Situation
La Tejería, Casbas de Huesca
Station
All year round. Without snow
Duration (approx.)
1h
Difficulty rating (M.I.D.E.)
Type of route
Lineal
Elevation gain
+200 m
BTT
Car combination
No
History and culture
Bathed in sunlight and nestled between the Calcón and Vadiello reservoirs, there stand huge conglomerate rock formations which, at dawn and dusk, take on a deep orange hue. Beneath these majestic walls, making the most of the rock, stands the monastery of San Cosme and San Damián.
Leaving the pine forest, the path plunges to the bottom of the ravine, passing a series of hermitages and fountains until it reaches the monastery. Amidst the song of goldfinches, chaffinches, buntings and blackcaps, we come across a series of hermitages, many of them in ruins. The hermitages of the Virgin of La Fabana, Saint Gregory, the Spring of La Fuen Santa and Saint Úrbez lead us to the architectural complex of Saints Cosmas and Damian. It is a hermitage-monastery of great devotion in the area, attracting pilgrimages from nearby villages. By 1396, it already had a brotherhood of devotees based in Huesca.
The sanctuary is owned by the Azlor family (Dukes of Villahermosa and Counts of Guara), and was later taken over by the clergy.
It features a guesthouse for pilgrims, a residence for the Counts, a central landscaped square with a cross, and several springs in the surrounding area.
Description
1- Pantano de Calcón
2- La Tejería (Parking)
3- Pista
4- Virgen de Fabana
5- San Gregorio
6- Fuensanta
7- San Úrbez
8- San Cosme y San Damián
1 – Before arriving and parking our car, we can head over to the Calcón reservoir. Its dam is visible from the road. When you reach the buildings of the Confederación Hidrográfica, turn right.
2 – You can use the car park by these buildings or take the path on the left until you reach a large stone and adobe house on your right, La Tejería; this is where the route begins.
3 – We’ll continue on foot along the track, ignoring any turn-offs we come across; we simply need to follow the main, most obvious path (signposted).
4 – Once at the top of a small hill, we’ll be able to see both the Vadiello reservoir and most of the chapels we’ll be visiting. The first, right on a bend, is dedicated to the Virgin of La Fabana.
5 – Shortly afterwards, on another bend, we come to the chapel of San Gregorio
6 – Continuing along the path, the chapel of La Fuen Santa appears amongst the vegetation. This is a good spot to have a bite to eat and sample the benefits of its waters.
7 – San Úrbez is our next stop.
8 – This is where the path ends, and where we’ll find this magnificent rock sanctuary. The return journey follows the same route as the outward journey, but if you’re keen for more, on the way back a path to the left (signposted) leads to the Huevo de San Cosme, a striking monolith sculpted by erosion that is well worth a look.
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