During this summer, the Cultural Park of the Vero River develops its services related to rock art, with guided visits to the shelters, and the opening of the Rock Art Center of Colungo, in this case extended to every day of the week from 10 am to 2.30 pm.
The prehistoric technology workshops have started again, closed during the pandemic, with a workshop on Fridays from 10 to 11 am at the Cave Art Center. The visits to other museum centers, such as the Center of Legends and Traditions in Adahuesca and the ice well, as part of the visits to the historical complex in Barbastro, have also been resumed, organized by the town councils and with the support of the Park. In Lecina, on Sundays there are two guided visits to the holm oak forest and the town center. Likewise, the Torno de Buera extends its opening hours in July and August.
With this offer, in addition to the museum centers, visitable monuments, routes and other activities in the towns of the Park, the options of cultural tourism and nature suitable for all the public and in particular the familiar one are increased. All this is carried out under safe conditions, applying the precautions and health requirements in force at all times and following the instructions of the monitors.
This summer opens a new opportunity to enjoy an exceptional heritage in a spectacular natural and scenic environment and to approach in a unique way to the societies that preceded us and get a unique experience.
CAVE ART: GUIDED VISITS TO THE CAVE PAINTINGS AND CAVE ART CENTER IN COLUNGO
The Cultural Park of the Vero River, among the many attractions it treasures, stands out for its entity those related to the Prehistoric Heritage, represented by rock art, declared World Heritage by Unesco and that allows us to enjoy in the same place where they were created (in an exceptional natural environment, the Natural Park of the Sierra and the canyons of Guara), the artistic samples of societies that lived in the territory since 30,000 years ago.
The services of guided visits to rock art and the Cave Art Center in Colungo, managed by the Comarca de Somontano de Barbastro and in the case of the Cave Art Center between the Comarca and the City Council of Colungo have increased their schedule.
As last year and in support of the tourism sector and visitors, admission will be free at the Cave Art Center, and in guided tours to the shelters will apply, from 8 years old, and in all cases reduced admission.
Rock Art Center and workshops
The Cave Art Center will be open every day until August 31, from Monday to Sunday and from 10 am to 2.30 pm without reservation. This year the usual prehistoric workshop is resumed in previous editions. So on Fridays from 10 am to 11 am will be taught in the center a workshop consisting of two activities: Hunting with prehistoric propeller and painting in prehistoric times. This activity is free and is aimed at all audiences, especially families and can be combined with the visit at 12 pm to the Mallata shelters. To participate in this workshop it is necessary to book on the website of the Cultural Park of the Vero River.
Guided visits to the rock art
The guided tour service will be available from Tuesday to Sunday mornings until August 31. On Tuesdays and Saturdays the Barfaluy-Lecina Superior shelters can be visited (9 am), on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays the Mallata shelters can be visited (10 am and 12 noon on Wednesdays and Sundays; 12 noon on Fridays) and on Thursdays the Arpán shelter can be visited (9 am). In all cases, the visit will begin at the meeting points near the shelters with rock art.
The visits constitute a hiking tour, accompanied by the guides of Comarca-Parque Cultural, through exceptional scenic enclaves, along which the guides explain different aspects of the environment, culture and prehistoric heritage, ending with a didactic visit to the interior of the shelters. Each tour allows visitors to enjoy different aspects of both the rock art and the landscape. Through the service of guided tours -provided in a very didactic way- the visitor can enjoy this amazing historical legacy, in a spectacular scenic setting in the middle of the Vero river canyon, at the same time integrated in the Sierra de Guara. It is one of the widest offers in Aragon to know the Cave Art. Small trekking routes, routes equipped with didactic information and a careful personalized attention of the guides, increase every year the satisfaction of the visitors.
The rock art of the Vero River Cultural Park is one of the most important nuclei of Aragon, containing the three classic styles of European Prehistory: Paleolithic, Levantine and Schematic art. To participate it is necessary to book on the website of the Cultural Park of the River Vero.
CENTER OF LEGENDS AND TRADITIONS IN ADAHUESCA
This Center is located in the old medieval walled enclosure of Adahuesca, of which part of the wall, the base of a tower and the remains of several rooms are preserved. From here there is a magnificent view of the Sierra de Guara and part of the Vero Valley. Through the grandmothers of Sevil, mythical figures that according to legend were the only survivors of a plague epidemic, we will discover legends linked to nature, history, witches… in a fantastic journey through the beliefs and myths of our culture. The dim lighting of its interior and the labyrinthine itinerary of the route, helps us to discover a different and evocative world. From there, the route “Leyendas al paso” (Legends on the way) starts, which goes through spaces full of symbolism. The visit organized by the town council of Adahuesca takes place daily from 11 to 14h and from 17 to 20h, with reservation in the telephone: 630367593.
ICE WELL OF THE BARBACANA IN BARBASTRO
This structure, built in the 17th century on the banks of the Vero, is the main example of this flourishing industry between the 16th and 19th centuries. It has been declared BIC and is one of the few musealized examples. In it we will discover the multiple aspects linked to ice throughout the centuries: obtaining, utilities, social and economic importance, curiosities. By means of sound recordings and recreations of the storage of snow, we will also get a glimpse of the daily life of those who worked in the production of ice. Visits to this enclave are free and are part of the visits to the historical complex organized by the City Council of Barbastro, (Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 10.45 am, 12.15 pm and 6 pm, and Sunday at 10.45 am and 12.15 pm). Starting point: Tourist Office. Reservations by telephone 974308350 or e-mail oturismobarbastro@barbastro.org.
GUIDED VISITS TO THE HOLM OAK AND THE TOWN OF LECINA
Next to the town of Lecina, in the heart of the Sierra y los Cañones de Guara Natural Park and the Río Vero Cultural Park, in the south of the Sobrarbe region, is one of the best known and longest-lived monumental trees in the province of Huesca: the Lecina holm oak. It is included in the Catalogue of Singular Trees of Aragon. In addition, last year it was elected Tree of Spain 2021 and has been named Tree of Europe 2021.
What is the village and the people who have cared for and guarded the most legendary thousand-year-old holm oak in the Pyrenees like? Many stories surround this magical village since prehistoric times. It is also surrounded by lots of water wells and bridle paths built stone by stone. The magic is provided by the enchanted fairies that inhabit the Asba point and the witches who tell the legend of the holm oak.
During the visits, organized by the town hall, every Sunday at 10 a.m. and 12 noon, we will discover these stories. Meeting point: Plaza Mayor. Information: 772884565 (Bea Silvestre).
For this visit it is necessary to book on the website of the Cultural Park of the Vero River.
BUERA LATHE
The lathe of Buera is an old oil mill of the 18th century. It has been restored as a museum space. It can be seen in operation and an audiovisual that shows the history, culture and tradition of a territory such as Somontano linked to a product as endearing and valuable as oil.
The exhibition space shows how all Mediterranean cultures have valued the olive tree and its fruit since ancient times and we will understand the role that these magnificent trees have played and continue to play, which have remained alive and productive for hundreds and thousands of years.
Exhibit panels, an audiovisual, legends and traditions, the old beam or quintal press, the millstone…, along with a tasting of Somontano olive oils, complete a journey through the history and present of olive oil in this Aragonese territory.
Its opening hours in July are: Saturdays and Sundays from 11 am to 1.30 pm and from 5 pm to 8 pm; and in August every day at the same time. For more information call 620057721.
