La Iruela Castle, La Iruela, Jaen, Andalucia, Spain

La Iruela is a Spanish municipality to the east of the province of Jaén, Andalusia. It is located on the slopes of the Sierra de Cazorla, crowning the Guadalquivir valley.

The districts of Burunchel, El Burrueco, El Palomar, Arroyo Frío, Tramaya and San Martín belong to the municipality of La Iruela.

La Iruela has several historical monuments of great tourist interest such as Castillo de la Iruela, hanging on a rock above the town itself, of Templar origin, of which its homage tower stands out. It was declared a Historical Monument in 1985. Currently, between the castle and the rock, a forum or amphitheater has been created where artistic activities are carried out, and the fireworks displays performed in it on the occasion of the August festivities, in honor of the Virgin of the helpless.

The Church of Santo Domingo is also very visited by tourists who come to this region. Built by order of Don Francisco de los Cobos within the walled enclosure of the castle. It is dedicated to the patron saint of La Iruela, Santo Domingo de Silos.

La Iruela, two kilometers from Cazorla, is located in the Sierras Prebéticas of Cazorla and El Pozo.

The castle
The castle, small but astonishing, is located on the top of a steep crag in Sierra de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas Natural Park. From the castle, impressive views of the surrounding area and of the town can be enjoyed.

The keep dates from the Christian era. It has a square base and small dimensions and is located at the highest part of the crag.

There are some other enclosures within the tower that create a small alcázar which is difficult to access.

In a lower area of the castle, protected with defensive remains of rammed earth and irregular masonry, is an old Muslim farmstead.

After a recent restoration, an open-air theater has been built on La Iruela castle enclosure. This theater is a tribute to the Greek and Classic Eras and holds various artistic and cultural shows throughout the year.

History
The first traces of human activity in La Iruela area are dated from the Copper Age. An intense occupation continued until the Bronze Age.

Originally, La Iruela (like Cazorla) was a modest farmstead. From the 11th century, a wall and a small fortress were built on the hill to protect the farmers.

Around 1231, don Rodrigo Ximénez de Rada, Archbishop of Toledo, conquered La Iruela and made it part of the Adelantamiento de Cazorla. Over the Muslim fortress, the current fortress was built.

Once the military use of the fortress ended, it was used as cemetery.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Province_of_Ja%C3%A9n_(Spain)

Taken on: February 28, 2022

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Camera:	Canon PowerShot SX730 HS
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Focal Length:	4.3mm
ISO:	80
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Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
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