El Club · Segura de la Sierra

The Arab Baths of Segura de la Sierra are a monument of Hispano-Muslim architecture located in the historic center of this town in the province of Jaén, near Calle de la Iglesia and Calle Caballeros Santiaguistas. It is a hammam, or Islamic public bathhouse, one of the few remaining in the province, along with those in the city of Jaén. Its exact date of construction cannot be determined with complete certainty due to the scarcity of original elements, but municipal and popular sources likely place it between the 11th and 12th centuries, during the town’s medieval heyday. It features a traditional layout with three longitudinal naves, corresponding to the cold, warm, and hot rooms. Among its most notable heritage features are the side spaces framed by double horseshoe arches and the barrel vaults with skylights, elements characteristic of this type of building. It was restored in 1971, when it was still in use as a residence, which allowed for its preservation and opened it to the public. Its historical importance lies within the monumental complex of Segura de la Sierra—a town designated a Historic-Artistic Site—and as a tangible testament to the Al-Andalus period in the Sierra de Segura.

The Castle of Segura de la Sierra is a medieval fortress located in Segura de la Sierra, in the province of Jaén, within the region of the Sierra de Segura, at 38.29916, -2.64954. It is a rocky castle that dominates the historic center and the mountain landscape, with great strategic and panoramic value. The preserved factory responds mainly to a Christian work raised between the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, on the remains of a previous Muslim fortification. In its current configuration there is an outer enclosure of rammed earth and a fortress protected by a barbican, with masonry in part of its structures. The castle was linked to the Order of Santiago, which turned it into the center of the encomienda of Castile and came to use it as the residence of the Grand Master in the last quarter of the 15th century. This use explains its political and military importance in the Middle Ages, within a town declared a Historic-Artistic Site. Among its documented heritage elements are the chapel, the chapter house, the bathroom and other interior construction remains from different stages. After restorations and museum adaptations, the enclosure was opened to the public as a visitable space, consolidating itself as the main heritage landmark of Segura de la Sierra.

The Church of Nuestra Señora del Collado is a parish church located in Segura de la Sierra, in the province of Jaén, and is also referred to in some sources as a hermitage due to its patronage and historical use. The current building was constructed in the 16th century on the site of an earlier church that likely already existed, in a context linked to Segura’s importance as the seat of the Encomienda of the Order of Santiago. Its architecture has been described as featuring Gothic and Renaissance elements, although the available information does not allow for a single stylistic classification to be established with complete precision. Documentary evidence also suggests that an earlier church may have existed, dated by some references to the 14th century; however, this chronology should be treated with caution due to the diversity of attributions in the sources. The church suffered severe damage in 1810, when it was set on fire by Napoleonic troops during the War of Independence, and was rebuilt five years later under the initiative of Infante Francisco de Paula Antonio. It was set on fire again in 1936, during the Spanish Civil War, which explains the alterations and losses to its movable heritage. Within the historic district of Segura de la Sierra, this church is part of the town center’s principal monumental heritage, alongside the castle and other vestiges of its medieval past. Its significance lies both in its religious value and in its role in the historical evolution of a town closely linked to the Order of Santiago.

The Góntar Washhouse is a historic and functional site located on the slopes of Cerro de Góntar, next to the municipal swimming pool in Segura de la Sierra, in the province of Jaén, Andalusia. It is a traditional stone building with two semicircular arches that houses a fountain with two spouts, two large pillars, and several small basins, all constructed with fine masonry. The water comes directly from the spring on Cerro de Góntar, with a low-to-medium flow rate (1–10 l/s) that never runs dry, and has traditionally been used to irrigate terraced vegetable gardens and as a community washhouse, hence its name and the basins arranged for this purpose. From the viewing point, you can see the renovated structure of the building, now enhanced for recreational and leisure purposes, set in the natural surroundings of the Sierra de Segura, within the Sierras de Cazorla, Segura, and Las Villas Natural Park—a protected area that includes the Natura 2000 Network and the Reserve. The fountain and washhouse were already mentioned in Philip II’s topographical surveys, confirming their historical significance and their inclusion in local guidebooks as part of the PR-198 circular route: Segura de la Sierra – Moralejos. The best time to visit is in spring or fall, when the weather is milder and the natural surroundings are in full bloom, although access is free and open 24 hours a day; the site is easily accessible and in very good condition.

The Peñalta Viewpoint is a natural observation point located at the entrance to the historic center of Segura de la Sierra (Jaén), atop a rocky outcrop that overlooks the mountainous landscape of the Cazorla, Segura, and Las Villas Natural Park. From this vantage point, visitors can see the town’s small historic center, crowned by its slender medieval castle, and enjoy a panoramic view of the mountain range, including the Yelmo peak, which rises to an altitude of 1,809 meters. The significance of the viewpoint is linked to Segura de la Sierra’s designation as a Historic-Artistic Site, a Picturesque Spot, and a member of the Network of the Most Beautiful Villages in Spain. It is considered one of the most beautiful viewpoints in the protected natural park and offers one of the best views of the town, making it a regular stop on tours of the municipality. The best time to visit is in the morning or at sunset, when the light illuminates the castle’s unmistakable silhouette and the mountain forests and olive groves surrounding the town. Its location at the entrance to the town makes it easily accessible without the need for hiking, making it an ideal starting point for a tour of the historic center.

El Yelmo is a great mountainous elevation of the Sierra de Segura, in the municipality of Segura de la Sierra, which reaches an altitude of 1,808-1,809 m and stands out for its jagged silhouette and its crest. Its relief combines gentler slopes with other more abrupt ones, and is covered by pine forests, holm oak forests and patches of mixed forest, in an environment integrated in the Natural Park of the Sierras de Cazorla, Segura and Las Villas. From the summit there is a very wide panoramic view over the forests of the region, the Tranco reservoir, the nearby villages such as Segura de la Sierra and Hornos, and, on clear days, even other mountain ranges of the provincial and La Mancha environment. It is a natural viewpoint well known in the area, both for its scenic value and for being a reference point for free flight, with paragliding takeoffs at the top. Its cultural and tourist interest is reinforced by the presence of the Cumbre del Yelmo Trail (PR-A 194) and by its role as the setting for the International Air Festival, one of the events most associated with this mountain. The visit offers better visibility on clear days in autumn, winter and spring, when the atmosphere is usually cleaner and the contrast between pine woods, rocky areas and valleys is more marked.

The Segura de la Sierra Bullring is a historic bullfighting venue located in Segura de la Sierra, Jaén, at the foot of the castle’s hillside and next to the remains of a wall and a tower linked to the town’s old entrance gate. Municipal and tourist information describes it as one of the oldest bullrings in Spain and places it in the immediate vicinity of the town’s fortified complex. Its origins are linked to the castle’s former parade ground and stables; consequently, it does not follow the layout of a modern bullring with perimeter seating, but rather consists of an open space carved out on the mountainside. It retains a quadrangular layout and lacks protective walls and bleachers, so the audience sits on the hillside—a unique feature that defines its heritage character. Due to its connection to the fortress, the site is integrated into the medieval historical landscape of Segura de la Sierra, a town associated with the Order of Santiago and the defensive fortification of the town during the Late Middle Ages. The castle and its surroundings reflect a complex historical evolution, featuring medieval remains and a strong Mudejar influence throughout the monumental complex. Although the site is registered as a museum, its heritage value lies above all in its role as a historic space used for traditional festivities, still linked to bullfighting celebrations during the Virgen del Rosario festival, thereby maintaining a unique continuity within the town’s urban and monumental landscape.