The autonomous community of Aragon stands out for having some of the most remarkable natural sites on the peninsula. Its connection with the environment, which combines lakes, natural parks and diverse cities, makes it an ideal destination to discover new enclaves without leaving Spain.
In the north of the territory, practically in the Pyrenees, Huesca is home to a picturesque town, magical for its stone houses and blue roofs. Thus, the town of Lanuza, in the municipality of Sallent de Gállego, has established itself as one of the most special enclaves in the Aragonese territory.
Surrounded by the reservoir of the same name, the town of Lanuza is a solitary village surrounded by the crystal clear waters of the Gállego River and its imposing slopes. In addition, they name the enclave, since the name of Lanuza derives from the Celtic term “lana” or “landa”, which means hillside.
The story of Lanuza
The history of the town of Lanuza is quite eventful, as it has been populated and depopulated for decades. There are documents that date its existence to the 13th century, although it was a pastoral and agricultural village that grew over the years.
Together with Sallent, the town formed what is known as the quiñón de Sallent, a system of agricultural production based on the distribution of land for sowing and harvesting. It was thus one of the three historical territories into which the Tena Valley was administratively divided in ancient times.
The town prospered from an agricultural economy for centuries, until the construction of the Lanuza reservoir in 1976 led to the depopulation of the area, which became completely uninhabited a few years later. However, in the 1990s, the owners of the old properties began a revitalization process that is still active.
What to see in Lanuza
The city has different mountain-style buildings that together make the city a magical and charming enclave, not only for its architectural style, but also for the nature that surrounds it.
One of the city’s most notable historical monuments is the Church of El Salvador, built in the 19th century on the remains of a Romanesque temple burned down after the Spanish War of Independence.
It was reopened for worship and today preserves several works of art, such as the chrismon on the door or the silver reliquary from 1557, in which the remains of the patron saint of the city, Santa Quiteria, are exhibited.
Furthermore, walking through its avenues, it is possible to enjoy small shops and cobbled streets where the strong mountain tradition of the region and the lifestyle and culture of the Pyrenean villages are evident.
Lanuza Festivals
Since its rehabilitation in the 1990s, the inhabitants of Lanuza have undertaken to recover all the traditions and customs of the town, including its festivities. For this reason, the enclave celebrates the Day of Santa Quiteria or Little Festival on May 22, as well as the patron saint festivals of Santa Queteria and San Roque on the last weekend of August.
One of the most notable events held in the enclave is the Pirineos Sur Festival, an international cultural festival with 30 years of history and which has remained one of the most popular and requested throughout the autonomous community.
During its celebration, several international artists come to the site to perform their entire musical repertoire. To do this, a floating stage is installed on the waters of the reservoir that borders the town since the artists perform the show.
Route through the Tena and Lanuza Valley
The enclave is not only a special destination for its magic, history and architecture, but also for the nature that surrounds it. In this way, along the tracks and around the reservoir, it is possible to carry out various sports activities, mainly hiking.
One of the main ones is the circular route through the Tena Valley, a route of 6 and a half kilometers with a difference in altitude of 570 meters and an approximate duration of just over three hours. In addition, the route is not very difficult, so it is possible to do it with family and friends in a non-professional way.
The journey begins in the town of Lanuza, from which you will have to climb a path that enters a dense forest until reaching a high and open area. From there it will be possible to walk to a viewpoint from where you can enjoy the impressive views of the Tena Valley.
Likewise, both the descent and the ascent are completely signposted, so the path is practically not lost. After enjoying the viewpoint, you will have to descend through the upper part of the ravine and pass to the other side of the mountain, from where you will have to continue the path until returning to the Lanuza road.
