Aragon Spain
View this Aragon map and read this guide to the region.
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Map and Guide to Aragon Spain
Aragon Map: Shown above is an interactive map of Aragon, showing the large region which stretches from the Pyrenees mountains, and the French border, in the north, to almost midway down the length of Spain. The actual border of the region is shown on the map by the dotted line. As can be seen from this Aragon map, the region borders France, plus the Spanish regions of Catalonia (to the east), Valencia (to the east and south-east), Castilla-La Mancha (to the south), Castille Y Leon (to the west), La Rioja and Navarre (also to the west).
The Aragon region has an area of 47,719 square kilometres and a population of 1,277,471.
Stretching from the north of Spain for nearly half its length, the Aragon region is one of widely varying landscapes and sparsely populated regions, traversed by the beautiful River Ebro, and featuring many pretty towns and villages, with histories that go back into the mists of time. There is only one city of any real note (though the residents of Teruel and Huesca may argue this point), and that is Zaragoza, now Spain’s fifth largest city.
The northern areas of Aragon take in large swathes of the Pyrenees mountains, where the snow capped peaks of the Ordesa National Park provide some of the most stunning scenery in all of Spain.
Castle lovers will be in their element in Aragon, as even the mention of the name conjures up historical images of Spain’s colourful past, and it seems almost any town that is worthy of the name has a castle (Castillo) of some sort, many of course now in ruins.
The central regions of Aragon comprise mostly treeless plateaus, barely populated except for the city of Zaragoza, standing proudly on the banks of the River Ebro in the heart of the region. This city stands in contrast to most of the region as its population has swelled to over 700,000, a huge city by any standards. Zaragoza traces its history back to Roman times and beyond, when it began life as a Celtiberian settlement called Salduba, and grew into a prosperous city, though was largely rebuilt after being severely damaged in the War of Independence.
Teruel which carries city status but only has a population of around 30,000, lies in a much different landscape to Zaragoza, being surrounded by mountains in one of Spain’s popular, though lesser known skiing areas. Teruel also has links with the Romans, who brought civilization to the former Celtiberian settlement called Turba.
Aragon is perhaps best known for its striking northern landscapes, boasting some of the tallest peaks in the entire Pyrenees range, in the beautiful Ordesa National Park (Parque Nacional de Ordesa) you can see some of Spain’s most picturesque scenery, though only in summer and spring, as this area is mostly inaccessible in late autumn and winter, due to high levels of snowfall. Even in summer most of this park can only be reached by foot, and this is certainly a walker’s paradise, with lots of areas to explore and a wealth of flora and fauna to see.
Other places of interest in Aragon include, in the north, Huesca, a historical city with an interesting medieval centre, Alquézar, a picturesque village with a fortified monastery, Barbasto, another ancient town with a 16th century cathedral, and Aínsa, one of the prettiest villages in Aragon.
In the central regions you could visit the wine areas of Muel and Cariñena, the medieval town of Tarazona, Calatayud with its Moorish castle and some fine Mudejár architecture, and Fraga, where you can see the 12th century Iglesia de San Pedro church.
In the south, take a look at Daroca, with its crumbling fortified walls, and the ancient town of Albarracín, built on a steep rocky cliff.
In the east, you might try visiting the town of Alcaniz, its skyline dominated by its castle and the towers of the Colegiata de Santa Maria church.
Skiiers might like to head for Candanchu or Valdelinares, and maybe take a look at the pretty village of Alcala de la Selva.
Related: Andalucia - Catalonia - Galicia - Madrid - Valencia - Castilla-La Mancha - Builders
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