Aragon Guide

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  Loarre Romanesque castle

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  Jaca Cathedral detail

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  Santa Cruz de Seros Monastery

At the end of the 11th century, Romanesque art had already evolved from the original Lombard style towards different and much more complete forms.

The construction of the Cathedral of Jaca, the first large Romanesque construction in the peninsula, marked the bases of a style –The “jaques” Romanesque. Which spread considerably both inside and outside the Kindom of Aragon, along the Road to Santiago.

Jaca. A key stage along the Jacobean route, it was the seat of the Aragonese courts. It preserves many remains of its mediaeval past.

The cathedral was started in 1076. It has a basilica ground plan with three naves divided on the inside by cylindrical and cruciform pillars, three apses in the sanctuary and an extensive portal with two parts. In the tympanum of the western door a chrism appears between two lions. This ornamental motif, represented hare for the first, time extended to all the Aragonese churches. A copious sculptural decoration of great beauty. The richness of the capitals on the inside stand out. On the outside typical “jaques” decoration: cheqyered frieze with small comuns and blind arches attached to the wall. On a room adjoining the 12th century cloister, the diocesan museum preserves a good number of mural paintings rescued from different Pyrenean churches. The Cathedral is an asset of cultural interest.

Other monuments of interest:

Clock or Prision Tower (13th century). This is the only part left of the old royal palace.

Monastery of Benedictine Nuns, with Romanesque door. It preserves the sarcophagus of Doña Sancha, and 11th century piece of work decorated with reliefs, from Santa Cruz de la Seros.

Santa Cruz de la Seros. This place is reached by taking a fork off from Jaca on the way to Puente La Reina.

The Church os Santa Cruz (11th century) is inspired on the cathedral of Jaca. It, belonged to an old female 10th century monastery, which no longer exists. It has a Latin cross ground plan and crossing covered with vault on pendentives. The sanctuary and the tower, impressively solid, date from the 12th century. In the tympanum of the door, the motif of the 2The beautiful Hermitage of St. Caprasio (11th c.) rises at the entry to Santa Cruz.

Visits: All year round: Morning and afternoon hours, closed on Mondays.

San Juan de la Pena. In the valley of Atares, very near to Jaca –along a small web-signposted road-, the Monastery of San Juan de la Pena rises, a spectacular building in the rock. Its isolation granted the monastery a legendary character during the Middle Ages that, related it to the Holy Grail. It was the royal pantheon of Aragon until the 12th century. It was declared National Monument.

The monastery is comprised of several areas belonging to different time periods. The Council Room is reached through the atrium, as well as the so-called Mozarabic, 10th c. Low church. The pantheon of nobles preserves two lines of niches decorated with semi-circular arches and “jaques” style chequered frieze. From there the high church (11th c.) and the cloister (12th c.) are reached. The latter is a marvellous example of Romanesque art with a valuable gallery or worked capitals representing bible scenes.

Visits: It has a guide service. It can be visited all year round. Closed on Mondays except in summer. Monastery telephone 974-34.80.00. 2 kilometres away is the New Monastery (18th c.) built in the middle of a large area of meadows and pine groves. There is a Hospice.

San Pedro de Siresa. Close to Hecho and in the first half of the 9th century what, would be the Royal Monastery was founded. The church which is currently preserved was built in the 11th century. King Alfonso I The Batallador was baptised and educated in the Monastery of San Pedro de Siresa.

It can be visited all year round. In winter, contact. Town Hall of Hecho, tel: 974 37 50 02.

Other places of interest :

- Ctra. Sra. De Iguacel: (From Castiello de Jaca. Fork off on the way to Acin). Of cultural interest. The church (1072) belonged to an old female monastery. The precursor of the “jaques” style, it is prior to the cathedral of Jaca. A sitting image and a wood relief are preserved from the 12th c. As well as a beautiful grille decorated with spiral motifs.

Visits: Open only in summer. For timesx enquire at the Jaca tourist office.

- San Adrian de Sasabe: (From Jaca, N-330 and fork off towards Aisa). The hermitage (11th c.) recently restored, had been buried for many years.

- Bagues: (From Pte. La Reina, very near to Bailo). Parish church (11th c.).

- Abay: (Very near to Jaca, forking off towards Aisa). Parish church (11th c.).

Huesca and Somontano Romanesque route, Aragon Pyrenees.

Huesca: Of the manu works of art in the city, the beauty of one of the oldest churches of Spain stands, declared to be asset of cultural interest.

San Pedro el viejo was built in the 12th century, although its origins are prior to that time. Of Romanesque times, the temple preserves its beautiful façade decorated in relief with the chrisma motif, and its splendid cloister with worked capitals attributed to the so-called master of S. Juan de la Peña. There are a great number of tombs dating from the 12th to the 14th centuries, on the walls. Next to the cloister is the Chapel of St. Bartolome, with the tombs of Ramiro II el Monje and Alfonso I el Batallador.

Other examples of Romanesque art in Huesca are the Cathedral Cloister prior to the rest of the building, which preserves several tombs, as well as a beautiful 13th century bas-relief; and the Church of St. Miguel or Las Miguelas, a 12th century work, later reformed.

Loarre: Fork off from Ayerbe. In Loarre the most important civil Romanesque building in Spain rises, declared asset of cultural interest.

The Castle of Loarre (11-12th c.), a fortress that defended the border of the Kingdom of Aragon, was a royal palace. And later, a monastery. The body of the castle is walled and has two access doors. The façade, with semi-circular door, presents a relief with the figure of Christ in an almond-shaped halo surrounden by the Tetramorphus. On the inside, the Church of Sta. Maria, with “jaques” influences, shows a great ornamental variety in its capitals. Under the church, a crypt covered with barrel vault.

Visits: All year. Closed on Mondays except in summer. Tel 974 38 26 27. It has a guide service.

Alquezar: Near to Barbastro one of the best monumental examples of the whole of Aragon can be found, built around the rock occupied by the castle and collegiate church.

The collegiate, consecrated in the 11th century, only preserves part of its original structure. The old Romanesque atrium was used to build the current cloister, where interesting worked capitals are preserved.

The castle (11TH century) preserves art of the walls, the tower, part of another tower and remains of the church dedicated to St. Maria Magdalena.

Visits: There is a guide service with morning and afternoon hours.

Villanueva de Sigena: Near to Sariñena, on the way to Fraga and on the banks of the river Alcanadre. It is a asset of cultural interest.

The Royal Monastery of Sta. Maria (12th century) was one of richest and most influential of Mediaeval times. It belongs to a very advanced Romanesque style. Its spectacular façade has 14 archivolts. It preserves the structure of the chapter-room, previously decorated with the most beautiful frescos of late Romanesque time. Part of these murals are exhibited in the Art Museum of Catalonya.

Visits: Guide service in summer. The rest of the year, keys in the convent.

Other places of interest:

- Chalamera (from Sariñena, towards Fraga). Church of Sta. Maria (end of 12th c.).

- Tamarite de Litera (from Monzon, C-138). Santa Maria la Mayor (with gothic dome) and Hermitage of St. Miguel. Both date from the 12th century.

Photos Source: Antonio García Omedes, romanicoaragones.com