| Address Pl. Palacio 4 |
Opening hours Tuesday to Sunday: from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday: from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. |
A visit to the castle of Baena will transport you to an age of betrayals and battles, of impossible romances and remarkable deeds. Its long history remains present, hidden among the remnants of its glorious past, awaiting those who wish to discover it.
History and Origin
The origin of the current site of the town of Baena dates back to an Arab hisn (fortress) named Bayyana, which already existed in the 9th century. Bayyana is mentioned in historical sources in connection with the muladí rebellion of Umar ibn Hafsun in the second half of the 9th century, when he succeeded in conquering Bayyana in 890 AD. That same year, Emir Abd Allah defeated Umar ibn Hafsun at Bulayy (modern-day Aguilar de la Frontera) and established a cavalry unit in the fortress of Baena, which had by then become a madina (city), leading to the transfer of the capital of the cora of Cabra to Baena.
During the Caliphal period, Baena grew and prospered, although few details are known. After the fall of the Caliphate, it was sacked by the Berbers, which halted its development. In 1165 AD, a battle was fought between the Almohads and the Almoravids near the Luque River, and recent excavations indicate construction activity from that period.
In August 1241, Baena peacefully came under Christian control, becoming a possession of the Crown. Between 1386 and 1448, the Trastámara dynasty attempted to establish a lordship, and during that time the fortified enclosure was rebuilt. From the 16th century onward, the castle was adapted into a palace by the Dukes of Sessa, with notable renovations including the opening of windows and the creation of rooms and courtyards.
