The Sanctuary Of Our Lady Of Tíscar In Jaén
The sanctuary of Our Lady of Tíscar is a unique space in the province of Jaén. It is located in a steep space, guarded by an old Muslim fortress and watered by the Tíscar River, which gives rise to a spectacular natural space in which the so-called Water Cave develops. A magical environment that you must know. Can you come with us?
The village of the sanctuary of Our Lady of Tíscar
Tíscar is a small village located 13 kilometers from the town of Quesada, to which it belongs administratively. It is located in the Alto Guadalquivir region and stands out for the beauty of the natural environment and for the buildings and places that surround it.
In this small village we find a castle from the Muslim period, the sanctuary of the Virgin and the Cueva del Agua. To get to Tíscar you have to go along the Pozo Alcón road and take the port of Tíscar. Another option is to go from Quesada.
The sanctuary of Our Lady of Tíscar
The origin of the current temple dedicated to the Virgin of Tíscar is in the 16th century. It is a robust building made with local golden stone that has an impact both on the outside and inside. Although, the current image is the result of the reconstruction made after the damage caused during the Civil War.
Open to a square, the entrance to the sanctuary is made through a sober portal in which the Virgin of Tíscar is carved in stone. A door that opens onto a hall to the left of which the church door opens. There, at the head, the small image of the Virgin awaits its pilgrims. The altarpiece in which it is found was painted in the Byzantine style by Francisco Baños Martos.
Next to the temple, and joined in L, the building continues with the parish house. It is a space that is joined by means of an arch to the rock that protects the entire sanctuary and on which the castle of Peña Negra rises majestically. Thus, the sanctuary of Our Lady of Tíscar was protected by all that flank.
The castle of the Peña Negra
It is a small fortification that rises in the highest part of the Peña Negra. To get there, you have to go up a small hill next to the houses in the village, in the vicinity of the shrine square. Its origin is Muslim and it must have been extended by means of a wall to the area where the sanctuary is located.
For years , an attempt was made to rehabilitate and make it suitable for public visits. An intervention that has never been completed, but that established an important access by means of metal stairs by which you can climb to the top.
From the top you will contemplate the wonder of this natural environment and the beauty of the landscape of olive trees that populate the province of Jaén. You can also see the impressive keep of this castle up close.
The water cave
In the lower area of the Tíscar sanctuary, and a little before reaching it, you will find directions to get to the Cueva del Agua. It is a cave of natural origin in which waterfalls will surprise you. To enter it, you have to crouch down a tunnel through which, in addition, a ditch passes.
When you finish touring it, an immense space will open where you can contemplate this wonder of nature. Inside, there are several stairs that will take you to the different levels that the Cueva del Agua has. There are walkways and nooks that are worth admiring everywhere.
And in one of its walls you will be able to contemplate the protagonist of the village. At the top, a small image of the Virgin of Tíscar is venerated by pilgrims and devotees. They put candles for him and leave offerings in gratitude or request for help. For this reason, it is common to see photographs, hair ties, photocopies of driving licenses, etc.
Main photography: Edmundo Sáez / Wikimedia Commons
