Castillo de Burgalimar
The Castillo de Burgalimar in Baños de la Encina is a caliphal fortress built in 968 under al-Hakam II, with 14 of its 15 towers still standing, one of the oldest castles in Spain.
About Castillo de Burgalimar
The castle was built in 968 for al-Hakam II, Caliph of Córdoba, to control the route from the Despeñaperros pass towards Córdoba. Known in Arabic as Burj al-Hammam, it is made of rammed earth and keeps 14 square towers of an original 15. It is one of the oldest castles still standing in Spain and one of the best-preserved fortresses of the caliphal period.
You enter through a double horseshoe arch between two towers into the vast enclosure, which once sheltered troops and horses. Stairs lead up to the battlements, with views over the village, the church of San Mateo and the Sierra Morena. A path round the outside shows the rammed-earth walls up close.
Tickets, about €4 with reductions for children, are sold at the tourist office on Avenida José Luis Messía; morning entries run roughly every 45 minutes from 10:30. It opens weekday mornings 10:30–13:30, weekend mornings 10:00–14:00 and Wednesday–Sunday afternoons 16:00–18:00, free on Wednesday afternoons. Times vary, so phone 953 613 338 first. Allow an hour. Steep stairs rule out wheelchairs.
Spring, when the Sierra Morena is green, and autumn are the best seasons; summer afternoons are very hot. Take the first morning slot to have the walls largely to yourself. The village holds a medieval festival each year, with markets around the castle.
Castillo de Burgalimar in pictures
What you’ll find
- Free entryFree visit (16:00–18:00)Free
- Monument visitSelf-guided visit (€3–€4, 10:30–18:00)Ticket
- Ramparts walkWall walk (€3–€4)Ticket
- ViewpointSightseeingFree
- Visitor centreVisitor informationFree
Nearby places to visit
The village around the castle is worth a stroll, with the Baroque camarín of the Ermita del Cristo del Llano. Linares, to the south, has the Raphael Museum of Linares (15 km) and the Andrés Segovia Museum (15 km), and the Iberian and Roman city of Cástulo (20 km) lies just beyond. Northwards, the Museum of the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa (28 km) at Santa Elena recalls the battle of 1212, and the rock formations of Despeñaperros and Los Órganos (35 km) mark the pass into La Mancha.
Castillo de Burgalimar at a glance
Location
Sierra Morena, Jaén
Town
Baños de la Encina
Address
Calle Santa María, upper village, 23711 Baños de la Encina, Jaén, Spain
Opening hours
Mon–Fri 10:30–13:30; Sat, Sun and holidays 10:00–14:00; Wed–Sun afternoons 16:00–18:00. Free Wednesday 16:00–18:00 (except holidays). Check with the tourist office, as times vary.
Prices
About €4 adults (15+), €3 reduced for children; free Wed 16:00–18:00 except holidays
Checked 1 Nov 2026 on the official website. Times and prices can change, so confirm before you go.
Website
banosdelaencina.es/visita-el-castillo-de-banos-de-la-encina
Phone
+34 953 613 338
More places nearby
Other places within 25 km of Castillo de Burgalimar, nearest first.
