Castillazuelo: Culture, River Trails and Holiday Apartments

On a prominent hill about 300 metres south of Castillazuelo stands the Castillo palacio de los barones de Castro. The castle overlooks much of Somontano and is protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural in the Monument category.

Culture

The parish church of San Salvador was built at the beginning of the 18th century. The vault arches in the nave feature decorative stucco work in the Mudéjar tradition. Near the castle, very sparse and heavily altered remains of a Romanesque church have been preserved.

A medieval, single-arch bridge connects the two parts of Castillazuelo across the river. The Centro del Río Vero is located on the bank of the Vero beside this bridge. The San Marcos Aqueduct carries the San Marcos irrigation canal between the two banks of the Vero. The Castillazuelo Canal was built in 1587 and crosses the San Marcos irrigation canal. The residents of Castillazuelo regard the small chapel of San Fabián as a second church.

Nature along the Vero

The Centro del Río Vero features an exhibition showcasing various ecosystems of the Vero, as well as replicas of mills and fulling mills. Guided tours are available for the exhibition area.

The Ruta Ras Vals trail begins at the Centro de Interpretación del Río Vero in Castillazuelo and reaches the Mirador de Ras Garitas viewpoint about five minutes after the start. This route includes a roughly ten-minute detour to the Salto de Pozán.

The Ruta Ribera del río Vero runs along the banks of the Vero through orchards and riparian woodland; in the background are holm oak stands as well as grain and almond fields. Kingfishers use cavities in the rocks along this route for nesting. The route is accessible on foot or by bicycle.

The trails in Castillazuelo can be compared according to their different features: Ruta Ras Vals combines an early viewpoint with a short detour, Ruta Ribera represents riverside scenery and two possible modes of transport, while Camino de Poyet combines ruins with panoramic views.

Trails

The Camino de Poyet trail begins and ends in Castillazuelo, partly follows the bank of the Vero, and leads to the ruins of the medieval tower of Poyet. From the ruins, there are views of the vineyards and wineries of the D.O. Somontano, the Pyrenean peaks, and the Sierra de Guara.

In addition to the trails along the Vero and the cultural sites in Castillazuelo, the following destinations are also available for further planning: Alquézar, Bono, Buetas, Bisaurri, Cajigar, Castejón, Serveto and Bonansa.

Olive Oil History

The remains of the Castillazuelo oil mill form a small open-air museum and are incorporated into the Ruta del Aceite del Somontano. They preserve and explain part of the town’s rural olive oil history.

For the main travel overview: Huesca.