
                                                                          comprises 
                                                                          of a 
                                                                          maze 
                                                                          of old 
                                                                          streets, 
                                                                          oozing 
                                                                          atmosphere. 
                                                                          The 
                                                                          main 
                                                                          facade 
                                                                          of the 
                                                                          cathedral 
                                                                          is a 
                                                                          massive 
                                                                          tableau 
                                                                          of 
                                                                          stone, 
                                                                          flanked 
                                                                          by two 
                                                                          towers. 
                                                                          Inside, 
                                                                          don't 
                                                                          miss 
                                                                          the 
                                                                          18th 
                                                                          century 
                                                                          choir 
                                                                          and 
                                                                          the 
                                                                          seats 
                                                                          dating 
                                                                          from 
                                                                          the 
                                                                          16th 
                                                                          century. 
                                                                          The 
                                                                          cathedral 
                                                                          with 
                                                                          its 26 
                                                                          metre 
                                                                          high 
                                                                          towers, 
                                                                          dwarfs 
                                                                          the 
                                                                          city. 
                                                                          The 
                                                                          Cathedral 
                                                                          can be 
                                                                          visited, 
                                                                          free 
                                                                          of 
                                                                          charge 
                                                                          and is 
                                                                          well 
                                                                          worth 
                                                                          the 
                                                                          effort. 
                                                                          Outside 
                                                                          the 
                                                                          Cathedral 
                                                                          is a 
                                                                          square 
                                                                          that 
                                                                          makes 
                                                                          a 
                                                                          perfect 
                                                                          resting 
                                                                          place 
                                                                          to 
                                                                          admire 
                                                                          the 
                                                                          architecture.   
                                                                          
                                                                          The 
                                                                          Arab 
                                                                          Baths 
                                                                          are of 
                                                                          the 
                                                                          best 
                                                                          preserved 
                                                                          in the 
                                                                          country. 
                                                                          The 
                                                                          visit 
                                                                          is 
                                                                          free, 
                                                                          under 
                                                                          tight 
                                                                          security 
                                                                          and 
                                                                          the 
                                                                          visit 
                                                                          combines 
                                                                          several 
                                                                          museums. 
                                                                          There 
                                                                          is a 
                                                                          good 
                                                                          guide 
                                                                          available 
                                                                          in 
                                                                          English 
                                                                          that 
                                                                          explains 
                                                                          the 
                                                                          history 
                                                                          and 
                                                                          the 
                                                                          workings 
                                                                          of the 
                                                                          baths. 
                                                                          They 
                                                                          were 
                                                                          discovered 
                                                                          in 
                                                                          1913 
                                                                          and 
                                                                          declared 
                                                                          a 
                                                                          national 
                                                                          monument 
                                                                          in 
                                                                          1917. |  
                  | 
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                    | 
                                                                          There 
                                                                          are 
                                                                          dozens 
                                                                          of 
                                                                          churches 
                                                                          and 
                                                                          convents 
                                                                          in 
                                                                          Jaen, 
                                                                          all 
                                                                          with a 
                                                                          unique 
                                                                          character 
                                                                          of 
                                                                          their 
                                                                          own, 
                                                                          many 
                                                                          beautiful 
                                                                          squares 
                                                                          with 
                                                                          statues 
                                                                          and 
                                                                          fountains 
                                                                          and a 
                                                                          thriving 
                                                                          market 
                                                                          town 
                                                                          style 
                                                                          shopping 
                                                                          area.   The Arco de San Lorenzo - the only remains of the medieval parish church of San Lorenzo. A Gothic-Mudejar arch, now designated a national monument. Capilla de San Andres is a 16th century chapel, rebuilt during the Rennaissance period.   
                                                                          
                                                                          There 
                                                                          are 
                                                                          also 
                                                                          many 
                                                                          museums 
                                                                          to 
                                                                          visit, including: Museo Provincial de bellas Artes (Fine Arts Museum)   
                                                                          
                                                                          
                                                                          Semana 
                                                                          Santa 
                                                                          in the 
                                                                          provincial 
                                                                          capital 
                                                                          of 
                                                                          Jaen 
                                                                          is an 
                                                                          impressive 
                                                                          experience 
                                                                          that 
                                                                          has 
                                                                          been 
                                                                          held 
                                                                          since 
                                                                          the 
                                                                          middle 
                                                                          of the 
                                                                          16th 
                                                                          century 
                                                                          and 
                                                                          today 
                                                                          is of 
                                                                          great 
                                                                          importance 
                                                                          to the 
                                                                          tourist. 
                                                                          More 
                                                                          than 
                                                                          7,000 
                                                                          hooded 
                                                                          penitents 
                                                                          escort 
                                                                          the 
                                                                          images 
                                                                          through 
                                                                          the 
                                                                          streets 
                                                                          on 
                                                                          Good 
                                                                          Friday.
                                                                          
                                                                           |  | 
            
              | 
                
                                                                          
                                                                          On the 
                                                                          first 
                                                                          Sunday 
                                                                          in 
                                                                          September, 
                                                                          Jaen 
                                                                          hosts 
                                                                          the 
                                                                          feria 
                                                                          de la 
                                                                          Divina 
                                                                          Pastora, 
                                                                          a 
                                                                          deeply 
                                                                          rooted 
                                                                          religious 
                                                                          festival. 
                                                                          It 
                                                                          begins 
                                                                          with a 
                                                                          dawn 
                                                                          mass, 
                                                                          followed 
                                                                          by the 
                                                                          waving 
                                                                          of 
                                                                          banners 
                                                                          by the 
                                                                          Brotherhood 
                                                                          of 
                                                                          Shepherds, 
                                                                          established 
                                                                          in the 
                                                                          16th 
                                                                          century. 
                                                                          At 
                                                                          night 
                                                                          there 
                                                                          is an 
                                                                          outdoor 
                                                                          fiesta 
                                                                          with 
                                                                          singing 
                                                                          and 
                                                                          dancing. 
                                                                          In 
                                                                          October 
                                                                          the 
                                                                          end of 
                                                                          the 
                                                                          bullfighting 
                                                                          season 
                                                                          is 
                                                                          marked 
                                                                          with 
                                                                          impressive 
                                                                          bullfights 
                                                                          on 
                                                                          horseback 
                                                                          as 
                                                                          well 
                                                                          as 
                                                                          colourful 
                                                                          carriage 
                                                                          displays.              
                             
               Low cost car hire in Jaen - Instant quotes, online booking and guaranteed reservations. Access to all the top car hire companies in Spain | 
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                                                                           | Our 
                                                                          visit 
                                                                          to 
                                                                          Jaen 
                                                                          was at 
                                                                          the 
                                                                          end of 
                                                                          our 
                                                                          Costa 
                                                                          Blanca 
                                                                          tour, 
                                                                          as 
                                                                          part 
                                                                          of our 
                                                                          return 
                                                                          home 
                                                                          to 
                                                                          Marbella. 
                                                                          We 
                                                                          found 
                                                                          Jaen 
                                                                          to be 
                                                                          an 
                                                                          impressive 
                                                                          place 
                                                                          with a 
                                                                          wealth 
                                                                          of 
                                                                          history 
                                                                          and so 
                                                                          much 
                                                                          to 
                                                                          see. 
                                                                          We 
                                                                          were 
                                                                          particularly 
                                                                          impressed 
                                                                          with 
                                                                          the 
                                                                          castle, 
                                                                          the 
                                                                          Parador 
                                                                          and 
                                                                          the 
                                                                          cathedral. 
                                                                          With 
                                                                          the 
                                                                          exception 
                                                                          of the 
                                                                          staff 
                                                                          at the 
                                                                          tourist 
                                                                          office 
                                                                          we 
                                                                          found 
                                                                          local 
                                                                          people 
                                                                          helpful 
                                                                          and 
                                                                          friendly. 
                                                                          Since 
                                                                          our 
                                                                          initial 
                                                                          visit, 
                                                                          we 
                                                                          have 
                                                                          returned 
                                                                          and on 
                                                                          our 
                                                                          second 
                                                                          visit 
                                                                          were 
                                                                          still 
                                                                          as 
                                                                          impressed. 
                                                                          We 
                                                                          noticed 
                                                                          that 
                                                                          there 
                                                                          was a 
                                                                          great 
                                                                          deal 
                                                                          of 
                                                                          reformation 
                                                                          going 
                                                                          on in 
                                                                          the 
                                                                          town 
                                                                          squares. | 
            
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                  |  |  |  
                  | General Emergencies | 112 |  
                  | Local Police Jaen | Emergencies 092 |  
                  | National Police Jaen | Emergencies 091 |  
                  | Guardia Civil Jaen | Emergencies 062 |  
                  | Red Cross Jaen | 913 354 545 |  
                  | General Hospital Jaen | 900 202 202 |  
                  | Jaen Tourist Board | 953 248 000 |  
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                  |  | The bus station in Jaen is on Plaza de Coca de la Pinera, 250m north of   Plaza de la Constitucion. Alsina Graells provides 11 or more daily buses to Granada,   seven or more to Baeza and Ubeda and two to Cazorla. The Urena line travels up to   eight times daily to Cordoba and three times daily to Seville. Other buses are   for Guadix, Malaga, Almeria, Madrid, Valencia and Barcelona.   Jaen train station at the northern end of the Paseo de la Estacion and is at the   end of the branch line. Most days there are only four departures. |  
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