We are driving from Madrid to Granada in one day, leaving just after breakfast with hopes to be in Granada by mid-afternoon. Given that its a long drive, can anyone suggest a beautiful town to stop in along the way? We'd like to break for about an hour for a bite to eat and a walk around without straying too far from the main highway. Thanks!!

jane,
Since you probably won't be picking up your car until at least 9 am (correct?), that would mean that in normal traffic, if leaving Madrid at 9, you would be reaching Jaén bewtween 12:30 and 1, according to viamichelin.

I suggest that you take the Jaén exit, then the circunvalación road when you approach the city (which has a downtown that gives new meaning to "Moorish maze&quot. This road will take you high above the city up to the Parador-about a 4.5 km detour.

The Parador Castillo de Santa Catalina itself is actually a modern structure built to look as if it is part of the ancient castle complex. It has a lovely, atmospheric, baronial-looking dining room, and it makes a great spot for lunch.
While the fixed 3-course menu in '08 costs €31, you certainly can get by for less, just ordering two courses or a main course-Parador portions are extremely ample. The dining room probably opens at lunch at 1 or 1:30 and will close at 3:30 or 4.

Also the views from the castle lookout point, with its miles and miles of olive groves, as far as you can see, are really stunning.

See it at www.parador.es

The beautiful Renaissance town of Ubeda, with a ducal palace Parador, stunning architecture and lovely squares, is a longer detour east from the motorway, and would take about 40 min. You would exit at Bailén, before Jaén, and take the A 32 over.
But after lunch you'd still be 141 km. north of Granada-viamichelin says 1 hr. 50 min.

Since you don't want to stray to far from the motorway, Jaén's Parador on the hill would be a better option.

Same hold true of venturing west off the motorway at Bailén to the pleasant town of Andújar, but it's only a 23 km. detour.

Hope this helps you to decide.

I suggest Ubeda as a very nice stop even if it means some more kilometers.
There is a beautiful parador
http://www.parador.es/es/cargarFicha...idAgrupacion=9

We didn't make it to Ubeda, but we did spend the night in the Parador in Jaen and it was lovely. You can visit the castle ruins next door to the Parador and the views from there are amazing!

jane_s,
Since both Jaén and Ubeda are worthy stopovers, I would choose the one that is most practical for you, that fits best within the rest of your itinerary.

For example, if you have tickets for that evening's tour of the Alhambra, or want to rest and get your bearings, see some of downtown before the next mornings' Alhambra visit or if you've just planned one overnight in Granada rather than two, I would choose the Parador above Jaén, simply because it's quicker, much less of a detour and gets you your scenic photo op and a nice lunch and then you're back on your way. And the road up to the Parador circumvents the town-easy to do.

If you have budgeted plenty of time to spare in Granada, your itinerary isn't tight, and you can spare a couple of hours to get to and visit Ubeda, finding your way to the Plaza Vázquez Molina where the Parador sits along with other beautiful Renaissance architecture, then choose it. And if you have time for a leisurely Parador lunch and stroll around the town.
(and I would get exact driving directions from the Bailén motorway exit to the Plaza Vázquez Molina in Ubeda on www.viamichelin.com)


Depending on where your hotel in Granada is located, the drive from Ubeda to Granada should take you about 1 hr. 50 min.

When we stop for lunch in the dining rooms of Andalusian Paradors, whether it be Jaén, Ronda, Arcos, Ubeda, Nerja or Almagro in La Mancha, we do allow plenty of time for dining (around 90 min.), as service is slow and relaxed, southern style.

So, between the two options that kellie and car have seconded, I would choose the one that best fits your schedule.

Not an elegant town but my favor stop is to to visit the windmills and and restored castle in Consuergra. Great chance for "local" food. Absent that, I'd head for the parador in Ubeda.

Thanks so much for all of the suggestions. Just a few questions. If we were to stop at Jaen, would it be advisable to make a reservation for lunch at the Parador? Also, how much time does it take to get from the main highway to the Parador? I saw your reference that it was 4.5 kilos, but sometimes in Europe a few kilos is not such a short drive.

Hi Jane,
No, reservations for lunch aren't really necessary. We never make them. The entire drive from the motorway exit for Jaén to the Parador above the city would probably take 20 minutes. That's the time it indicates on www.parador.es

If stopping at the Jaen Parador, make sure you have a map. We could see it obviously (it is above the city), but it took us awhile to navigate to it. It isn't very far from the main road, but I would agree with the 20 minutes.

That is where we began our love affair with Solera Cream sherry. It had a date on the bottle, 18 something. Mmmm...

Definitely take the time to explore the ruined castle next door. We had a tour guide that spoke some English (as most do) and he was so nice (as they all are).

The parador web directions from the motorway are:

From the A 44 motorway (Autovía de Granada),
take the A 316,
then exit 63 Jaén (oeste),
then Carrertera de Córdoba,
then Carretera de Circunvalación (the ring road)
then a right at Carretera del Castillo y el Neveral (JP 2221)
which will take you up to the Parador.

GPS Coordinates
X: 37.768210 I Y: -3.801970

Hope this helps.

And while following Maribel's excellent directions to the Parador, watch for the road signs directing to the Castillo de Santa Catalina; in Jaen this probably stands for a "parador" ;-)