The best walks and hikes around Porcuna

In Lopera, we find one of the best examples of castles built by the Military Order of Calatrava in the province of Jaén. Declared a Cultural Monument in 1991, this fortress retains its original walled enclosure, although over the years it has also served as a residence and, in the mid-20th century, even as a winery.

Porcuna is a small town and a municipality (municipio) in southern Spain with 5,907 inhabitants (as of 2024) in the west of the province of Jaén in the autonomous community of Andalusia.

The castle was built by the Order of Calatrava to guard the trade route over the Guadalquivir River and is defended by five towers.

Castle from the time of the Castilian conquest, located in the municipality of Lopera, province of Jaén (Spain). It is located in the center of the town occupying a considerable extension of the urban area.

A well preserved castle and a professional guide. I recommend it without a doubt. Prior appointment is required to make the visit.

Extraordinary piece to understand not only the importance of the "oppidum" túrdulo de Porcuna, but also the history of Alta Andalucía itself. The set of sculptures located in this settlement is, by far, the most important and monumental that Turdetan and Túrdula archeology has provided, and the key to understanding this culture at the time of its full consolidation, during the 5th century BC.

It was built between 1872 and 1910, after the collapse of the Calatrava Gothic church of Santa María la Mayor, of which the sacristy remained, which had been reformed in the 17th century by Benito del Castillo.