What to do
The Huesca Pyrenees is the ideal place to carry out a number of varied activities outdoors. Adventure sports, hiking, nature, ravines, mountains and cultural heritage are all ingredients in a cocktail that will fill your leisure time when visiting to our land. We live in a privileged area for this sort of activities.
With the cultural riches and heritage of the Sobrarbe region, the range of places to visit is as wide as it is interesting.
Sports
Hiking
At the Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park Information Office located in Escalona, you will find information and guidance on the many activities that you can undertake in the area.
· Departing from Escalona, you can follow a number of simple routes with clear indications along the way (short routes, PR), as well as the Ethnographic route of the rafters (Senda etnográfica de los nabateros) and the route that leads to the spring Fuente de los Baños, with mineral and medicinal waters. In the vicinity, there are also long signalled routes (GR 19, GR 15 and GR 11). The mountaineering routes to Peña Monañesa, Castillo Mayor and Sestrales deserve a special mention.
Days out:
it is worth visiting the following sites, which are located in different natural parks: Valle de Pineta, Valle de Añisclo, Gargantas de Escuaín, Valle de Gistaín, Valle de Biados, Valle de Ordesa, Valle de Barrosa, Sierra de Guara (Natural Park) and the French Pyrenees National Park.
Adventure Sports
Mountain bike:
Departing from Escalona there are many paths and routes that will fulfil the expectations of both experts in this sport and those who are new to this sport.
Water sports:
rafting, kayaking, canoeing, hydrospeed/riverboarding. Many of the companies in this industry are based in Aínsa and some of the best instructors run courses there.
Air sports:
There are light aircrafts in Aínsa and a paragliding school in Castejón de Sos.
Cross-country skiing:
The Fanlo and Bielsa courses are very close to the area.
Speleology, caves:
The Escuain and Sistema Arañonera areas have been acknowledged as two of the best in Europe, though for those starting out there are simpler caves such as Cueva del moro or Buerba.
Snow rackets and ski mountaineering:
There are many interesting and varied routes, suitable for different levels.
Rock and ice climbing:
Routes in Ordesa, Castillo Mayor, Peña Montañesa and ice in Barrosa and Tunel de Bielsa.
4x4
4X4 and quad bike rides:
There are a number of routes with breathtaking natural landscapes or access to the mountain lakes.
Other sports
Alpine skiing:
The French resort of Piau-Engaly is located 40 km away from Escalona, on the north side of the Pyrenees. The resort is renowned for the quality of its snow. The ski resorts of Saint Lary Soulan and Cerler are 55 and 65 km away, respectively.
Horseriding:
There are riding schools in the villages of Banastón-Ainsa, Bielsa, Saravillo, Sarvise, and Margurgued. There are also companies that organise rides around the beautiful spots in the area.
Fishing:
Rivers such as the Cinca River, Bellos River and Ara River have good concentrations of trout. Zander and perch are commonly found in the Pantano de Mediano.
Hunting:
Wild boar and chamois; there is also a hunting preserve for small animals in Ceresa.
Mushroom hunting:
Fungi found in the area are varied and abundant both in autumn and spring (mushrooms, false morels, cantarelus, “shaggy parasols”, “saffron milk caps”, basidiomycetes, ...).
Canyons
Canyoneering:
You are close to the basin of the Rivers Yaga, Cinca, Yesa, Biandico, where you can find some of the best canyons in the Pyrenees. Well-known routes, such as El Mirabal, Consusa superior, Las Gloces, Fornos, Yesa and Escuain, are now within your reach. Going a bit deeper inland, you will come across the spectacular Canyons of the Sierra de Guara.
Climbing:
Peña Montañesa, Monte Perdido, Posets, Bachimala, Cotiella.
Cultural activities
Religious heritage- Civil heritage
- Fairs and celebrations
- Traditional town festivals
Museums in the Sobrarbe region
- Ainsa: Museo de Oficios y Artes Tradicionales (Museum of Trades and Traditional Arts) and Eco Museo Castillo de Aínsa (Natural Museum “Castillo de Aínsa”)
- Bielsa: Museo de Bielsa (carnivals and the “Bolsa de Bielsa” war episode)
- Escalona: Eco museo de los Nabateros (Natural Museum of the Rafters)
- Escuaín: Museo del quebrantahuesos (Museum of the Bearded Vulture)
- Lafortunada: Museo pirenaico de la electricidad (Pyrenean Museum of Electricity)
- Morillo de Tou: Museo de la Alfarería Tradicional Aragonesa (Museum of Traditional Aragonese Pottery)
- Paúles de Sarsa: Molino de Pedro Buil (Windmill of Pedro Buil)
- Tella: Centro de Visitantes-Casa del Molino (Visitors’ centre-Windmill House) and Casa Carrasco
- Torla: Museo Etnológico (Ethnological Museum) Centro de Visitantes (Visitors’ Centre) the Parador and the Sensory Centre “Casa Oliván”
Villages et endroits intéressants:
Aínsa (medieval historical monument), the ruins of the St Victorian Monastery (under the Peña Montañesa), the religious and military centre of Muro de Roda (in La Fueva), medieval castles in Samitier and Abizanda. Small, picturesque villages, such as Bestué, Vió, Fanlo, Tella, etc.