Herrera De Los Navarros: Mudéjar Heritage, Nature and Festivals

In Herrera De Los Navarros, the PR-Z 25 follows a circular hiking trail over Pico Herrera to the Santuario de la Virgen de Herrera and back to Herrera De Los Navarros.

Trails and the Yearly Cycle

A route signposted as a variant of the PR-Z 25 via the Camino del Reguero provides a return journey from the Santuario de la Virgen de Herrera to Herrera De Los Navarros along a fully drivable route and is primarily intended for cyclists. The Desafío Herrerino has taken place every year at the beginning of May since 2015, except in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic. It comprises several races over different distances on mountain trails with steep climbs through the landscape around the Ermita de la Virgen de la Sierra de Herrera de los Navarros and the Huerva.

Culture and History

The Iglesia de San Juan Bautista is protected as a BIC (Bien de Interés Cultural) in the “Monumento” protection category. The ensemble comprising the Iglesia de San Juan Bautista and its Mudéjar tower was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site on 14 December 2001 as part of the monumental Mudéjar heritage spread throughout Aragón. The current complex of the Iglesia de San Juan Bautista in Herrera De Los Navarros was built in four phases from the mid-14th to the end of the 17th century; the first two construction phases belong to the Mudéjar building fabric.

The remains of a Celtiberian settlement from the Second Iron Age are located on the Cerro de los Castellares near Herrera de los Navarros. The Santuario de la Virgen de Herrera is a Baroque building erected in the 17th century and completed in the 18th century. There is a viewpoint at the Santuario de la Virgen de Herrera offering views over areas belonging to several comarcas.

Every year on 23 April, a pilgrimage takes place to the Santuario de la Virgen de Herrera to celebrate the feast day of San Jorge and Aragón. The San Blas festivities at the beginning of February include a procession in which the saint is carried by the town’s Quintos, as well as the distribution of the traditional Rollo de San Blas. During the San Antón festivities in Herrera de los Navarros, bonfires are lit on 17 January; residents gather around the fire and share dinner and meals together. The San Antón festivities also include the blessing of pets.

The Dance of Herrera de los Navarros is considered one of Aragón’s oldest traditional dances. The Feria de la Almendra y el Cordero in Herrera de los Navarros featured an agricultural and food market attended by local producers.

Nature and Landscape

Herrera De Los Navarros is part of the European Natura 2000 ecological network. The Bajo Huerva – Plana de María area is designated as a special protection area for birds, while the Alto Huerva – Sierra de Herrera area is designated as a site of community importance. Among other species, golden eagles, Dupont’s larks and woodchat shrikes can be observed in the natural surroundings of Herrera De Los Navarros.

Other Places on the Same Level

Other places on the same level include Aniñón, Luna, Novallas, Farasdués, Carenas, Gallur, Ateca and Terrer.

To the higher-level travel overview: Zaragoza.