We are not going to deny it, Jaca has plenty of atmosphere to spend a whole weekend among its cobbled alleys, from bar to bar and from pincho to pincho. The city, one of the most beautiful in the province of Huesca, is famous among lovers of good food, skiing and hiking.
We declare ourselves truly enthusiastic about the latter. Huesca, natural paradise, has some of the most beautiful forests in Spain : fir trees so tall that you will not be able to see their end in the sky, pines, holly trees and endless animals, that if you are quiet enough, you will be able to hear and see with your own eyes.
We set course for one of its peaks, for them the most familiar of all, and for those who are not used to it, a summit with a lot of personality at more than 1,700 meters high -what a little joke-, from which you will be able to observe all the virtues of Jaca.
We talk about the Route to the Peña de Oroel , the mount crowned by a cross that you will see in the distance from the city. Legend has it that the Reconquest of Aragon began when bonfires on its summit indicated that the fight had to begin.
It is also considered a magic mountain because it is located at the eastern vertex of a triangle whose other two vertices are located at San Adrian de Sasabe Y San Juan de la Peña . Another legend explains that in its entrails there was a mine or a treasure, which, as far as is known, has not been found.
The Peña de Oroel and its cross, almost touching the clouds.
THE RISE TO THE PEÑA DE OROEL
This climb is designed for all types of hiking lovers : from those who go as a family, to runners (who dare to climb it without thinking about it), gangs of friends and, although it sounds strange, the occasional hiker who dares to walk barefoot.
We are not going to lie to you, the ascent has a curious unevenness. And as you get closer to the top, it becomes more complicated by the stones and by the incline . You can do it at any time of the year, although it is better that it has not snowed; if so, you could do it on skis.
Its access is very simple, you can drive to the north base at the Parador , at about 1,200 meters above sea level, or by 4x4 vehicle to its southern base. If you go to the north side, you will enjoy a lush and beautiful forest of pine trees in the lower part and fir trees in the upper part. It will be a magical journey to take with yourself, we promise!
The cross of the Peña Oroel.
The path is perfectly marked with a "to the Cross" that zigzags as it goes up. At the top, you will reach the Collado Las Neveras –which are called that because of the large holes that were made in the past to preserve the snow and transfer it to Jaca, Huesca or Zaragoza–. From here you will enjoy a short rest and fabulous views, but you will not yet have reached the summit of Oroel , marked by a large iron cross.
You'll catch up after almost two hours, at 1,769 m high . This cross was moved here by a team of foresters in the 20th century. Once in it, you will enjoy the views of the Huesca Pyrenees, Canal de Berdún, Val Ancha, Val Estrecha and Tozal de Guara.
For the descent you have several options: return along the same route or continue to the Virgen de la Cueva, a hermitage on the south face of Mount.
This is how their bungalows are, from a movie, right?
WHERE TO SLEEP
you climbed the Rock of Monte Oroel, you have to rest, right? We have the perfect campsite to make this getaway unforgettable.
The Arrebol Comfort Camp It is located about 10 minutes by car from downtown Jaca. , and has a quiet and privileged environment if you want to rest. From their cabins you will wake up literally seeing the mountain.
El Arrebol opened its doors a little over a year ago and It has everything you need to spend a rural weekend at any time of the year. . In addition to the plots to be able to park your caravan, it has the most beautiful wooden cabins in the area . As they say, "it is open-air accommodation for those looking for those little luxuries in charming places."
One of the bedrooms of their bungalows.
If you choose their cabins you have several options: the Crencha bungalows , with capacity for up to six people, or the Garmo Bungalows, with capacity for up to four people. They are designed and covered as small alpine houses, all made of wood (which means you don't get cold at all in winter), They have very comfortable beds. , own bathrooms, televisions, equipped kitchen and storage room to store your ski or bicycle equipment. You can also go with your dog or pet, although you will have to watch it at all times.
The central building of Arrebol has a small grocery store with a wide variety of products for your day to day : from fresh bread to delicious vegetable creams in case you don't feel like cooking anything and want to eat healthy.
It also has its own restaurant with a very complete menu , both for lunch and dinner. It's perfect for finish a day of sports, and you will feel at home.
The Arrebol is not only for winter If you go in spring or summer you will also enjoy it because there is a garden area and a swimming pool with a chill out terrace, and barbecues for a day of grilling with friends or family.
WHERE TO EAT
Getting lost in the streets of Jaca is disconnecting from everything. Its terraces and bars always with people willing to have a good time, make it very easy for you.
The city has photography shops, with typical products and lovingly cared for shop windows. You won't be able to take your eyes off its patisseries and confectioneries, like the one in Echeto in the Plaza de la Catedral, here you can try chocolates made in jackfruit or the classic ties. Another one that you cannot miss is the The Swiss Pastry , one of the best in the whole province.
And take note: don't forget to have a chocolate with churros in one of its cafeterias, it is a tradition.
For tapas, we recommend the Cathedral Warehouse in Saint Peter's Square, The kitchen either Groceries , for the latter it is better to book in advance. If you want to eat something more sophisticated, Restaurant Corbacho or Biarritz, and if you want vegetarian menu , we recommend the Nadali restaurant, Lebanese cuisine with Jacetan touches.
For whims, without a doubt, the Aladina cheese factory, a treasure for lovers of artisan cheeses. They have as many varieties as you dream of, especially from the province of Huesca. As told to Traveler.es, María del Carmen Lapuente, its owner, started the project with 80 varieties , and depending on the campaign, they have more than 270.
“I love cheese and we decided to give it the space and vision it deserved . When you meet people who are dedicated and passionate about what they do, they infect you and that's kind of what happened to me”, she explains when we ask her why she opened her cheese factory in Jaca.
All his cheeses are special and have something that makes them unique, plus he always puts a face to each one of them. “ They are the people behind their elaborations . People who take care of their livestock, their living environment and their work, they are small producers that compete in an increasingly demanding market”, he adds.
MORE NATURAL JACKET
From the heart of Jaca, with his Citadel , already in itself a natural monument in all order, passing through its hundreds of trails, it's hard to serve them all . We will have to choose, there is no other.
You will find one of the most beautiful and recommended excursions, which does not require any difficulty, in the Monastery of San Juan de la Peña. From the new Monastery (the recreation of the one that Napoleon's troops burned) different walks depart to enjoy the surroundings. Although first we recommend that you spend some time watching all the recreation of the Monastery, place of passage of the Camino de Santiago, to learn how the monks lived here.
Once out, lose yourself in its surroundings and listen to the hustle and bustle of all the animals that inhabit these forests . Shrews, weasels, foxes and birds of prey such as vultures or falcons, this forest is not lacking in life. If you go with time, walk to the pre-Romanesque church of the old monastery of San Juan de la Peña , an engineering work excavated in the rocks.
And if you fancy more, discover their lakes, one of the most famous is that of Astún. In winter, it will be snowy or icy, so be prepared. Here you can find several, all very beautiful and most of them can be accessed by chairlifts.
To follow visiting Jaca and its surroundings , it is recommended to do it through the Path of the rivers and the viewpoints, an easy way to get to know its landscapes on foot.
Old monastery of San Juan de la Peña in Jaca.