Calasanz between Castle Spur, Salt Pans and Hiking Trails

The Romanesque Ermita de San Bartolomé stands on the western spur of the Castillo de Calasanz. The Castillo de Calasanz is classified as a Bien de Interés Cultural (BIC). The surviving remains include a cistern and part of a defensive tower, known locally as “la predicadera del moro.”

Culture

The parish church of San Cipriano in Calasanz dates from the 16th century. About 600 metres from the village gate is the Pozo de hielo, known in Aragonese as “pou de chelo,” which is very well preserved. In its historical use, ice and straw were stored alternately in layers to improve preservation; at the bottom there is a drainage system for the water produced by melting. The salt pans of Calasanz have been exploited since ancient times; the earliest known date for their use is considered to be 1090.

Calasanz also preserves a dialect considered unique throughout the comarca and of high ethnological value. On Easter Monday, a pilgrimage takes place in honour of the Virgen de la Ganza. The Fiestas Mayores of Calasanz take place from Thursday to Monday on the first weekend of August.

Calasanz thus brings together architectural history, traditional food storage, salt production, language and time-specific customs: the parish church, ice house, salt pans and festivals each point to a different aspect of the village.

Landscape

The landscape around Calasanz features gypsum and clay outcrops, coloured differently by the minerals they contain. The river shaped the rock formation known as “Estretet de Sorribas” in the Cretaceous vertical rock stratum that descends from the Castillo de Calasanz to the Barranco del Molino.

The colourful gypsum and clay outcrops and the river-shaped “Estretet de Sorribas” describe a landscape in which geological formations and the visible buildings on the castle spur lie close together.

This makes it possible to combine different points of interest around Calasanz: the castle spur is followed by the rock formation and the mineral-coloured outcrops as distinct landscape features.

On the Way

The GR 23 – Sendero de la Litera is an approximately 53.2-kilometre route divided into three stages from Fonz to Albelda, passing over the fortified heights of Calasanz. In addition, Calasanz is included in the GR 23 Senderos por La Litera; this route uses old paths and newly created sections, allowing important sights in the surrounding area to be explored on foot.

The two route descriptions represent different planning scales: one route with a fixed total length and stage structure, and a network of paths with old and newly created sections. For Calasanz, this means a clear distinction between the longer route sequence from Fonz to Albelda and individual path sections in the surrounding area.

Calasanz can be reached via the A-2215 road. When comparing holiday apartments in Calasanz, travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions provide objective points of comparison. These details stand alongside the local and landscape themes that shape the content of a stay.

Further destinations

Other places include Benabarre, Huesca, Gerbe, Arén, Peñalba, Víu, Bolea and Loporzano.

For the higher-level travel overview: Huesca.