Andújar and the Jaén Campiña
Flat olive country along the Guadalquivir and, to the north, lynx country.
Key points
- Andújar is the main town of the Campiña, by the Guadalquivir and its Roman bridge.
- The Sierra de Andújar Nature Park is one of the best places in the world to see the Iberian lynx.
- The Virgen de la Cabeza pilgrimage, on the last Sunday in April, is considered the oldest in Spain.
The Guadalquivir Campiña is flat olive country with farmhouses and villages with Mudéjar and Renaissance churches. To the north, the Sierra de Andújar switches to wood pasture, holm oaks and granite outcrops, home to the lynx, red deer and the Spanish imperial eagle.
Andújar
The town has a historic centre with the church of Santa María, which holds a painting by El Greco, the clock tower and the Roman bridge over the Guadalquivir, which the brotherhoods cross during the pilgrimage. Andújar is also known for its pottery, especially its water jugs.
Sierra de Andújar and the lynx
The nature park is one of the strongholds where the Iberian lynx has recovered; two decades ago it was the world's most endangered cat. Local companies run guided trips to try to see it, especially in winter, the mating season. If you go on your own, drive the sanctuary road and the Encinarejo track slowly and quietly.
Wildlife watching
Go out at dawn or dusk, bring binoculars and stay on the track. Patience is key: there's no guarantee of seeing a lynx, but you will see deer, mouflon and birds of prey.
Campiña villages
- ArjonaA hilltop old town with cisterns and the sanctuary of Saints Bonosus and Maximian.
- LoperaA castle of the Order of Calatrava and the memory of the 1936 battle.
- MarmolejoA former spa town with medicinal waters on the banks of the Guadalquivir.
- ArjonillaThe legend of the troubadour Macías and his castle.
Frequently asked questions
Where can you see the Iberian lynx in Jaén?
In the Sierra de Andújar Nature Park, best with specialist guides and in winter. It is never guaranteed.