Linares: Heritage, Cástulo and Walking Trails

The Neo-Gothic Hospital de San José y San Raimundo and the PR walking trails represent two distinct facets of Linares: its heritage and the landscape of the municipality. There are also places where you can explore the history of Cástulo and local architecture. You can choose which subjects to delve into during your stay according to your interests.

Heritage and history in Linares

The Hospital de San José y San Raimundo was built between 1904 and 1917 in the Neo-Gothic style. Its crypt contains a marble and bronze mausoleum by Lorenzo Collault Valera. The mortal remains of the Marquises of Linares rest there. The building and crypt give the site a tangible historical connection that differs from the city’s exhibitions and archaeological themes.

El Pósito is a renovated 18th-century building that serves as a tourist and exhibition space. A collection donated by an artist is displayed there in chronological order. The objects on display include the artist’s discography and awards, as well as posters, films, costumes, graphic documents and memorabilia. The collection thus brings together different forms of artistic work and documentation, without needing to identify the artist by name here.

The Museo Arqueológico Monográfico de Cástulo is housed in a distinguished Renaissance aristocratic building dating from the 16th century, which belonged to the Dávalos Biedma family, based in Linares. In six rooms, the museum presents the development of Cástulo from the Paleolithic period to the gradual abandonment of the settlement after the Christian conquest. The archaeological site of Cástulo is also open to visitors; a visitor reception centre provides access to the archaeological treasures of the Iberian-Roman settlement. The museum and site thus offer different ways to explore the history of the place.

Architecture and urban history also reveal different sides of Linares. The city has a Plateresque altarpiece. The Centro de Interpretación del Paisaje Minero is located in the former loading area of Estación de Madrid. El Piélago, meanwhile, is a natural monument in the northern part of the municipality. These places represent different cultural and landscape themes, without necessarily forming a single tour.

Walking trails and audio tours

For outdoor activities, Linares has six walking trails marked PR, with a total length of 57.4 kilometres. The trail network is suitable for hiking, long-distance running, mountain biking and horse riding. The PR trails also explore the mining heritage of Linares and some of the most beautiful landscapes in the municipality. The total length refers to the network of six trails, not to the length of any individual trail.

The audio tour “Linares, de villa a ciudad” covers a different scale: it is three kilometres long, takes four hours and is rated as easy. This makes it easy to distinguish when planning from the total length of the PR trail network. There is also an audio-guided experience with three routes through the city and its heritage. The audio guides are available in Spanish and English and include maps and headphones.

Annual festival and local food traditions

The Santa Bárbara festival takes place in Linares every year. If you want to plan your stay around the festival, check the exact date in advance. Everyday life in the town also includes a small dish served with a drink in Linares. The establishment serves it free of charge; the specific selection may vary by establishment and time.

Whether you are mainly interested in Cástulo, the architecture, the collection at El Pósito or the trails around the municipality, Linares offers several distinct themes to help you plan your stay. The museums and cultural sites offer different highlights from the PR network and audio tours, so you can choose a focus based on your own interests.

Discover more destinations: Villanueva Del Arzobispo, Ribera Alta, Lopera, Castellar, Cuevas De Ambrosio, Campillo De Arenas, Cabra Del Santo Cristo, La Puerta De Segura.

For the main travel overview: Jaen.