Museo de Artes y Costumbres Populares del Alto Guadalquivir

Museo de Artes y Costumbres Populares del Alto Guadalquivir is a history and folk-traditions museum housed inside the Castillo de la Yedra in Cazorla, in the province of Jaén. Founded in 1971 and opened to the public on 23 September 1983, it tells two stories at once — the region's defensive past and the everyday rural life of the upper Guadalquivir valley.

How to get there?

The museum sits on Calle Castillo de la Yedra, on a hill overlooking Cazorla's old town. Driving from Jaén or Úbeda takes roughly an hour and is the most practical option. The castle itself, nicknamed Castillo de las Cuatro Esquinas because its square main tower points toward the four cardinal directions, is visible from much of the historic centre, making it an easy landmark to navigate by while exploring the town on foot.

What will you see?

The collection is split into two sections. The historical wing has three rooms: a chapel holding a Romanesque-Byzantine Christ figure, the Arms Room with 16th- and 17th-century weaponry and furniture, and the Noble Room on the top floor, displaying 17th-century Flemish tapestries and Bargas-style cabinets. The second section, dedicated to popular arts and customs, brings together farm tools, scale models of traditional olive-oil mills, ceramics, and a full reconstruction of a typical Cazorla kitchen that captures how local families lived decades ago.

The building itself is as much a part of the story as its contents. Castillo de la Yedra is Cazorla's most important architectural landmark, its walls once guarding the approach to the Sierra de Cazorla mountains. A visit therefore combines a military-architectural experience with an ethnographic journey through Andalusian rural life.

When to visit?

Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons, with mild weather ideal both for touring the castle's interior and for wandering Cazorla's picturesque old town, which offers sweeping views of the Sierra de Cazorla y Segura. Summers can get quite hot around midday, so morning visits are advisable. The museum pairs well with a walk through the town centre and a trip into the nearby national park.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the museum located? Inside the Castillo de la Yedra, on Calle Castillo de la Yedra in Cazorla, province of Jaén, on a hill above the old town.

When was the museum established? It was founded in 1971 and opened its doors to visitors on 23 September 1983.

What can you see in the historical section? A chapel with a Romanesque-Byzantine Christ, the Arms Room with 16th- and 17th-century weapons, and the Noble Room with Flemish tapestries and Bargas-style furniture.

How does the ethnographic section differ from the historical one? It focuses on everyday regional life, featuring farm tools, olive-mill models, ceramics, and a reconstructed traditional Cazorla kitchen, in contrast to the military and aristocratic character of the first section.