Jódar Castle
Jódar Castle
In the historical core of the town a castle is preserved and documented in the year 860. However, it is known that the castle is based on the Iberian era, as evidenced by the inscriptions found in one of its ashlars, so it is considered for historical and documentary purposes, the oldest in Andalusia.
It was also the court and capital of a Taifa of its own and of Cora de Jaén for many years, being Swaudar its capital. It has two tribute towers, one of Arab origin and another raised by the Christians, although the adarves and walls around it are almost gone. This fortress was the residence of the lords of the town until 1870.
In 1619 King Philip III created the Marquesado de Jódar, the castle being the residence of the Marquis since 1670, the castle had a chapel dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, large stables with stone stables, and a corridor with a large cellar. In this castle it followed the residence of the lords of the town until 1870. During the French occupation it was military barracks, being its last function as a cholera hospital at the end of the last century.
One of the towers, the South Tower, was restored in the eighties and is currently the Reception and Interpretation Center of the Sierra Mágina natural park. It was declared a historical monument in 1985. In the year 2013 the North Tower was restored, enabling it to recreate and publicize the history of the Castle and the municipality.
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