September 27 Historical recreation at Jumilla castle

The castle has stood on the hill overlooking Jumilla for 550 years

September 27 Historical recreation at Jumilla castle In celebration of World Tourism Day, which falls every year on 27^th September, the tourist office of Jumilla in northern Murcia is holding this day of historical recreation at the castle, which has been faithfully restored to a condition very similar to how it must have looked when it was built in the 15^th century.

Jumilla castle is located on the hill behind the town, where it is known that there were previous fortifications in the Bronze Age as well as in Roman and Moorish times. However, this tour focuses on life in the castle after the current structure was built by the Marquis de Villena: it was he who ordered that it be rebuilt in almost exactly the form we can see today. Fortunately for the Marquis, the fortifications were soon redundant as the threat of Moorish uprisings receded, and it was not until later centuries that the building was put to any meaningful military use.

During the Wars of the Spanish Succession it was at the castle of Jumilla that Cardinal Belluga gathered his troops to fight for the cause of the House of Borbón in the Battle of Almansa (1707), and when Felipe de Borbón eventually triumphed it was this loyalty to his cause which led to Jumilla receiving royal favour over the following years.

During the War of Independence the castle was used as a barracks by the French troops, who adapted it somewhat, and in the first half of the 19th century it became a prison. Following this, though, its condition declined and eventually the castle was abandoned.

The historical recreation scenes tour on Sunday 27^th September can be seen between 10.00 and 18.00, giving you plenty of time to explore the charming old town centre, take a tour of the local countryside and of course enjoy the local cuisine and wines!

For more local news, events and visiting information please contact the tourist office or go to the home page of Jumilla Today.

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Address

Plaza del Rollo, 1 30520 JUMILLA

Tel: 968 780237 / 663 300779

Oficina de Turismo Jumilla

The tourist office in the centre of Jumilla is easily found by driving straight into the centre of the town along the Avenida de Murcia and following the signposts. The tourist office is alongside the Parque de Don Albano Martínez Molina, where there are a number of parking spaces.

Jumilla, in the north of the Region of Murcia, has become internationally famous over recent decades due to the quality of the wines produced in the municipality, and wine tourism has begun to attract visitors from other parts of Spain and the rest of Europe.

The tourist office is happy to provide a range of maps and leaflets showing the different bodegas which can be visited within the municipality. Some of these form part of the Rutas del Vino de Jumilla, the Jumilla wine route, and can either be visited as a guided tour or sell their produce directly to the public.(see feed below for more details)

However, the town and the surrounding countryside have plenty of other attractions for visitors, and the popularity of Jumilla wines is leading more and more people to discover other facets of the tenth largest municipality in Spain.

Jumilla Tourist Office

These include the spectacular countryside and birdlife in the Sierra del Carche, the historic remains which range from cave paintings and a Roman mausoleum to the castle, the Iglesia de Santiago, the Town Hall and the Teatro Vico, and the gastronomy: rich stews are accompanied not only by the wines of the area but also by Jumilla pears, which also enjoy Denomination of Origin status.

Tourism in Jumilla is not as seasonal as it is in the coastal areas of the Region of Murcia, but the town is at its liveliest during the fiestas in Holy Week and the August Fair, which incorporates the grape harvest celebrations and the Moors and Christians parades.

The Altiplano of the Region of Murcia, which consists of the municipalities of Jumilla and Yecla, is only just over an hour by car from the Mar Menor, Cartagena, Mazarrón, Torrevieja and Alicante, and anyone wishing to visit real inland Spain and world-class wineries is advised to include Jumilla in their schedule.