At the Castillo de Calasanz, several stories of the town come together: the Romanesque Ermita de San Bartolomé stands on the western spur of the castle complex, and the surviving remains of the Castillo include a cistern and part of a defensive tower. Locally, the tower is known as “la predicadera del moro”. The Castillo is classified as a Bien de Interés Cultural (BIC), a cultural heritage site of special interest.
Cultural history and notable places
Another important building is the parish church of San Cipriano, which dates from the 16th century. The Pozo de hielo, known in Aragonese as “pou de chelo”, offers a different insight into how the surrounding area was used. This well-preserved icehouse is about 600 metres from the village gate. Historically, ice and straw were stored in alternating layers inside it. At the bottom is a drainage system for the water produced as the ice melted.
The saltworks of Calasanz also tell of the area’s former use of natural resources. They have been exploited since the earliest times; the earliest known date for their use is 1090. Together with the castle ruins, the hermitage and the parish church, the saltworks offer a range of historical points of interest that shape the town’s cultural heritage.
Rocky landscapes around Calasanz
Alongside these architectural and cultural landmarks, the landscape has its own geological features. The river carved the rock formation “Estretet de Sorribas” into the vertical Cretaceous rock stratum, which slopes down from the Castillo de Calasanz to the Barranco del Molino. Gypsum and clay are also exposed around Calasanz. The minerals they contain give the outcrops their varied colours. Exploring the town, you can therefore take in both its architectural history and the visible forms and materials of the landscape.
Walking routes and when to visit
Calasanz lies on a route of the GR 23 – Sendero de la Litera. The trail is about 53.2 kilometres long, runs in three stages from Fonz to Albelda and passes over the fortified heights of Calasanz. The GR 23 Senderos por La Litera follow old paths and newly created trails, offering a way to explore important sights in the surrounding area on foot. When planning, it is helpful to distinguish this multi-stage route from a stay focused on individual cultural and landscape highlights in Calasanz.
Local traditions may also play a part in choosing when to visit. The Fiestas Mayores of Calasanz take place over the first weekend of August, from Thursday to Monday. On Easter Monday, a pilgrimage is held in honour of the Virgen de la Ganza. Calasanz also preserves a dialect considered unique throughout the comarca and of great ethnological value. Calasanz can be reached via the A-2215 road.
Discover more destinations: Ceresa, Mondot, Canfranc, Las Almunias, Castillazuelo, Adahuesca, Chibluco, Yaso.
Back to the main travel overview: Huesca.
