The Province of Huesca is located within the 'Comunidad Aragonesa' which is made up of three provinces,
the other two being Zaragoza and Teruel. It is located between the Ebro valley
and the last foothills in the Pyrenees. Huesca has a mountinous landscape with
many ski slopes; it offers lots of possibilities for adventure sports. It has
a wonderful natural park 'el Parque Natural de Ordesa' with exceptional scenery
and is a very green province apart from one very dry area called 'los Monegros'.
There are lots of rivers in Huesca and many fruit trees (above all the area known
as el Bajo Cinca).
Huesca also has a large number of historical monuments,
some dating as far back as prehistoric times. There are also ancient churches,
aquaducts and lots of Roman and Moorish remains.
Huesca has a typical mediterranean
climate for a mountinous area. The winters are cold and summers not unpleasantly
hot apart from the higher areas where temperatures are more extreme both in summer
and winter. It snows and rains moderately from autumn to spring. Temperatures
range from 5ºc to 24ºc in the capital of the province.
Huesca
is very well connected to the following cities by road :Zaragoza - the
N-330; Barcelona - the Barcelona - Zaragoza motorway taking the Lérida
exit and joining the N240 road to Huesca; Fraga - the A-131; Pamplona the A-132; and Madrid - the N-330 to Zaragoza and then the motorway to
Madrid. It is also connected by rail to Zaragoza-Valencia-Barcelona and Huesca-Madrid. The nearest airport is in Zaragoza 71 kms away. From there
you can catch a flight to Barcelona, Madrid, Frankfurt, Palma and Tenerife.
Huesca city
Huesca city was founded by the Romans in 1B.C. It was called the Independent State of Osca. In the 8th century it fell under Muslim control and remained a Muslim bastion for 4 centuries. From 1096 to 1118 Huesca became the captial of the region thanks to Pedro de Aragón. Later Zaragoza became the capital.
Huesca has 49,000 inhabitants. It has two rivers running through it, the Flumen and the Isuela.
The Tourist Information Office is located in the 'Plaza Luis López Allué'. Visitors to Huesca can buy a 'Tourist Card' which gives significant discounts to over 100 establishments. There is also a night time guided tour of the old quarters of the city...
Churches in Huesca
- The
Cathedral: (Plaza de la Catedral, Tel: 974 220 676) Gothic style with some
Moorish elements. Building began in 1354. Its most outstanding feature is its
alabaster altar by Damià Forment.
- Iglesia de San Pedro
el viejo: (Plaza de San Pedro) Roman style. It has interesting stalls
dating back to 1606 and houses the tombs of the Kings of Aragon.
- Basílica
de San Lorenzo: (Plaza de San Lorenzo) Baroque style. Built in 1606 by public
subscription. It has paintings by Vicente Berdusan and Jiusepe Martínez.
- Iglesia de San Vicente: 18th century
- Iglesia de
Santo Domingo: Baroque style
- Iglesia de San Miguel: Medieva
- Iglesia
de Santa María de Salas: Medieval
Monuments in Huesca
- The Town Hall: This is in a Renaissance style. It was
built between the 16th and 17th centuries by Miguel Altué. The most important
thing to see is the 19th century painting 'La Campana de Huesca'. The Town Hall was built upon the remains of the Roman city by Quinto Sertorio.
It houses the Tourist Board and the Town's archives.
- El Mirador de
Guara: You can see the 'Tozal de Guara', the highest mountain peak
in the area at 2,077 metres above sea level from here.
- Huesca
University: This was the first university in the province and one of the most
important between the 14th and 19th centuries. It was created in 1354 and closed
in 1845.
- The City Wall: Built by the Moors in the 9th century,
still standing today
- Diputación Provincial: Modernist
style
- Palacio Real Universidad: 12th century. Roman
architecture. This factory has been remodelled on several occasions between the
13th and the 14th centuries.
- Coso: 20th century
- Porches:
20th century
- Casino: 20th century
- Municipal
Park
Museums in Huesca
- The
Provincial Archeological Museum: (Plaza de la Universidad, Tel: 974-22 05
86). Modernist. This museum houses the Roman archeological remains found in the
province. It also has paintings from the Gothic period to primitive Aragon art,
from the 15th to 20th centuries.
- El Museo Catedralicio Diocesano
(the Religious Art Museum): (Plaza de la Catedral, 4): This museum has 2 rooms
dedicated to Medieval religious art. It houses important works by Bierge, a wooden
sculpture by Salas, 2nd century Roman busts...
- Centre
for Contempory Art in Aragon: This modern building was designed by Rafael
Moneo. It houses the Beulas collection.
Aragón is a little
known region. Traditionally an agricultural, fruit growing area. Its diverse landscape
and climate both play a part in the rich cuisine found in this part of Spain.
Simple dishes made with local ingredients.
The wines from the Somontano region
also deserve a mention. Very good whites, reds and rosés with their own
Denominación de Origen (D.O.). Teodoro Bardají is one of the best
exponents of Aragon cuisine and has created some excellent, imaginitive dishes.
Huesca Province
The province can be divided into 3 areas: The Pyrenees, Prepirineo (the area surrounding the Pyrenees) and the area known as 'los Llanos'.
- The Pyrenees: Ribagorza,
Alto Gallego, Sobrarbe and Jacetania
- Prepirineo (the area surrounding
the Pyrenees): Somontano de Barbate, Hoya de Huesca, Cinca Medio and La Litera.
- Los
Llanos: Monegros and Bajo Cinca.
- Comarca de Jacetania: This
is the birthplace of the kingdom of Aragon. It is a high mountinous area located
within the Pyrenees.
- Jaca: The capital of this area. Not to
be missed: San Pedro Cathedral (11th century), Iglesia del Carmen, Iglesia de
Santiago and las Benedictinas, the fortress and the 16th century Clock Tower.
- San Juan de la Peña Monastery: Dates back to the 9th century.
It houses the Royal tombs of the kings of Aragon. Interesting cloister.
- San
Pedro de Sirena Monastery
- Santa Cruz de la Serós:
There are two interesting churches: Iglesia de Santa María and San Capracio.
- Castiello de Jaca
- El Grado: The Grado reservoir
and the Torreciudad sanctury were built in memory of José María
Escrivá de Balaguer, the founder of Opus Dei.
- Enate:
Very good wines made here.
- Santa María de Iguacel
- Valle de Ansó: This is an espeially pretty valley. Not
to be missed: A 16th century Gothic church, which houses a museum of regional
costumes.
- Valle de Hecho: A very beautiful valley. A festival
of modern sculpture takes place in this small village every year. The whole village
is decorated with the winning sculptures from previous festivals. Very picturesque.
- Siresa:
This is a village in Hecho valley. Not to be missed: 11th century Iglesia de San
Pedro.
- Alto Gállego: High mountinous area
located in the Pyrenees. Megalithic remains, Roman roads, ski slopes, adventure
sports...
- Ruta de Serrablo: Roman churches.
- Sabiñánigo:
Museo de Artes Populares del Serralbo (Tradtional Art Museum).
- Larrés:
Museo del Dibujo.
- Biescas: Dolmen de Santa Elena and the Santa
Elena chapel.
- Piedrahita de Jaca: Parque de Lacuniacha (safari
park).
- Valle del Tena:
- Puerto de Somport ski resort
- Formigal, Panticosa, Partacua, Astún.
- Other sports: hiking, canoeing and fishing in Sallent de Gállego
and the surrounding areas.
- Balneario de Panticosa (thermal spa)
, Lanuza and Búbal reservoirs. International Culture Festival (July in
Lanuza).
- Ribagorza: Located in the
peaks of the Pyrenees, there are valleys and snow all year round, lots of historical
monuments, churches, bridges, castles, chapels, monasteries and more....Adventure
sports: rafting, hiking, climbing canoeing, cycling, fishing, hunting and horse
riding...
- Arén: Prehistoric remains
- La Puebla
de Castro: Remains of ancient Roman city of Labitolosa
- La Roda
de Isábena: Roman Cathedral, the smallest in Spain built in 1067. Not
to be missed: the 12th century cloister and the dome with 12th century frescos.
- Benasque: The Condes de Ribagorza renaissance palace and
Iglesia de Santa María Mayor (13th century). Maladeta mountain range with
2 peaks Aneto and el Posets, located in the Posets-Madaleta Natural Park (since 1993), there are 13 glaciers, 95 lakes and a lot of vegetation
- Graus:
La Peña Monastery and the Plaza Porticada.
- Cerler. Ski resort
- Fantova: Medieval buildings
and monuments.
- Perarrúa:Medieval buildings and monuments.
- Montañana: Historical monuments, this area has been declared
'Patrimonio Artístico' (of special artistic interest).
- Sobrarbe: Located in the Pyrenees, this area has a lot of prehistoric remains.
Beautiful valleys and scenery.
- Ordesa National Park:
Prehistoric remains, the 'Perdido' mountain, 4 glacial canyons (Garganta de Añisclo,
de Pineta, Esccuain and Valle de Ordesa). There is a 70 metre precipice called
the 'Cola de Caballo' (the horse's tail), Torla village. The park has a lot of
animals and plants typical to the Pyrenees: foxes, wild boars, mountain goats,
eagles...and edelweiss, wild orchids...
- Rivers: The Vero, Ribagorza and Alcanadre: You can go rafting or canoeing...
- Aínsa
and Voltañá: Signs of ancient civilisations can be seen in its
houses and streets.
- Valle de Canfranc: Ski resort Candanchú.
- Tella: Megalithic remains.
- La Sierra and The Guara canyons: Prehistoric remians
- Somontano de Barbate: Located between the high peaks
of the Pyrenees and the flat area 'los llanos'. A wine producing area with lots
of tourist facilities. Prehistoric remains. Adventure sports.
- Barbastro:
This is the capital of the area. It has a Cathedral - Santa María, 16th
century and a Religious museum. The house where José María Escrivá
de Balaguer was born is also here. Argensola Palace, and the 'Museo de los Mártires
Claretianos' (Martyr's museum). The Somontano wine cellars (D.O.)
- Alquezar: Prehistoric remains. Mountains and canyons.
- Río
Vero and the surrounding area: Now an official Cultural Park due to cave paintings and archeological remains, Moorish buildings and fortresses,
Roman and Baroque chapels.
- Bierge: Iglesia de San Andrés
de Nasarre.
- Abiego: Iglesia de San Agustín.
- Hoya de Huesca:
- Loarre Castle:
Located 30 Kms from Ayerbe, 30 Kms from Huesca. It was built in the 11th century
upon a former Roman castle under the orders of Sancho I de Aragón. Interesting
murals and Roman church.
- Montearagón Castle:
This castle occupies an important place in Aragon's history.
- Bolea:
Santa María Collegiate , 16th century. Interesting altar.
- San
Martín de Val d'Onsera: Marvellous village.
- Eyerbe:
It has an interesting clock tower.
- Mallos de Siglos and Agüeros: These villages have been dug out from the moutainside.
- Cinca Medio: The Cinca river passes through this
agricultural area. There are historic monuments, chapels, castles, palaces and
renaissance and medieval monasteries.
- Monzón:
Monzón castle where Jaime I lived. Since 1143 it has belonged to the 'Orden
del Temple'. Also Santa María Cathedral del Romeral.
- Fonz:
Interesting Townhall which was once the residence of the Bishops of Lérida.
Its old quarters is full of mansions typical to the area.
- Alcolea
- Almunia de San Juan
- La Litera:
Located on the border with Cataluña between the Pyrenees and the flat area
'los llanos'. An important agricultural area with several rivers running through
it (the Cinca, Ribera Ribagorzana and the Aragón and Cataluña canal).
- Binefar: Iglesia de San Pedro, Gothic, 16th century.
Famous for it chef Teodoro Bardají, one of the best for traditional Aragonese
cuisine.
- Tamarite
- Peralta de Calasanz
- Esplús
- Camporrels
- Baldellou
- Monegros : A barren, dry area. Interesting rock formations made by erosion over the centuries.
- Los Monearos: Lots of salt lakes. 'La Laguna de
Sariñena': This is a natural reserve full of wild plants and animals
such as hares, rabbits, wild boars...
- Villanueva de Sijena:
Santa María Monastery (a National Monument).
- Lanaja:De
las Fuentes Charterhouse, 18th century. It houses paintings by Manuel Bayeu.
- Tardienta: Iglesia de Santiago el mayor. You can go for a camel
ride in the aerodrome.
- Castejón de Monearos: Castle
- Sangarrén: A fortress.
- Leciñena:
La Virgen de Magallón.
- Bajo Cinca: A
lot of historic remains and ancient settlements. The Cinca, Segre and Ebro rivers
pass through this agricultural area (above all a fruit growing area)
- Fraga: Villa Fortunatus, The first Roman settlement in
Spain. Iglesias de San Miguel, de San Pedro. Montcada Palace.
- Belver
de Cinca: la Iglesia de Nuestra Sra.de la Asunción
- Ontiñena:
Iglesia de Santa María la mayor.
- Ballovar: San Roque
chapel.
- Osso de Cinca: Iglesia de Santa Margarita and castle
- Maquinenza: Acuabarreig, a natural reserve
for birds. International rowing competitions take place in its reservoir.
- Ribarroja: Ribarroja reservoir.
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