Alcaudete is one of the beautiful Peublos Blancos of Andalusia. We have photographs provided by Nick Cooper whose house in the village, known as Barrelman's Castle', has now been sold.
The write up is Pat Parkers view of the village and her house 'Alcaudete Nose' has also since been sold.
Alcaudete is placed at the south-west boundary of the province of Jaen, in the region of the Sierra Sur.
The hamlet of Alcaudete lays on the hillside, embracing the two most popular buildings: the castle and the church of Santa Maria la Mayor.
Alcaudete spans out in a ring way and from its view points, you can see the rich lands full of olive trees.
Alcaudete has three villages: Bobadilla, where there is an important Iberian-Roman site; Noguerones and Sabariego where there are some popular natural places as Puente Palomillas, and also where the white of the houses stands out from the green of the olive land.
In Semana Santa (Easter), almost 30 processions pass through the streets of Alcaudete. All of them associated to the 13 brotherhoods.
The Calatrava in summer (July) running from Friday to Monday with a wonderful atmosphere as most people dress up in medieval costume, you can enjoy the jousting, roasted pig, troubadours, street dancers, market stalls, and live bands.
Another religious event, the pilgrimage of "virgin de la Fuensanta” the patron saint of Alcaudete is always celebrated on the night of the 14th to 15th August. The pilgrimage is done in a very festive atmosphere with ornamented carriages. The people stay in the party all night, ending with a mass at dawn.
The Feria Real or summer party is celebrated between 15th and 19th September in the park of Nuestra Senora de la Fuensanta. The day party is the competition of fruits and vegetables. The best fruits of the region are shown, for instance; watermelons, melons, apples, pears, tomatoes and peaches. The night party is dancing to live bands, restaurants galore, stalls and all the fun of the Feria.
Alcaudete old train station, Fuente Orbe, where the olive train did part of its route. Today, the old railway line has become part of the "via Verde”. Where you can walk or cycle. There are 50 kilometres of the via verde to Jaen, and 60 kilometres to Puente genil. The via verde offers a wide range of touristic,cultural and sportive possibilities.
During the summer season, it is likely to see hundreds of painters in the streets of Alcaudete. Entering in the competitions of fast painting or in the national landscape painting courses. Paragliding in the skies of Alcaudete and fishing in the reservoir of Vadomojon are all leisure activities you can practice in Alcaudete.
Alcaudete also boasts a Saturday market an open air municipal swimming pool, a host of shops schools doctors etc..Also the recently new hospital.
This is just a sample of what Alcaudete has to offer.