La Carolina: Sierra Morena, Nature Park and Town History

Nature

La Carolina lies at the foot of the Sierra Morena and on the borders of Despeñaperros Nature Park. Part of the municipality of La Carolina lies within this nature park. The landscape includes rugged mountains and extensive dehesas where birds of prey can be observed.

Getting there

At the entrance to Andalusia, La Carolina lies at the Despeñaperros pass. Directly on the A-IV E5 motorway, the town can be reached via exits 266, 268 and 270. The three exits are designated North, Centre and South.

La Carolina has a bus station and regular services. These include the Madrid–Córdoba–Seville route; interprovincial services run to Jaén, Linares, Bailén, Úbeda and Baeza.

The three numbered exits therefore channel access to the North, Centre and South, while the bus station brings together the aforementioned long-distance and interprovincial services.

Culture and History

The Church of the Immaculate Conception was built as the church of the La Peñuela Carmelite convent. It was later expanded to become the parish church of the newly established population.

With this extension, the function of the originally monastic building changed within the newly established population, while the Palacio del Intendente Olavide dates from a later phase of the town's history and was built as a residence.

The Palacio del Intendente Olavide was built in 1775 in the Neoclassical style as the residence of Pedro Olavide.

The Museo de La Carolina is housed in the Palacio del Intendente Olavide. The museum offers opportunities to learn about the town's culture, history and research. It traces the area's history chronologically.

The chronological presentation begins with the first human traces from the Palaeolithic and extends almost to the present day. It highlights Hispano-Roman mining as well as the establishment and development of the New Settlements as a colonisation project of Charles III. Intensive modern mining activity is also among the topics covered; it ended at the end of the last century.

The chronological sequence thus links early settlement traces with the mining phases and the history of the New Settlements, without extending the account of modern mining activity beyond its end.

The Torres de la Aduana are Neoclassical customs towers. They date from the 18th century and were moved in 1792 to protect the northern entrance to the town.

The Castillo de Navas de Tolosa is a small hilltop fortification. The complex includes a walled area and a hexagonal tower.

The castle was one of the fortresses built to protect the Puerto del Muradal. In July 1212, it was captured by Castilian troops in connection with the Battle of Navas de Tolosa.

The historic buildings therefore represent different functions side by side: the Torres de la Aduana related to the northern entrance to the town, while the Castillo de Navas de Tolosa served to protect the Puerto del Muradal.

Festivals

The Fiestas de la Fundación take place from 3 to 5 July. They include, among other things, the reading of the Fuero and a tribute to the colonist.

Other Places

Other places on the same level are Jimena, Canena, Navas de San Juan, Hornos, El Parralejo, Friar, Bedmar and Villacarrillo.

For the higher-level travel overview: Jaen.