What to do in the Aragonese Pyrenees

If you want to know what to do in the Aragonese Pyrenees, we will tell you that it offers you a multitude of fun plans. And that these range from the cultural to the sporting through contact with a wonderful nature. All this without forgetting the enjoyment of a magnificent gastronomy.

Regarding the first, this area has beautiful towns full of charm and monuments. Regarding sports, it has magnificent ski resorts and, to enjoy the surroundings, you can see spectacular hiking trails. Likewise, after so much activity, there is the option of trying dishes such as migas del pastor or mountain asparagus to regain strength. But, without further ado, we are going to propose plans to do in the Aragonese Pyrenees.

Location of the Aragonese Pyrenees and how to get there

This beautiful area corresponds to the north of the province of Huesca. Specifically, it extends from its western valleys, which border on Navarre to Ribagorza region, which does it with Catalonia. It has almost two hundred peaks that exceed three thousand meters in height, among them the Aneto, the Monte Perdido and the Posets.

It is also an area of natural parks, protected areas, glaciers, lakes and large meadows with forests that has a spectacular beauty. It is an area populated by species such as the brown bear, the bearded vulture, the golden eagle, the chamois or the stoat. As if all this were not enough, its peoples have known how to preserve the traditional architecture of the area and its monuments.

Getting to the Aragonese Pyrenees will be very easy for you. Have railway line to Huescabut the best way to do it is by bus or in your own car. Regarding the first, the most important towns in the area are connected to each other, with Pony and with the capital of the province.

As for traveling with your own vehicle, the main roads that connect these towns are the N-330, which passes through the aforementioned Pony and goes to Candanchú, and the N-260, which reaches Biescas. For its part, the A-136 takes you up Formigal. But, more important is that we already talk to you about what to do in the Aragonese Pyrenees.

enjoy skiing

In this part of the Pyrenees you have magnificent ski resorts. So much so that the province of Huesca is a place of pilgrimage for lovers of this sport. There are five in total and they also offer you the option of practicing other winter activities such as snowboard.

The most important is the Formigal station, which is one of the best in Spain. It is located in the course of the Gállego river and has no less than 141 kilometers of ski slopes. Likewise, it offers them for all types of practitioners, from apprentices to experts. However, possibly the best snow is in the Sarrios Valley. Finally, you have numerous accommodations in it and even fun for after skiing, with places like the Marchica nightclub terrace.

It is also classic Candanchú station, which, inaugurated in 1928, is the oldest in Spain. It has fifty skiable kilometers. However, although it has a beginners area, it's hard. It has 16 red slopes and 13 black ones, which are of high difficulty, as well as with fairly steep slopes.

For its part, the Panticosa station has unified the lump sum with that of Formigal for a few years to add, between them, a total of 180 kilometers of tracks. But the best thing about her is its historic spa, where you can enjoy medicinal waters that the Romans already knew.

The ski offer in the Aragonese Pyrenees is completed by Cerler and Astún stations. The first has 77 skiable kilometers with 10 green slopes, that is, those of less difficulty. However, it also offers you plenty of reds and blacks. As to Astún's, is smaller, with 40 marked kilometers. In addition, it offers ten skiable itineraries for experts to practice medium distance. It is the youngest of the resorts in Huesca and has a distribution of slopes, chairlifts and services that make it very comfortable.

Beautiful hiking trails, among the best things to do in the Aragonese Pyrenees

The Aragonese Pyrenees has wonderful places such as the National Park of Ordesa and Monte Perdido, with an area of ​​almost sixteen thousand hectares. You will get an idea of ​​its beauty from the fact that it receives about six hundred thousand visitors every year. Likewise, it is a declared space Biosphere Reserve, Special Protection Zone for Birds and even Heritage.

Among the wonderful routes that you can do in this place are those that take you to the Monte Perdido, those who pass through the impressive Acisclo Canyon or the ones that go through the valleys of Ordesa and Pineta. Regarding the latter, we want to highlight the route to the famous Cinca river waterfalls both for its beauty and its simplicity. It barely lasts four hours and has a drop of six hundred meters.

A little more difficult, but equally spectacular, is the route that goes through the Vero river footbridges. Leaves the beautiful town of Alquézar and passes by the well-known hammerhead cave. In addition, in it you can practice canyoning.

Less known than the previous one is the area of ​​the Gistaín valley, located between that and the Ribagorza. In your case, it belongs to Posets Maladeta Natural Park and stands out especially for its peaks of up to three thousand meters and, above all, for its ibones or Pyrenean lakes of glacial origin. Between these, those of Basa de Mora and Millares. However, if we talk about these lakes, perhaps the most famous are those of Anayet, which are located in the municipal area of Sallent de Gállego at the foot of the homonymous peak.

Precisely, guarding the Gállego river, you have another of the most popular mountain formations in the Aragonese Pyrenees. we talk about the Mallos de Riglos. These are peculiar geological formations perfect for climbing. For all these places you have precious hiking trails that are among the best things to do in the Aragonese Pyrenees.

Visit wonderful towns

But we cannot forget in our recommendations to tell you about towns that are a monument in themselves. It would be impossible for us to explain to you what to see in all of them. Therefore, we will take some of the most beautiful as a sample. But you could also reach out to others like Castejon de Sos, the already mentioned Alquézar, Ayerbe, Bielsa o Tella. Logically, without forgetting the precious jackfruit, located a little further south.

Aínsa, an authentically medieval town

Located in the region of Overbearing, this villa will transport you to the past because it has preserved all its medieval charm. Its old town with narrow cobbled streets, as well as framed by traditional houses, belongs to this period.

But the great symbol of the town is the Ainsa castle. Its construction began in the XNUMXth century, although it received extensions until the XNUMXth century. However, a good part of its elements are Romanesque. Among its dependencies, the parade ground and the gate that opens it to the Plaza Mayor stand out. But above all, the tower of the Tenant, with a pentagonal plan, which today is an eco-museum.

Equally Romanesque is the church of Santa Maria, consecrated in the twelfth century. Its cover stands out with four archivolts supported by columns. For her part, the fire cross It is a free-standing temple that is located where, according to legend, a flaming cross appeared that guided the Christian army. Finally, you have to see stately homes in Aínsa such as those of Bielsa and ArnalBoth from the XNUMXth century.

Loarre and its famous castle

No less spectacular than the previous one, Loarre also has one of the castles best preserved of Europe. It dates from the XNUMXth century and is Romanesque in style. It was built by order of Sancho Garcés III of Pamplona as a fortified outpost of the Navarrese limits. And, at the same time, to serve as a base to attack the nearby town of bolea.

Next to this magnificent building, you have to visit in Loarre the St. Stephen's Church, built in the XNUMXth century on the remains of another from the XNUMXth century, of which the chapel and the tower are preserved. And, likewise, the hermitages of Santa Águeda, Romanesque, from Santa Marina y de San Juan. But above all, the Hospice, a jewel of the Aragonese Renaissance that was the seat of the Town Hall.

Botaya

No less beautiful is the town of Botaya, also with medieval features. In this you can visit the Romanesque hermitages of San Clemente and San Miguel, dated in the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries. later are those of San Adrián, Santa María and the Santísima Trinidad. But, above all, this villa stands out for its proximity to the Monastery of San Juan de la Peña.

Located in a marvelous enclave, with the mountain embracing it, if we are to listen to the legend, this monastery guarded the Holy Grail. It was built in the XNUMXth century, but there is evidence of the existence of an earlier one. It also houses a royal pantheon where some of the most important kings of Navarre and Aragon. This Aragonese Romanesque jewel is a must for those who come to the Pyrenees in the area.

Enjoy the Aragonese gastronomy

Finally, you cannot leave the Aragonese Pyrenees without trying its delicious cuisine. The dishes that make it up are as tasty as they are strong. Not in vain, they were specially created to meet the needs of the harsh life in these territories.

Precisely, one of the most popular recipes is that of the mountain asparagus, which, despite its name, have nothing to do with this plant. It is a stew made with the tails of lambs in brine, peppers, onion and other ingredients. They are also widely consumed shepherd's crumbs and ternasco or lamb a la pastora.

As regards fish, the trout of the Pyrenean rivers. But above all, the cod, which is made to the ajoarriero, to the chilindrón or to the baturra (with boiled egg and potatoes). For her part, the Ribagorza cake it is a kind of empanada; the chiretas a sausage that carries rice, ham, bacon and other parts of the pig and in Graus a delicious is made sausage. Finally, as pastry products, we advise you to try the anise cakes, refollau and breaded.

In conclusion, we have shown you some of the best plans What to do in the Aragonese Pyrenees. But this land offers you so many possibilities that we have had to leave other options unanswered such as relax in the aforementioned Panticosa spa o visit the Pirenarium, a theme park on these mountains located in Sabinanigo. Dare to live all these experiences.