Arab Baths of Jaén facts for kids

The large and central warm room (bayt al-wasti) of the bathhouse

The Arab Baths of Jaén (called Baños Arabes de Jaén in Spanish) are a very old and well-kept bathhouse in Jaén, Spain. These baths are like the ancient hammams from Islamic times. They were built around the 11th century, which was a time when different kingdoms called Taifa ruled parts of Spain. Some changes might have been made to the baths later, maybe in the 12th century.

These baths are one of the biggest examples of bathhouses from Al-Andalus, which was the name for the parts of Spain ruled by Muslims. What makes them special is their really large "warm room," known as the bayt al-wasti.

A Journey Through Time: The History of the Baths

After the Christian armies, led by King Ferdinand III, took over Jaén in 1246, the baths were still used for a while. Later, they were changed into places where leather was made, called tanneries.

In the 16th century, a powerful person named Don Fernando de Torres y Portugal built a large private palace right on top of the baths. This hid them for many centuries!

Rediscovery and Protection

The baths were finally found again in 1913 by Enrique Romero de Torres. He was looking for old buildings in the city. Later, archaeologists studied the site. In 1931, the baths were declared a special Cultural Heritage Property of Spain. This means they are very important and protected.

Today, the Arab Baths of Jaén are open for visitors. They are a popular historical attraction and are part of the Palacio de Villardompardo, the palace built on top of them.

Images for kids

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  The changing room (bayt al-maslaj)

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  The cold room (bayt al-barid)

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  The warm room (bayt al-wasti)

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  The hot room (bayt al-sajun)

See also

In Spanish: Baños Árabes de Jaén para niños

• Caliphal Baths
• El Bañuelo
• Moorish architecture
• ghusl (Islamic ablutions)