Prepirenaica Slow

SALTO DE ROLDÁN AND SAN JULIÁN GORGES ARE TWO UNIQUE ROCKY LANDSCAPES HIDING AMAZING PREHISTORIC HERMITAGES HABITED IN MIDDLE AGES. RIDING AT THE FOOT OF GUARA, CABALLERA AND LOARRE MOUNTAIN RANGES PEACEFUL AND CHARMING VILLAGES ARE FOUND, SETTLED IN THEIR FERTILE FOOTHILLS. THE STAGE FINISHES IN LOARRE PASSING UNDER ITS RENOWNED MEDIEVAL CASTLE.

From Virgen del Viñedo Shrine the route heads towards Barluenga by unpaved roads. It goes to San Julián de Banzo by a local road, passing close to the walls where San Martín de la Val de Onsera hermitage is placed. From San Julián, the route goes down to Flumen River Valley having amazing views of the huge conglomerate walls of Salto de Roldán.

Then is time to climb up towards Apiés and the uninhabited village of Lienas. In Apiés there are two choices: taking the local road going straight to Sabayés (the easiest one) or following the GPS track going through crops and pine forests by dirt roads. The roads meet in Sabayés refuge&interpretation centre, where the route continues by a narrow local road passing under the highway towards Nueno.

The track surrounds Nueno’s Mudejar church and heads towards Lierta by unpaved roads passing close to San Julián Gorges and its hermitage. In this section, there is a short but steep slope before starting the descent to Lierta. A beautiful scenic road at the foot of Gratal Peak heads to Bolea, passing by the picturesque village of Puibolea.

In Bolea, we must stop to admire its Colegiata, a Gothic church declared National Historic-Artistic Monument. There are also shops and restaurants where we can take a break. From Bolea to Loarre the track is shared with Camino Natural de la Hoya de Huesca (garnet signs). It goes through oak forests to the village of Aniés, where Virgen de la Peña hermitage is placed. Finally, on a ride through almond trees under the beautiful silhouette of the medieval Loarre Castle, the village of Loarre is reached.