Alquezar

Alquezar is a small town of about 300 people (2018) standing on the rocks in Aragon, north of Spain. It is in the Sierra y Cañones de Guara Natural Park, and there are various campsites in the local area to cater to outdoor enthusiasts. Popular activities include canyoning, walking, rock climbing and abseiling, as well as ornithology (since vultures nest on the steep faces of the Rio Vero canyon).

Understand
The town looks very much like Poble Espanyol in Barcelona, but this time it's genuine old-time architecture, not an imitation.

Locals earn their living only by providing tourist services; no commercial agriculture is done in Alquezar. Many weekend travellers come to town for a relaxed stay among the rocks for old folks and beginner-level activities for families. Also there are daily bus excursions with old folks visiting Alquezar for several hours: tourists see the Collegiata, eat at the central square and leave. Excursion buses arrive at the central square. Weekday travelers are mainly French, with a few Belgians, Netherlanders and Italians mixed in.

The surrounding area to the south towards Barbastro, in the direction of the flatter Ebro basin, is part of the Somontano, an area known for its fine wines. There are more than 60 limestone caves with prehistoric cave paintings in the surrounding area, which has led to the region being declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1998. A good example is the cave at Arpán on the A-2205 road heading north towards Bárcabo.

History
Situated on a limestone outcrop of the Eocene age to the west of the canyon of the Rio Vero in the Sierra y Cañones de Guara Natural Park, the village grew up around a castle and the Collegiate church of Santa Maria, which was consecrated in 1099.

The name of the village comes from the Arabic القصر al qaçr for "fort" or "castle" (renamed as Alcazar in Spanish). The castle became the main defence point of the nearby city of Barbastro.

Get around
Maps of the town are freely available in the tourist office and at several stands around the town. Most traveller-oriented businesses can be found on the map.

The town is small enough to be fully accessible by foot.

There are several free parking lots around the town. Some hotels have their own private parking space.

Stone pavements are not comfortable for those with high-heeled shoes or a child carriage, but alpine boots are not required either, unless you do some serious trekking.

See

 * City's striking clocks adding to feeling of living in a medieval town.
 * City's striking clocks adding to feeling of living in a medieval town.

Do

 * Swim in a public pool (25 m) near La Marmita de Guara albergue
 * Quad bikes. Operators:
 * Guara Quad
 * Via ferrata: much less popular than canyoning, advance reservation essential. Same operators as for canyoning.
 * Walking treks along the Río Vero Canyon
 * Birdwatching all year round but specially winter, when is easy to find wallcreepers on the cliffs around.
 * Rock climbing: performed by Vertientes Adventura (see below) in the evenings and canyoning off-season, and by many other activities operators.
 * see more in Aragon:Do.

Canyoning

 * See also: Aragon:Do:Canyoning.

Alquezar is the main starting point for canyons in Aragon. Canyoning operators expect customers to drive by their own car from Alquezar to the start of canyon. Operators include:



Buy
The cheese made of sheep milk from the near town of Radiquero has won several prices.

Also there are several wineries in the region with the distinctive D.O. Somontano that is worth to try.

There's nothing unique to the town or region to be bought in Alquezar. Only chorizo sausages are worth buying as local souvenir (the same as elsewhere in Spain); cheese is made of sheep milk and is not really distinctive. Other local grocery items available are honey from Barbastro (many varieties up to Eucalyptus), and olive oil (as cheap as €30 for 5L).

Some local versions of Kukuxumusu are available.

Restaurants and cafes
Stewed rabbit, partridge, and veal dishes are the best bet in most local restaurants.



Drink
Sangria sometimes tastes like glintwein on the rocks, although it shouldn't by the traditional recipe. Wines from the region: D.O. Somontano

Stay healthy
Although the town is a base camp for multiple types of outdoor activities, it has no resident doctor or hospital. Outdoor activity operators advise travellers to head to Barbastro which has a national hospital.