Permanent Exhibition

The permanent exhibition is structured in several thematic spaces through four floors:

First floor

In the rooms located on the first floor contextualize the events of the 19^th of July of 1808, day in which the French troops suffered their first defeat in open field throughout all of Europe, this event provided an injection of optimism and a referent for the combatants fighting for the freedom in Spain. This historical approach to the events of the Spanish War of Independence is presented in a pragmatic and visual level, through a journey portraying those six years of struggle and the consequences that it left in the Spanish territory. It counts with several panels that explain the event, a model of what the old village of Bailén was like in 1808, as well as audivisual content to aid the visitors' immersion into the history of Bailén.

Second floor

On the second floor, the visitor can access a dual presentation of the events that took place in Bailén, developed from the points of view on the evolution of the battle of the Spanish and French troops. The different Napoleonic campaigns are reviewed, and the strategies and composition of the french army discussed. All of this in order to put in context the intervention of the « Grande Armée » in Andalusian lands from the narrative of the expansionist policy of Napoleón Bonaparte.

On this floor, a collection of reproductons of the period's military uniforms can be found, highlighting the suits of the cuirassier and french voltigeur. Or, on the spanish side, the Reding's Swiss Regiment nº3, the grenadier of the Córdoba's Regiment, and the Jaén Infantry's Regiment uniforms.

A sketch-model of the battlefield, composed of around 1000 handpainted soldier miniatures made of tin, allows us to delve into the heroic feat that took place that Thursday 19th of July of 1808.

The concluding element that enhances this exhibition is the audiovisual content, where the principal biographic aspects of the protagonists of the Battle of Bailén are narrated: General Castaños, General Reding, French General Dupont and the heroine María Bellido. 

Third floor

An archeological room shows a sequenced narration of the history of Bailén. The material culture from the Paleolithic, the Copper Age, the Roman Empire and the Islamic occupation show us testimonies of human evolution adapted to their historical moment and the characteristics of the landscape of Bailén.

This floor also analyzes aspects as relevant as its natural heritage, as well as its powerful pottery industry, the base of the construction sector in our country.

Basement

Dedicated to the activities of diffusion, it contains one of the greatest attractions of the museum, a model of the Battlefield transferred from the Army's Museum, on which an audiovisual project shows the most relevant phases of the battle. On this floor, donated by José María de Montells y Galán, you may also find a collection of caps and helmets. This floor is completed by a conference hall and a big temporary exhibitions hall.

Timetable and Price List

In Winter:

From Wednesday to Sunday

10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

In Summer: (from 1st july)

From Wednesday to Sunday

De 11:00 a 14:00 horas
De 18:30 a 21:30 horas

Special celebrations commemorating the Battle of Bailén (17th to 22th July)

Everyday

11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

The museum will be closed the next days : january 1st, holy friday, may 1st, december 24th, 25th and 31st.

PRICE LIST:

Individual entrance: 2.5 euros

Reduced entrance *: 1.5 euros

* Reduced admission: Pensioners, unemployed, children up to 14 years old, people with disabilities, large families, groups of students (Special Education, Primary, Secondary and University Education Centers)

Groups entrance (minimum 10 people): 2 euros(mínimo 10 personas): 2 euros

Card « Friends of the Bailenense Heritage »: 1.5 euros

Friends of the Bailenense Heritage

The card of Amigos del Patrimonio Bailenense (friends of the bailenense heritage) is now available. For only 1.5 Euros and during two years you can benefit from some of the advantages offered by the Museum, like free entrance to the permanent exhibition, invitations to temporary exhibitions, visits or exclusive tours ... Besides,  be the first to find out about all the developments related to the Bailense Heritage. 

Contact et localisation

Príncipes de Asturias square

23710 Bailén (Jaén)

Phone: +34 953678394

Fax: +34 953678395

E-mail. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Download map of Bailén

Museum of the Battle of Bailén localisation [Click over the map for more details]

Assignment of spaces

The Museum of the Battle of Bailén counts with different spaces available to the public, such as a conference room, and a library that transform the museum into a referent for the organization of temporary exhibitions, the hosting of congresses and seminars, meetings, workshops, presentations, award ceremonies, small concerts... and so much more.

Forms:

    Request form for the assignment of the Conference Room (in spanish)

    Request form for the assignment of the Temporary Exhibition Hall. (in spanish)

History of the building

The current building stands on what once was an old mansion popularly known as "Casa de los Martínez" (Martínez's House), in order to host a permanent exhibition alluding to the Battle of Bailén of the 19th of July of 1808.

Going back to the time frame of the battle, a post office was located in this exact location, situated on the outskirts of the village and just on the edge of the Camino Real (Royal way). Given its proximity to the battlefield, it served as a Blood Hospital where the wounded soldiers were tended to on the day of the battle.

The architect in charge of drafting the museum's technical design was D. Rafael Ozáez Gutiérrez. He proposes a new construction formed by a basement, three floors and an attic that sum a total of about 1500 m². The volume of the building presents an allegorical form of a "cannon" (a key element in the development of the battle). Also, in the outer courtyard, two large spherical domes symbolize the ammunition of this gigantic piece of artillery.

After several years of waiting, its inauguration took place on the 19th of July of 2008, coinciding with the Bicentennial Celebration of the Battle of Bailén. Throughout time, the Museum has undergone a series of remodelations and rennovations, adapting and expanding its content to become a visual, interactive and novel experience where the history of Bailén is explored in depth.

Presentation

Welcome to the website of the Museum of the Battle of Bailén, a virtual platform where you can find all the information related to the museum: exhibitions, book presentations, conferences ...

Located in the Príncipes de Asturias Square, the Museum of the Battle of Bailén is mainly dedicated to the historical fact that gives it its name: The Battle of Bailén in 1808, which meant the first defeat in open field of the emperor Napoleón Bonaparte and caused a change in the course of the Spanish War of Independence (1808-1814).

Its main objective is to describe the local history, focusing on the Battle of Bailén, as well as to explore to the town from different points of view: patrimonial, historical and emotional. This will allow for a comprehensive dissemination of the most significant aspects and values of the city of Bailén.

To this end, the museum is designed as a space for documenting, conservation, research and dissemination, in which the details related to the conflict and the historical framework in which it was developed are analyzed. Moreover, the museum explores other aspects related to the city of Bailén, such as its remote past, its natural and ethnological heritage, its ceramic industry tradition, and the historical reenactment of the battle.