Situated near the border between Andalucia and Castile, Jaen was once a compulsory stop for caravans. Its spectacular buildings include the fortress of Castillo de Santa Catalina, erected by ferdinand III in 1246, over the site of a previous Moorish stronghold, and the 16th century Cathedral.
The capital of the Spanish province of the same name,
Jaen lies on the Linres-Puente Genil railway, 500 metres above the sea with a population of 35,000. Jaen is finely situated on the well-wooded northern slopes of the Jabalcuz Mountains, overlooking the picturesque valleys of the Jaen and Guadalbullon rivers, which flow north into the Guadalquivir. The hillside upon which the narrow and irregular city streets rise in terraces is fortified with Moorish walls and a Moorish citadel. Jaen is an episcopal see. Its cathedral was founded in 1532; and, although it remained unfinished until late in the 18th century, its main characteristics are those of the Renaissance period. The city contains many churches and convents, a library, art galleries, theatres, barracks and hospitals. Its manufactures include leather, soap, alcohol and linen; and it was formerly celebrated for its silk. There are hot mineral springs in the mountains, 3 kilometres to the south.
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