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The Sierra de Guara not only boasts beautiful and unique landscapes, but also offers lovers of art and culture the chance in it a rich and varied heritage. Of particular note are the numerous sites designated as Assets of Cultural Interest, such as: the Castle-Collegiate Church of Alquézar, Barbastro Cathedral, the chapel of Nuestra Señora de Treviño, and the sanctuary of Santa María de Dulcis.
These and many others are the gems that make up the artistic heritage of the Sierra de Guara:
Must-see sights in the Sierra de Guara
Casbas Monastery, the Sistine Chapel of Upper Aragon
Known as the ‘Sistine Chapel of Upper Aragon’ due to the enormous variety of shapes, figures and colours in its decoration. Among these, the Cistercian monastery of Nuestra Señora de Gloria, founded in the 12th century, undoubtedly stands out. Here is the full programme of visits for this summer.
Alquézar Castle and Collegiate Church
Of Islamic origin following the Reconquista, this Muslim fortress was converted into a Christian collegiate church, and in the centuries that followed, elements in a variety of artistic styles were added.
You can visit it by booking a tour; you can find all the information here.
The Collegiate Church of Santa María de Abiego
Originally a mosque and Moorish castle, it was converted into a church and Christian fortress following the Reconquista in 1095. In the 16th century, the present building, designed by Joan Torón, replaced the Romanesque church.
The church in Abiego is one of the most beautiful and harmonious examples of late rural Gothic architecture and the only one of its contemporaries in the Somontano region to have a Latin cross plan.
Contemporary art surrounded by nature
The Monument to the 20th Century, by Ulrich Rükriem. You’ll find it at kilometre 8 on the road from Abiego to Peraltilla, in a field next to the sheepfold.
The sculpture is not merely the 20 monoliths that make it up, but the landscape as a whole, shaped by human construction, where nature and art come together. Its mysterious geometric form is reminiscent of the sacred sites of the distant past, of prehistoric monoliths or menhirs standing in the open air, and it exudes a certain mystique.
Churches and chapels of exceptional value
The murals at San Fructuoso in Bierge
Mural paintings at San Fructuoso, Bierge. Although it is now merely a chapel, it once served as a parish church. The surviving paintings display a series of stylistic features that make them unmistakable, such as the use of vivid, bright colours, which were used particularly in the creation of stained-glass windows. And mark a step forward compared to Romanesque painting due to the fact that the figures compose scenes a9> the fact that the figures compose scenes.
San Andrés de Nasarre, a jewel of Romanesque architecture in Guara
To reach this church in the deserted village of Nasarre, you have to walk along a path that starts in Rodellar.
It dates back to the 11th century and has a unique feature that sets this church apart from other Romanesque buildings in the Larredano region: they are shorter, and many of them are decorated along their free edge with oblique incised bands, resembling rope work.
Shrine of Our Lady of Dulcis
Shrine of Our Lady of Dulcis, Buera. It is located about 2 km away, accessible by car via a track from the village of Buera.
Nothing about the church’s austere exterior gives any hint of the richness of the interior decoration. This is a characteristic feature of the Aragonese Baroque style. To arrange a visit, please call 620 057 721.
Hermitage of Treviño in Adahuesca
Dating back to the 13th century, it is the sole remaining part of an ancient monastery about which there are hardly any historical records, and which originally included a cloister.
According to tradition, the Virgin performed countless miracles for those who visited her church. These days, it’s well worth a visit to enjoy the beautiful light that bathes the surroundings at sunset.
San Miguel de Foces, one of the great treasures of Aragonese Gothic architecture
A temple and national monument, renowned for the 14th-century linear Gothic murals it houses. It’s well worth booking a visit; you can do so here.
Ethnographic heritage integrated into the landscape
Many other features also stand out for their ethnographic value and how seamlessly they blend into the landscape. These include charm-removing altars, shepherds’ huts, haylofts, mills, bridges, weirs, ice pits and traditional houses… images that will stay with you long after you’ve visited the Sierra de Guara.
We’ll leave it for another day to tell you in detail about the Vero River Cultural Park, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the recognised natural heritage of the Sobrarbe Geopark.
