Huesca Province

The province of Huesca in the north-western part of the Iberian Peninsula, is a natural paradise ready and waiting to be discovered.

The valley of the River Ebro, apart from being a natural frontier between the northern and southern parts of the autonomous community of Aragón, is the sink river that collects the water from most of the Pyrenean range of mountains.

Huesca province lies entirely within the influence of this river basin and is dominated by the natural barrier that is formed by the Pyrenean mountain chain. In the Aragonese section of the chain, the Pyrenees exhibit their most wild aspect and it’s here that the highest peaks are concentrated. This includes the peak of Aneto, which, at over 3,400 metres high, is the roof of the Pyrenees.

Huesca is a province of deep, silent, hidden valleys framed by rugged mountains and is a land that saw nascent kingdoms rise and join together as they gathered power and state control, to form the kingdom of Aragón, one of the most influential when it came to stitching together the patchwork of states that today forms Spain.

The province possesses a rich natural heritage, a feature that is only possible because of the intimate relation with water. This latter is important in the make-up of the tourist industry, as water sports are perhaps the most common in this part of the world.

White water sports are common in villages such as Ara and Gallego, and there are villages, such as Roda de Isábena that possess perhaps the greatest charm within the Huescan part of the Pyrenees.

Apart from this, the province boasts forests of original arboreal flora and fauna and a wide range of historical-architectonic monuments covering every major period from the small mozarabic church of Serrablo to the huge gothic cathedral of the city of Huesca.

Important to the economy and prestige of the province is the pilgrim route towards Santiago de Compostela which leads down towards the southern part of the province where it impinges on the northern part of the province of Zaragoza. Passing many classically preserved towns and villages the route takes in some of the most spectacular architectonic heritage of the whole of the Pyrenees. This includes the castle of Loarre, jewel in the crown of the province and one of the best examples of romanic architecture in Europe.

Passing further south the countryside changes to desert steppe country of Los Monegros, one of the most surprising areas that has been sculpted into fantastical terrain by the dual action of eons of wind and water.

More information: http://www.redaragon.com/turismo/espana/huesca.asp

Routes and Places worth a Visit

Anso is one of the first valleys that is reached when crossing into Aragón from the north and west. In this fertile region the people preserve ancient traditions of dress and housing and one of the many ancient historic town centres that conserve clay baked, brick built houses dating from hundreds of years ago.

The desert steppes of Los Monegros, the westernmost desert terrain of Europe, is an area located in the south of Huesca. There is a wide range of tourist interest here and the area has been designated as a Natural Park.

Castle of Loarre. This famous castle is a romanic fortress of exceptional historic value. Located on a rock promontory dominating the entire plain below, the castle was built in the 11th century, when Sancho III was king over both Navarra and Aragón, as an advance warning against Muslim invasion.

Important Fiestas

22 of January: the fiesta of San Vicente in Huesca capital city. The romaría of San Jorge happens here between the 9th and the 15th August.

Aínsa. June: romaría of the Virgin of Los Palacios. July: the International Music Festival of Aínsa.

Benasque. End of June is the traditional Ball of Benas in celebration of San Marcial.