Ciudades y Pueblos

Frailes

Jaén · Andalucía

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Frailes is a municipality in the Spanish province of Jaén, autonomous community of Andalucia, with a total area of 41.37 km2, a population of 1551 inhabitants in 2024 (INE figures) and a population density of 43.41 inhab/ km2. It was immortalised by the British writer, Michael Jacobs, in his 2003 book, The Factory of Light.

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Origins

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History

The origins of this municipality date back to pre-history, when the conquerors from Rome were present. The remains of Terra Sigillata attest to this . During the Spanish Muslim era, there are few records of the existence of the Islamic presence in Frailes. Nevertheless, emanating from the 16th century we have evidence of the Siege of Frailes: on 15 August 1341, Alfonso XI conquered Alcalá la Real, of which alfoz (a group of villages) belonged to Alfraylas, so from then on was incorporated to Castille. During the middle of the 16th century, the hermitage (small chapel) of Santa Lucia was built next to the first Christian settlements in Frailes, partly, with the help of the contribution of Pedro de Valencia.

In 1621, the surroundings of the hermitage of Santa Lucia was named Huerta de Santa Lucía, where the ongoing expansion of settlements took place. At the end of the 18th century, the hermitage became a parish church. Hence it also became the centre of the village. In the 19th century Frailes developed as fashionable destination due to the establishment of a spa resort at Ardales at the gateway of the village. During the early part of the 20th century, the village enjoyed times of splendour, yet after the Spanish Civil War and the exodus of a great part of the rural population to the cities, Frailes' population halved to 2,000 inhabitants.

Monuments

Lavadero Público

What to visit

Fiestas:

Fiesta del Vino.- Primera quincena de marzo. Frailes aúna en esta fiesta cultura y gastronomía, pasado y presente. Una industria que tiene sus orígenes en la tradición pero que afronta con modernidad el siglo XXI.

Romería en honor a la Virgen de la Cabeza.- Último domingo de abril. Romería hasta el paraje de la Hoya del Salobral, Noalejo, para festejar a la patrona de la Diócesis de Jaén.

Fiestas de agosto.- Fiesta y verbena popular para refrescar los rigores del estío, celebradas en las eras del Mecedero acondicionadas como recinto ferial.

Feria en honor de San Pedro.- 29 de junio. Copatrón de Frailes, son en realidad fiestas de primavera.

Festividad de la patrona Santa Lucía.- 13 de diciembre. Patrona de la localidad desde su fundación, es la protectora de la vista y de los fraileros. Misa y procesión, son los festejos con que la villa exalta a su patrona.

Gastronomía:

La cocina de Frailes aparece fundamentalmente marcada por el carácter serrano del municipio, con especial presencia de los productos del cerdo, como la tradicional morcilla, chorizo, salchichón y demás derivados. Tienen gran importancia potajes y guisos como el potaje de habichuelas, la ropavieja, las migas o el encebollado, y otros como la tortilla de collejas y cardillos o el remojón, con ingredientes de la tierra.

Entre los postres cabe destacar las mantas, los borrachuelos, los polvorones y las guindas en aguardiente. Todas las comidas son regadas con vinos de la tierra de gran calidad y que es motivo de jornadas festivas todos los años en el municipio.

Gallery

Festivals

September 2026

Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Festivals this month

  • No festivals recorded this month.

Rest of the year

  • June: San Pedro (29)

What's on

See all events →

Street market

Mercadillo semanal: Viernes · Frailes

Gastronomy

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Trails and hiking

Andalucía - North Route (Província de Jaén) (GR 7, 274 km)

Río Velillos (PR-A 414, 10.4 km)

Services

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Famous people

Fernando Aguilar, atleta español

Cayetano Bolívar, político español

Prudencio Mudarra y Párraga, aristócrata, político y catedrático español

Town hall

Gobierno municipal:

Evolución de la deuda viva municipal:

El concepto de deuda viva contempla sólo las deudas con cajas y bancos relativas a créditos financieros, valores de renta fija y préstamos o créditos transferidos a terceros, excluyéndose, por tanto, la deuda comercial.

Town hall of Frailes

Gobierno municipal: Evolución de la deuda viva municipal: El concepto de deuda viva contempla sólo las deudas con cajas y bancos relativas a créditos financieros, valores de renta fija y préstamos o créditos transferidos a terceros, excluyéndose, por tanto, la deuda comercial.

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How to get there

  • 🚗 40 km from Jaén (about 28 min by car)
  • 🚗 51 km from Granada (about 36 min by car)
  • 🚗 125 km from Málaga (about 88 min by car)

🧭 Travelling around the villages of Spain: a practical guide — Opening hours, transport, money and customs, before you set off.

  • ✈️ 42 km from Granada-Jaén airport (about 30 min by car)
  • ✈️ 122 km from Córdoba airport (about 86 min by car)

How to get there by car (Google Maps)

Practical info

🏧 Nearest cash machine

  • Caixabank · 0.1 km away
  • Caja Rural de Jaén · 0.1 km away
  • Unicaja Banco · 0.2 km away

⛽ Nearest petrol station

  • Gasolinera Sociedad Cooperativa Andaluza del Campo San Rafael · 0.8 km away
  • Estación de Servicio Hermanos Lorente · 1.4 km away
  • BP · 7.7 km away

© OpenStreetMap

Buses

2 paradas de autobús en el municipio.

Getting there by public transport (routes and times)

Pharmacy and health

Farmacia Farmacia del Moral Campos

Consultorio médico

Wall and news

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Obituaries

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In loving memory

There are no memorials in Frailes yet.

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Videos

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