Two specific themes come together in Parzán: the history of mining and trails through the mountain landscape. When planning your stay, it is worth taking a closer look at the differences between the routes: one leads to historic sites, while others are distinguished by their length or the landscapes they cross.

Mining and Local History

The Minas de Parzán complex includes, among other things, the Luisa aerial cableway system and a power station. In the 20th century, the Société des Mines de Parzán had its headquarters at the Hospital de Parzán. The mines mainly produced iron and silver. A cableway with ore buckets transported the extracted materials across the Puerto de Salcorz into France. The history of mining can therefore be understood through several aspects: the ores extracted, the technical infrastructure and the route taken across the border.

Some trails also pass mining remains. The PR-HU 189 is marked as a PR trail with white-and-yellow markings. It follows the service track along the canal and passes old mining remains, barracks and other structures. The Barrosa Route leads to the ruins of the Minas de Parzán. If you are interested in this subject, you can take these historical connections into account when choosing a route.

The town’s history also includes its destruction during the Civil War: Parzán was almost completely destroyed, and nearly all the buildings in the town burned down, including the church. The patron saint festivities on 10 August, the feast day of Saint Lawrence (San Lorenzo), are a recurring date on the local calendar.

Planning Trails and Mountain Landscapes

The out-and-back route from the Hospital de Parzán to the Circo de Barrosa is 9 km long, with an elevation difference of 350 m. On the Barrosa Route, the trail follows the river through a pine forest and then opens out onto alpine grassland, with the Circo de Barrosa in the background. These details combine a specific route length with a change in landscape.

The car park for the family route into the Valle de Barrosa is beside the former Hospital de Parzán, beyond the old customs post on the road to France. Parking and access conditions may change; check them before your visit.

Another option is the route through the Barranco de Urdiceto: from Parzán, a track and a section of the GR-11 climb uphill for 11 km. The distance is defined differently from that of the Barrosa out-and-back route. So, rather than comparing only the number of kilometres, also bear in mind that the Urdiceto route is described as an uphill trail.

The landscape around Lago de Urdiceto features different forms of water: the lake is a former mountain lake that is now dammed, and lies below Fuesa and Suelsa. Next to it is a group of small mountain lakes, the Ibones de la Solana de Urdiceto; from there, the view extends to Posets. These location details offer additional reference points if you are interested in the landscape around Urdiceto.

For practical information when getting around Parzán, it is also worth noting that the municipality’s only petrol station is located there. When planning your stay, you can consider this information alongside the different route details: the Barrosa Route is described as an out-and-back, while the information about Urdiceto describes an uphill route covering 11 km.

Discover more destinations: Labuerda, Salinas De Hoz, Bonansa, El Humo de Muro, Camporrotuno, Castigaleu, Loarre, Yebra De Basa.

For the wider travel overview: Huesca.