Traces of the former fortifications are still visible in the streets of Caladrones. The remains of the Castillo stand on a hill in the upper part of the settlement; there is also a parish church and the hermitage of Santa Ana, both dating from the 12th century. Two different routes are also associated with the village: a cycling loop and a walking stage that ends in Caladrones. When choosing a destination, you can therefore weigh up whether to focus on the village’s history or on one of the routes.
Getting There and Finding Your Way
Caladrones is connected to the N-230 by a road; the turnoff is a few kilometres from Benabarre. Benabarre is therefore a useful point of reference for your journey. When planning your trip, you can consider the road connection and your preferred focus separately: would you mainly like to explore the village’s historic traces, or include one of the routes?
Fortifications, Church and Hermitage
Traces of the former fortifications are visible in the streets of Caladrones. This means you can encounter the subject not only at the Castillo but also throughout the settlement. The parish church is dedicated to Mary and was built in the 12th century. The hermitage of Santa Ana also dates from the 12th century. The two religious buildings share the same period, but are distinct sites within the local cultural heritage. If you are interested in historic religious buildings, these are two named examples from the same period to include in your exploration of Caladrones.
Castillo de Caladrones
The remains of the Castillo de Caladrones stand on a hill in the upper part of the settlement, in the area known as El Castell. The walls of a square tower remain, although the tower is now much lower than it once was. Its position in the upper part of the settlement and its square ground plan describe two different features of the castle ruins: their location within Caladrones and the surviving form of the tower. A list of castles classified as Bienes de Interés Cultural, published in 2006, also includes the Castillo de Caladrones.
Cycling Route and Walking Stage
The Ruta BTT 7 passes through Caladrones and links Benabarre and Estopiñán del Castillo on a loop. It is recommended that you carry a GPS track for this route: it is not signposted, and it can be difficult to find your way at junctions. As route markings may change, check the latest route information before setting off. This will help you account for the particular navigation challenges of this cycling route when planning your ride.
The GR 18 stage climbs to the hermitage of Santa Ana and ends in Caladrones. Unlike the Ruta BTT 7, this is not described as a loop between several places, but as a walking stage with the hermitage as a destination along the way and Caladrones as its endpoint. The two routes can therefore be distinguished by their format: a cycling loop or a walking stage. Which one interests you depends on whether you would prefer to focus on a connection between the places mentioned or on the path up to the hermitage.
The cultural heritage is concentrated in the settlement and its buildings; the routes offer another way to experience the destination, each with its own course and focus. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Caladrones, these differences can help you choose a destination that suits your interests, without treating the cycling and walking routes as one combined itinerary.
Discover more destinations: Aler.
Return to the broader travel overview: Benabarre.
