Things to do

There are many places of interest in the local area which are ideal to visit on a rest day or combine with a shorter walk. Please note entrance fees are not included in the price of your holiday.

San Juan de la Pena Jaca
Citadela Jaca cathedral
Loarre castle Parque Faunistico
Artouste mountain railway Spa
Golf Scenic flights

San Juan de la Pena

Lying on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route, the two monasteries of San Juan de la Pena are one of Aragon's most famous sites. The old monastery is built under overhanging red cliffs. The building uses a mixture of stonework and natural rock as it's walls.

The highlight is the twelfth century Romanesque cloister. Each capital is exquisitely carved with a scene from the bible.

Following a series of fires the new monastery was built in a higher location. A museum stands over the excavation site of the original building. Cleverly designed with a glass floor you can look down on the excavations below as you walk around the museum. A seventeenth century monastery with a Baroque facade completes the complex.

Jaca

The original capital of Aragon, Jaca was the seat for the early kings of the region. The old town has a lively atmosphere and it's winding streets are a great place to spend an afternoon browsing the shops and sampling tapas from one of the many bars.

The Citadela

Jaca's sixteenth century fort features an unusual pentagonal layout. It's low thick walls were unlike previous castles in the Iberian peninsula and were designed to withstand canon fire.

Loin the locals in their daily paseo, wandering around the citadela's walls, observing the herd of deer that now live in the moat.

Jaca cathedral

Built in the eleventh century, Jaca's cathedral was the first Spanish to be built in the French Romanesque style. The cathedral houses the Museo Diocesano with frescoes and sculptures from churches throughout the Pyrenees.

The square surrounding the cathedral is a good place to relax with a coffee or sample some of the excellent local wines.

Loarre castle

Northern Spain's most spectacular castle was built in the eleventh century to resist the Moorish occupation. More recently Loarre's towers and dungeons have been used as the setting for the film 'Kingdom of Heaven'. Read our full article on Loarre castle here.

Parque faunistico

A mountain biopark designed to show the indigenous flora and fauna of the Pyrenees. Following the way-marked trail you'll see chamois, ibex, wolf, bison, reindeer, Przewalski horses and if you're lucky the elusive Lynx.

Spa

Spend a few hours relaxing in a sauna, turkish bath, hotbed, whirlpool or jacuzzi. Massages and treat ments are also available. The perfect way to revive aching muscles.

Artouste mountain railway

Built in 1924 to serve a hydroelectric project the highest narrow gauge railway in Europe is just over the French border. A cable car takes you up to 1900m and the start of the track. The train journey to Lac D'Artouste takes fifty minutes where you can have a picnic soaking in the views or walk round the lake before returning.

Golf

There are two 18 hole courses in the area. Clubs can be hired at both courses.

Scenic Flights

See the routes you've walked from the air with a scenic flight. There's a variety of lengths of flight with prices starting at 65 euros per person for a thirty minute flight (minimum two people).