Valdepeñas de Jaén

Valdepeñas de Jaén is a Spanish municipality in the Sierra Sur region, southwest of the province of Jaén, Andalusia. According to INE data, in 2018 it had 3,799 inhabitants. Its surface area is 183 km2 (71 sq mi) and has a density of 20.75 inhabitants / km². Its geographical coordinates are 37 ° 35 ′ N, 3 ° 49 ′ W. It is located at an altitude of 920 meters and 31 kilometers from the provincial capital, Jaén.

Located within the mountain ranges of the Subbetic Zone, the area is thickly forested and boasts magnificent holm oak groves. It bounded by the Sierra de la Pandera to the north and the Alta Coloma mountain range to the south. From the Sierra de la Morenilla to the south, the neighbouring towns of Martos, Alcalá la Real and several others can be seen. Road access is provided via the A-6050 (Jaén – Los Villares – Valdepeñas de Jaén – Castillo de Locubín).

The town of Valdepeñas de Jaén was founded in 1539 as part of the repopulation of the mountain areas of Jaén following the reintegration of the kingdom of Granada after the Islamic period. The new town was designed and built according to Renaissance principles of town planning, which are till apparent today in the grid layout of its streets. By 1550 the town was fully populated under the jurisdiction of the City of Jaén, and following a request to King Felipe II by the municipal council, was recognised as an independent town within the kingdom of Castile in 1558.