Don't forget the camera!
at the foot of the Sierra de Guara, in the Somontano de Barbastro region on the banks of the Vero river canyon, rises in an impossible enclave Alquezar, medieval town whose sandstone-colored architecture contrasts with the green of the mountain, giving the complex an unreal magic worthy of any novel by J. R. R. Tolkien.
It is not surprising that Alquézar is recognized as one of the most beautiful towns in Spain. It has managed to maintain its architectural coherence medieval essence even though in recent years has seen its tourism grow exponentially.
Alquézar, a medieval town at the foot of the Sierra de Guara
the fate of mountaineers and lovers of canyoning of yesteryear has become in the last five years one of the most visited towns in Huesca, adapting in the process to the demands of the family and vacation tourism.
We arrive at aperitif time in the middle of a heat wave, the first step in our itinerary is to find parking. If narrow streets make us claustrophobic, Better to leave the car in the parking lot on the outskirts.
We regain strength with a snack at one of the many terraces that have emerged, where you can enjoy the impressive view of the town realizing a menu of the day.
We, however, chose to prepare sandwiches to eat them on the banks of the Vero river, and it is that we have to go through the famous Walkway Route, built on its right side.
To channel it, it is enough to follow the indications that are posted by the town or ask anyone. It is a circular route an hour and a half of duration inside the canyon in which we will find from turquoise blue waters in which to take a dip to viewpoints capable of taking your breath away.
Along the way we will find turquoise waters where we can take a refreshing dip.
Although it is quite safe, there are sections that will make people with vertigo break a sweat and, although most do not wear it, it is recommended to do it with a helmet on the head due to the risk of landslides.
Needless to say, he Sports shoes (sneakers or boots) and the water bottle They are essential, since there are no fountains throughout the route.
Formerly it was believed that the hooves in the streets scared away evil spirits
On the way we will discover the heritage value of the town. the central San Miguel's Church, popular baroque style, the small chapel of Our Lady of the Snows, from the 16th century…
In some points of its streets we will see nailed hooves, a curious tradition that sought to scare away evil spirits.
Before starting the descent towards the route, a small viewpoint offers a great perspective of the Collegiate Church of Santa María la Mayor, the most iconic building in the historic complex and can be visited by paying an entrance fee of three euros.
We begin to descend, not without first entering one of the bakeries, where in addition to bread we get one of their delicious hems, oven sweets whose anise seeds fill the whole street with smell.
Church of San Miguel, one of the references of the rich heritage of the town
In the first section We will go progressively descending through the canyon from the town to the banks of the river, with cables to hold onto to avoid slipping on the steepest areas.
When we finally reach the height of Vero we can go to discover some of the caves that populate its surroundings (there is an entire itinerary of guided tours to get to know in depth the cave art of the Río Vero Cultural Park).
Let nature surprise you on this route from Huesca
We can also give a swim in its warm turquoise blue waters, with small sandy beaches where to lie down to rest and eat the sandwich.
Returning to our path and crossing the first footbridge (arranged in the sections where the road along the river becomes insurmountable) we will soon discover the dam, in whose fall is the most impressive pool of the route, compulsory bath under the water of the waterfall.
From here on the runway thing gets serious, with greater heights and distances. If we think that our vertigo is going to prevent us from enjoying the rest of the route, we can undo the path or, well, go up to Alquézar along one of the paths that go to the right (some steeper than others, but on solid ground after all).
If we don't have a problem the route ends reaching the priceless views of the Mirador del Vero, and from there back to town.
Alquézar, medieval charm wherever you look
The surrounding towns have also benefited from the fame that Alquézar has acquired in recent years. Thus, Our accommodation is in the Crux de Adahuesca hostel, a small town about five minutes away by car, with new facilities that have been cared for in detail and a very healthy environment.
It offers various options for snacking on its pleasant terrace, from hummus to guacamole through provolone, but beware that the kitchen closes soon.
If we haven't brought food and we want to go to a restaurant, we should **book in advance at Ordio,** the only place in town with an open kitchen for dinner at the time of writing this report.
The Route of the footbridges, built on the right bank of the River Vero
To finish being hungry, Adahuesca is well worth a walk through its streets to discover its church, the facade of its town hall or, the most magical place, the viewpoint where the interpretation center is located, with a priceless romanticism and a great panoramic view with an informative poster of the enclave.
And if we see each other with time and strength, his thing is to do before we leave the route of the legends, where we will discover the local myths in the most representative points.
Adahuesca, five minutes by car from Alquézar, is one of the options for spending the night