Ermita de Nuestro Padre Jesús

The street that used to join together what was once called the ‘camino Real Alto’ with the ‘Bajo’ is known to everyone by its former name of ‘Cuesta de Jesus’ (Hill of Jesus). It gives this 18th century hermitage, which was initially called the Ermita del Santo Cristo de Nazaret (Hermitage of the Holy Christ […]

Gregorio Manzano

Known as “Goyo”, “The Teacher” or “The Manchego”, he wasn’t always involved with the soccer industry, rather, he spent 16 years of his career focused on teaching. He was a teacher in the I.E.S El Valle de Jaén where, as an anecdote, the bullfighter Enrique Ponce was once one of his students. Big soccer lover, […]

Paquita Torres

Born in Bailén, with only 18 years of age she was chosen as Miss Spain in 1966. The fifth of six siblings, she would move to Málaga to start working at the Parador de Málaga Golf. On occasion, she had already been advised to participate on beauty pageants, due to the potential they could see […]

Manolo Gómez Bur

The actor was very connected to our locality, where his spouse was from and where they lived after retiring from the stage. Since very young, he was linked to the show business through his father, the actor from Zarzuela, Vicente Gómez Bur. His first debut on stage happened at a very young age. In 1934 […]

Felipe de Neve

Soldier. Brigadier. Governor of California. Commanding General of the Inner Provinces. He was born in Bailén in the year 1724, although some authors mark his birth-year as 1727. The exact date is unknown, due to the archives of the Parish Church of the Incarnation being destroyed during our last Civil War. He was son to […]

María de Bellido

Popular legend tells the tale that Bailén’s heroine, born in Porcuna and married to Bailén born Luis Domingo Cobo Muela, lived in the “Las Eras” street, nowadays known as “Sebastián Elcano” street. “La Culiancha” (Literally, The Wide Bottomed), nickname bestowed upon her due to her ample hips, just like the rest of the people of […]

General San Martín

The soldier José Francisco de San Martín, born in the Argentinian town of Yapeyú in 1778, took an important part against the Napoleonic army due to his involvement in the Battle of Bailén. The “Father of the Nation” as he will come to be known in Argentina, fought in the African crusade, in varied military […]

The Battle of Bailén of 1808

Without a shadow of a doubt, this was the historical event that made Bailen’s name echo around the world. A glorious battle that pitted the impregnable power of the French army against the courage and bravery of the Spanish troops, supported by civilians, it would end with the first defeat on open field of the […]

What was the situation before the Battle?

Spain was struggling in the depths of an economic recession. No help was forthcoming from King Carlos IV or his government, who heavily subjected to the control of the king’s wife, Queen María Luisa of Parma, and minister, Manuel Godoy. Napoleon saw an opportunity to make a strategic move, and invaded. The French emperor dominated […]

The days before the Battle

General Dupont, following Napoleon’s orders, moves along with his troops from Vitoria to Cádiz in order to free a French float that had been retained. Passing through Córdoba, he is attacked by a small Spanish army, that he managed to defeat, allowing his men to ransack the city as a reward. Consequently, the fleet meant […]