La Iruela castle

Municipality: La Iruela

Regions: Sierra de Cazorla

Latitude: 37.921402°

Longitude: -2.990118°

Altitude: 914.672 m

Video - La Iruela castle

La Iruela, a small municipality in Jaén, is located in the Sierras Prebéticas de Cazorla and El Pozo, areas through which the Borosa, Cazorla and Cañamares rivers flow.

The Castle of La Iruela, small in size, but of singular beauty, is located on top of a large rock in the Sierra de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas Natural Park, from where you can enjoy the impressive views both of the locality and of the nearby territory.

History of the Castle of La Iruela

Origin

The first traces of human presence in the territory of La Iruela can be found in the Copper Age (III millennium BC). This area was occupied by numerous groups until the Bronze Age.

Muslim era

El Eruela, as it is called in some medieval texts, was originally a modest Arab farmhouse. In the 11th century, a protective wall and a small fortification were built around it on a raised area of land. All this with the purpose of guaranteeing the safety of the peasants.

Subsequently, that small refuge would evolve into a rock castle, which despite its small dimensions would be very difficult to take.

Regain

Around 1231, La Iruela was taken bydon Rodrigo Ximénez de Rada,Archbishop of Toledo. This meant that the small municipality became part of theOvertaking of Cazorla and on the fortress of Muslim origin, a new Christian one was raised. The Archbishop"s successor, the Infante Don Sancho of Castilla, son of the KingFerdinand III the Saint, structured the Adelantamiento establishing Cazorla as its capital, thus turning La Iruela into its village.

This move was not well received. for La Iruela. In the First Castilian Civil War(1362 - 1369) between Pedro I and Enrique II, Cazorla positioned himself in favor of Pedro I.Instead, La Iruela sided with Enrique de Trastámara, who was the winner. Hearchbishop decided return autonomy to La Iruela in 1370, as a punishment for Cazorla.

Two months later, the pressure from Cazorla was such that Archbishop Manrique himselfrectified his decision and La Iruela was once again considered a village.

Finally,Archbishop Don Pedro Tenorio grantedin1378 independence to the municipality of La Iruela.

Once its military function was lost, the castle began to be used as a cemetery.

20th century and Present

In 1985, the Castillo de la Iruela was declared a Historic-Artistic Site con account of its singular architecture and landscape beauty.

After a recent restoration in the grounds of the castle of La Iruela, sand has built an open-air theater similar to classical Greek theaters, where artistic and cultural activities take place.

The Castle of La Iruela

tower of tribute

The small keep, with a square base and low height, stands on the highest part of the rock, as if it were an extension of it. It is structured on two stories high. The original structure had another floor in the intermediate area of the one where the mechinales are currently preserved.

The access to the Tower of Homage is located in a lower level. This level is broaderhe found a large cistern anda wall that borders it and four towers.

Tower - Gate

Outside the castle, a visually geometric gate-tower was built, on a square base, which gives access to a parade ground. It is surrounded by a semicircular arch and, in its upper part, there are four openings for windows, also covered by a semicircular arch.

Church of Santo Domingo

The Church of Santo Domingo is locatedin it inside ofcastle precinct. This one was sent tobuild in the 16th century under the orderof Don Francisco de los Cobos and in honor of the patron saint of La Iruela, Santo Domingo de Silos.

Schedule of the Castle of La Iruela

From Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. / 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Forfurther information contact Tourist Information of La Iruela by phone 626 81 15 83 or on the webhttps://ayuntamientolairuela.es/#turismo

Price of visit to the Castle of La Iruela

General admission €1.

Photo Gallery - La Iruela castle

Notice: Undefined variable: nombre in /var/www/vhosts/castillosyfortalezasdejaen.com/httpdocs/castle.php on line 98

Notice: Undefined variable: nombre in /var/www/vhosts/castillosyfortalezasdejaen.com/httpdocs/castle.php on line 98