The El Planerón Ornithological Reserve gives Codo a distinctive natural focus: Codo is the village closest to the protected area. At the same time, landmarks such as Codo Castle, the Parish Church of San Bernardo and the Hermitage of Our Lady of Montserrat tell different chapters of the town’s history. When planning your trip, you can weigh up birdwatching, outdoor trails and culture.
Birdlife and trails in El Planerón
The reserve covers more than 700 hectares of a biodiverse ecosystem. It includes plant species adapted to saline and gypsum soils. The reserve is designated as both a Site of Community Importance (SCI) and a Special Protection Area (SPA), and is part of the Natura 2000 network. If its current legal status matters for your visit, check an official register.
During the breeding season, you may be able to spot the Dupont’s lark, also known as the “Rocín,” as well as larks, the Black-eared wheatear, the Black-bellied sandgrouse and the Eurasian stone-curlew. Sightings are not guaranteed. The seasonal window is therefore an important consideration if you are coming to Codo especially for the birds.
The route between Codo and the reserve is about 9 kilometres long—one way only—and can be travelled on foot or by mountain bike. At the reserve itself, there are also two signposted, self-guided trails of low difficulty. These details describe different options: the route from the village to the protected area and the trails there. Before setting off, check route conditions and signage, and check trail and access information before your visit.
Traditions and architectural history
Local cultural life includes the Dance of Codo. It features the procession dance “Cuatro Galanes,” as well as the dances “La Malva,” “El Cerecero,” “Los Pajarillos,” “San Bernardo,” also known as “El Santo,” and “Los Tordos.” Codo’s main festival is celebrated on 20 August in honour of San Bernardo; its Cistercian past is given as the reason for this date. If you would like to plan your trip around the festival, check the date in advance.
Codo Castle had a rectangular layout, with a tower at each corner. It was destroyed in 1937 during the Battle of Belchite in the Spanish Civil War. Some sections of wall and other foundations remain. The castle’s history can thus be connected to a specific site, although its present-day description is shaped by the surviving remains.
The Parish Church of San Bernardo is a Baroque church dating from the mid-17th century. Its rectangular floor plan has three naves. On the exterior, a Mudéjar-style tower defines its appearance; inside, the furnishings are Baroque. The building thus combines two distinct architectural features, which can be appreciated by looking at the exterior and interior separately.
The Hermitage of Our Lady of Montserrat was built in the 1960s over an older chapel. It serves as a memorial to the Requeté soldiers of the Tercio de Nuestra Señora de Montserrat who fell in the Spanish Civil War. The chapel has a single nave; the altar depicts the Virgin of Pilar and Our Lady of Montserrat. It is open only on the feast day. Ask locally about the relevant date before visiting.
When choosing a stay in Codo, it helps to distinguish between the different themes: the reserve offers nature watching and outdoor activities, while the church, chapel and castle remains offer architecture and history. If you plan to attend the festival or visit the hermitage, take the relevant dates into account.
Discover more destinations: Fuentes De Ebro, Longares, Murillo De Gállego, Biel, Torres De Berrellén, Villafranca De Ebro, Villarroya de la Sierra, Santa Engracia.
For the wider travel overview: Zaragoza.
