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Stage 1 by Somport

Stage from Somport to Jaca

km 30,5
Time 08H 30’
Difficulty Medium
Hostels 8
Available without an Internet connection

161 kilometers to delight in the 19th century military fortification

Information about the stage 1 by Somport: Stage from Somport to Jaca

Profile: Stage from Somport to Jaca

Enlarge map

Points of interest in the stage 1 by Somport: Stage from Somport to Jaca

  • 15 Ciudadela
  • 14 Catedral de Jaca
  • 13 Hermitage of San Cristobal
  • 12 Vado Río Ijuez
  • 11 Church of San Miguel
  • 10 Church of San Esteban
  • 9 Cuevas de Villanúa
  • 8 Medieval bridge
  • 7 Our Lady of the Assumption
  • 6 Silage tower
  • 5 Canfranc Station
  • 4 Fundería del Anglasé
  • 3 Santa Cristina Hospital
  • 2 Monument to the pilgrim
  • 1 GR.65.3 in Aragon

The route

 

  • Km 0. Somport (Hostel. Bar)

A wooden sign with the indication "GR 65.3 Canfranc Estación" and a Jacobean mojón carved with distances to Santiago de Compostela (858 Km) and Undúes de Lerda, the last Aragonese population (87 Km), incite to take the first step. We walk down the stairs next to the Cairn to continue descending by the right margin of the Aragon River. Just 800 meters we surrounded the excavated floor of the hospital of Santa Cristina, renowned pilgrim hospital founded in the Lower Middle Ages. After leaving the winter station of Candanchú on the right hand we crossed the N-330, saved the small slope thanks to stairs and resumed the valley march down. The presence of some concrete bunker and the challenging panorama of our right, with several pyrenean moles rising above the camp of Rioseta, make it easy to reach us with the fireplace of the Anglasé Funeral, an armchair tower that represents the only vestige of an old copper and iron mine.

After a brief encounter with the forest, we went on a runway and turned left to save the river flow from the Roya Canal. Then we opened a wooden portillo and took the path. A kilometer later, a wooden bridge allows to cross the waters of the Izas ravine, which also collapse towards the Aragon River. We continue to walk down a narrow path eaten by the lush vegetation and behind the back of the Coll de Ladrones, two strong defensives of 1758 and 1900 mimetized over the rock. The aroma of a bread oven opens the appetite reaching the arcén of the N-330, a road we follow to enter Canfranc Station.

  • Km 6.8. Canfranc Station (All Services)

A paved sidewalk allows leaving the population by the river, although behind the last houses it turns to the arcén of the road to cross a tunnel. At the exit turn left to take some stairs that come down to the foot of the Canfranc Dam (Km 8.5). Crossing the river Aragon we enter a path that zigzaguea on the cut formed by the erosive action of the river. From this viewpoint one can see the tower of Fusileros, a 19th century military fortification located on the edge of the N-330. In some sections the road becomes gloomy thanks to the coverage of the beech trees and descends to the Ip canyon, where it salutes a cold waterfall (Km 10). We cross the bridge, even with the freshness of the ferns and the forest, to travel the kilometer that separates us from Canfranc.

  • Km 11.2. Canfranc (Hostel. Bar)

The town runs through Albareda Street, which divides the town into two equal halves. We left the parish church of the Asuncion to cross the river Aragon through the medieval bridge. Poured between the mountain and the river we continue for more than two kilometers until we reach an underground step that crosses the N-330 and that forces almost to bend (Km 13.6).

Another stretch of two kilometers, with the perspective of the river beneath our feet, leads us to pass by the cave of the Güixas, a cave of stalactites and stalagmites. Immediately you arrive at the entrance of Villanúa, where the first alternative of the stage emerges. The first option, the GR-65.3 rotates to the right, crosses the bridge over the Aragon and continues to Castiello de Jaca by a cabanera (canned for cattle) parallel to the N-330 and later by a plain on the valley. The second option, marked as GR-65.3.1, leads us first to the center of Villanúa. The following are the two options:

  • Km 15.8. Villanúa (Hostel. Bar. Store. Pharmacy. ATM)

GR-65.3: Next to the Villanúa fountain we turn right. After leaving the village behind, we crossed the river, finding the yellow arrows on our left. We advance along the road for approximately 2 kilometers to Aventura Villanúa Leisure Park (kiosk with soft drinks and coffee during summer and spring weekends). We resumed the road and when we reached the archery shooting area we crossed the N-330. We left the building to the right and gently ascended about 700 meters to reach a plain. Through it we continue our path by dividing the valley of Aragon. Two kilometers later we met the comarcal that links the N-330 with Aratorés. We follow the road to the left for 200 meters, picking up the road next to the right shoulder. After crossing a small stream through a wooden bridge we climb a few meters to another plain over the valley, the old glacier morrena that takes us a couple of kilometers to Castiello de Jaca.

GR-65.3.1:Next to the supermarket of Villanúa we turn left and leave Villanúa after leaving behind the church of San Esteban. We trust the red and white marks of the GR, which guide us for more than an hour, first by paved runway and then by terreras, to a bridge over the Aragon (Km 21.4). We passed it to reach the N-330, which we crossed carefully to climb up to Castiello de Jaca.

  • Km 22.6. Castiello de Jaca (Hostel. Bars. Store from April-May 2015)

Leaving the church of San Miguel on the right hand, it descends downstreet to the national road. We cross it to reach the service area of the town and then we save the river Aragon by another bridge. A rewarding walk along the riverbank leads us to cross over a walkway enabled in 2010 on another channel, this time the river Ijuez (Km 23,8). Once this point was settled, before it was conflicting and because of the catwalk it has remained in memory, we resumed the march half an hour more until we crossed the road. Then we continued for more than two kilometers glued to the arcén of the N-330 and for some parallel jaws. We arrived thus to the hermitage of San Cristobal (Km 28,3).

After the bridge we face the heavy waste of the Health Hill to enter Jaca. From the front, through Avenue de France, we reached the Cathedral Square and continued through the streets Bellido and Puerta Nueva to turn right through the street of the Hospital and back to the right by Conde Aznar, where the hostel is located. End of stage.

  • Km 30.5. Jaca (All Services)

The difficulties

Remarks

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What to see, what to do

The hostels

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