Parador de Jaen – How to Stay in a Castle in Spain

Staying at Parador de Jaen was an unbelievable experience! If you ever wondered how must it feel staying in a castle in Spain, now it’s your chance. After staying at Parador de Carmona we were sure that nothing can top off the experience. But just when you think you have’ve seen the best Spain’s paradores, another great one comes along. Located in a 13th century castle, this parador is one of the most unique that we have visited so far.

Parador de Jaen opened as a hotel in one of the most beautiful castles in Andalusia, Spain. The fortress sits high above the city, atop Santa Catalina Hill. As you drive up the road, the views over the city of Jaén and the and the plains of Andalusia are breathtaking. But the ultimate panorama awaits you at the top, when you reach the parador.

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A Brief History of Parador de Jaen – From a Castle to a Hotel

Parador de Jaen sits on the site of the former Santa Catalina Castle, an 8th Century Moorish fortress. Although the original fortress was built by the Arabs, the current construction is of Christian origin. In 1246, after the Siege of Jaén, Ferdinand III of Castile captured the city and began the transformation of the castle.

The construction became known as the New Castle on the Hill. Over the next centuries, the castle served as a fortress against the repeated attacks of the Moors. The builders of the new castle used some of the towers and ramparts of the old fortress. In 1965 when the castle was restored and extended to incorporate the Parador, many of the elements of the Old Castle have been destroyed as well. 

Today there are only a few remnants of the original fortress. Most of them are on the western side of the hill.

In 1968, the castle was restored and transformed into a Parador –a luxury hotel owned by the Spanish government . The building’s castle-like appearance continues continues to impress his guests, just as much as it impressed the castle residents in its heyday.

Staying at Parador de Jaen

The medieval-style building of Parador de Jaen has a truly majestic appearance. Perched up high on a ridge above Jaén, the walls have a sheer drop down to the side of the mountain on which it sits. 

The feel inside the Parador de Jaen is equally majestic: monumental vaulted ceilings, huge sitting and dining rooms and guest quarters with incredible panoramic views of the city.

The medieval decor, wooden beams and large metal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling complement the hotel perfectly.

The Arabic style dining room has heavy carved wooden doors and arched windows. Everything about the hotel – from its large, majestic lobby and dimly lit corridors to the enormous vaulted ceiling and heavy studded-wooden doors – describes its Moorish roots.

Parador de Jaén’s 45 soundproofed rooms with tiled floors and amazing views of the city. Some of them have balconies, but all of them are equipped with minibars, safes, phones and premium bedding. TVs come with digital channels, and free WiFi connection. Bathrooms offer hair dryers, robes and free toiletries, so everything you’d find in a luxury hotel.

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Things to do in Jaén

Jaen city has a beautiful square Gothic cathedral, one of the most important Renaissance-style cathedrals in Spain, as well as the oldest surviving Arab baths in the country. To get a real feel of the city, you should take a walk through the narrow, Moorish-like streets that surround the cathedral. The castle complex where the parador is located can also be visited.

Staying at a Parador an experience that you should try at least once in your lifetime. The Paradores in Spain are absolutely beautiful. Besides being located in a spectacular castle, convents, fortresses and monasteries, many of them are in World Heritage cities like Toledo, Segovia, Santiago de Compostela, or Granada. 

In addition to the history of the buildings you will also enjoy the comfort, luxury and technology of a 5-star hotel at a much lower price. Parador de Jaen is a romantic and enchanting place to spend a couple of days and visit the surrounding area.

Have you ever stayed in a Parador?

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