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Trails · Bárcabo

Ruta Sierreta de Arbe

Details

Situation

Sobrarbe

Station

All year round. Without snow

Duration (approx.)

7h

Difficulty rating (M.I.D.E.)

M: 3. I: 2. D: 2. E: 4

Type of route

Lineal

Elevation gain

+800 -800 m

BTT

90% ciclable

Car combination

No

Description

History and culture
The Sierra de Arbe forms the geographical boundary between the Somontano and the Sobrarbe regions. The name ‘Sobrarbe’ may well derive from this: ‘Above Mount Arbe’. The views of the two regions are spectacular from the Hermitage of San Benito, situated on one of the highest points of the mountain range. Equally impressive is the panoramic view of the southern slopes of the Pyrenees. The village of Bárcabo is home to many stately homes steeped in history, as well as its 12th-century Romanesque church, restored in the 17th and 18th centuries in the Baroque style. The chimneys are curious, with objects placed at the top to ward off superstitions.
Another village that catches the eye is Olsón, home to the Church of Santa Eulalia, considered the cathedral of Sobrarbe. It dates from the 16th century and features a Renaissance portico-altarpiece. On a stone in the corner next to the cemetery, we can see the date construction began, and on the door bolt, the date it was completed.
Between Olsón and Hospitaled lies Espluguiello Castle. These are the ruins of an ancient 11th-century castle that formed part of the defensive line between the Christian kingdom of Sobrarbe and the Muslim kingdom of Alquézar. Next to it are the remains of a Romanesque church and a settlement believed to be Iberian. It is striking to see the sandstone rock chiselled to create channels to direct rainwater into wells dug nearby for storage. Other holes in the rocks indicate that there were wooden beams there, suggesting that the site was also used for housing.
Continuing along the route, you come to the village of Hospitaled, where the church bears the inscription: “On 16 October 1557, the Bishop of Huesca, Don Pedro Agustín, consecrated this church”, bearing witness to the importance of this entire area at that time.
Every year, the inhabitants of Olsón hold a pilgrimage to the chapel of San Benito.

Description
1- Bárcabo
2- Campo Royo
3 – San Benito
4- Olsón
5 – Castle of Hospitaled
6- Hospitaled
7- Bárcabo
1 – We will start this route in Bárcabo and will visit one of the places most forgotten places in the Sierra de Guara and the surrounding area. We can park our car at the side of the road on many of the open spaces that are on the side of the village.
2- On the road and taking as a reference the direction Lecina-Almazorre, at the height of the first houses, a track branches off to the right, we will take this track and we will climb up it until we reach the top the viewpoint of Camporroyo.
3- Once we’ve reached the top, we’ll head down towards Suelves, keeping an eye on our left, after a few short metres we will find the entrance to a path barely marked which later becomes a path ,this is the one we’re taking. We will follow it (always along the top of the hill), we will pass through Peñarubia and shortly afterwards reach the chapel of San Benito.
4- This chapel is reached by several paths, but we have to go back a a122> little back to where we have come and take a path in the direction of Olsón. This path leads out on the north side and to our right. We will continue along it without taking any turn-offs. It is very obvious and furthermore at all times we have the village of Olsón in sight as a reference point.
5- When we reach to Olsón we will cross the village and, as we leave it, at the height of the last house we will take a path that leads off to the left. We will ignore all the junctions, and we’ll take the main and most obvious one. Arriving at the height of Erípol (a village which lies to our up to the right) on the left hand on top of a hillock we will find the ruins of the castle of Espluguiello.
6- After visiting the ruins of the castle we will continue along the path which will lead us to Hospitaled.
7- Opposite the road along which we have arrived and in the same direction, one sets off towards Bárcabo. This is our last section of the route.

Ficha técnica

Image gallery

Sierreta de Arbe
Sierreta de Arbe-2
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