Jaén Cathedral
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Why go
- One of Spain’s most significant Renaissance religious buildings.
- A model for later churches in Andalusia and the Americas.
- A choir among Spain’s largest.
Opening hours
Today10:00 – 13:30, 16:30 – 18:30Show all
Don't miss
- Baroque façadeDesigned by Eufrasio López de Rojas, with sculptures by Pedro Roldán.Main façade
- Chapter house and sacristyMajor Spanish Renaissance works by Andrés de Vandelvira.Cathedral
- Copy of the Veil of VeronicaThought to date from the 14th century and to have originated in Siena; Bishop Nicolás de Biedma acquired it.CathedralIn a side chapel on Fridays; publicly on Good Friday and the Feast of the Assumption.
- South portalDesigned by Andrés de Vandelvira.Cathedral
Know before you go
- Open Monday to Friday 10:00–14:30 and 17:00–20:00, Saturday 10:00–20:00, and Sunday 16:00–19:30.
Tips for your visit
- The choir enclosure occupies the central nave, so the interior can be difficult to take in at first.
With kids
- Visitors can use VR glasses to take a virtual flight over the cathedral.
Interesting facts5
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55 metres
The two-tower façade is about 55 metres wide; the cathedral reaches about 70 metres across with its rear annexes and is about 100 metres long.
Kathedrale von Jaén - Wikipedia -
Geometric patterns cover the vaults but do not support the structure.
Kathedrale von Jaén - Wikipedia -
Light reaches the crossing dome through side windows and a lantern above it.
Kathedrale von Jaén - Wikipedia -
The Sagrario has an oval plan with galleries in its corner spaces, an unusual layout for Spanish churches.
Kathedrale von Jaén - Wikipedia -
76 choir
The cathedral holds 76 choir books with miniatures, including an Annunciation by Juan de Cáceres from the first third of the 16th century.
Galerías Altas – Catedral de Jaén
Shorts
History
Construction continued under Alonso Barba, Juan de Aranda Salazar and Eufrasio López de Rojas while retaining the original design idea.
- 1246After Jaén was reconquered, the former mosque became the bishop’s seat and a church dedicated to the Assumption.
- 15th c.A Gothic predecessor was begun on the site; its crossing dome later collapsed.
- 16th c.Work began on the present cathedral to replace the Gothic church. Andrés de Vandelvira designed the project and led its first construction phase.
- 1555Renaissance construction began at the eastern end, requiring the walls and Alcotón tower to be demolished.
- 1660The main church was consecrated and work began on the façade designed by Eufrasio López de Rojas.
Show all
- 1724Work on interior decoration and chapels continued until this year.
- 1755The Lisbon earthquake made reinforcement of the north façade necessary and prompted plans for the Sagrario.
- 1764Work began on the Sagrario, designed by Ventura Rodríguez and carried out by his nephew Manuel Martín Rodríguez.
- 1801The Church of the Sagrario was consecrated on 22 March.
How to get there
- On footPlaza de Santa María, s/n, Jaén, opposite the Municipal Palace and Episcopal Palace.
Sources: Jaén Cathedral - Wikipedia · Catedral de Jaén – Santa Iglesia Catedral de la… · Cómo llegar – Catedral de Jaén · Galerías Altas – Catedral de Jaén · Kathedrale von Jaén - Wikipedia · Catedral de la Asunción (Jaén) - Wikipedia · Cathédrale de Jaén - Wikipedia · checked 29 Sep 2026
- Website
- catedraldejaen.org/
- Phone
- +34674986340
Questions and answers
Is Jaén Cathedral a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
It was added to Spain’s tentative World Heritage list in 2012 as a proposed extension of the Renaissance ensemble of Úbeda and Baeza; it is not inscribed as a World Heritage Site.
What are the upper galleries of Jaén Cathedral used for?
Designed for cathedral offices, they house the Diocesan Historical Archive, which preserves documents dating from the 13th century.
What is the Sagrario used for?
The attached church usually holds consecrated hosts before and after Mass.
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