10 Best Sights in The Pyrenees, Spain

Welcome to the wildest, most unspoiled corner of the Pyrenees. The three main valleys of this national park—Ordesa, Pineta, and Añisclo—are carved out by the Ara River and its tributaries, the Arazas. They culminate in the majestic massif of Monte Perdido, which stands at 11,000 feet on the Franco-Spanish border; it's the highest of the park's three main mountains. The remote yet worthwhile valley of Las Gargantas de Escuaín is famous for its dolmen and soaring rock walls. Throughout the park, you'll find lakes, waterfalls, high mountain meadows, and forests of pine, fir, larch, beech, and poplar. Protected wildlife includes trout, boar, chamois, lammergeier, and the sarrio mountain goat (Rupicapra pyrenaica).

Well-marked mountain trails lead to waterfalls, caves, and spectacular observation points. The Cola de Caballo, for example, is 5-6 hours roundtrip route to one of those majestic waterfalls. From mid July to mid September, the town of Torla offers a shuttle service every 15 minutes to the trailhead in Pradera de Ordesa to manage overcrowded parking. 

Get ready to marvel at some of the most arresting mountain scenery in Europe. The terrain of this national park is formed by jagged peaks, steep rock walls, and deep glacial depressions filled with crystalline water, all of which lie in the shadow of the twin peaks of Els Encantats. Until the turn of the last century, this area was one of the remotest in Europe, known only to shepherds and hunters. Its 200-some streams, lakes, and lagoons intersperse with fir and birch forests and empty into the Noguera River watercourses: the Pallaresa to the east and the Ribagorçana to the west. Rain and snow are notably frequent in all areas. The land range sweeps from wildflower-blanketed meadows below 5,000 feet to rocky crests at nearly double that height; it's inhabited by Pyrenean chamois, golden eagles, capercaillies, and other fauna in great abundance. The twin Encantats measure more than 9,000 feet, and the surrounding peaks of Beciberri, Peguera, Montarto, and Amitges hover between 8,700 feet and a little less than 10,000 feet. The park offers an abundance of walking trails; the most popular is a day-hike from east to west, starting at the village of Espot and finishing in Boí. Less time is needed to see the glacial lakes at Circ de Colomèrs, a 40-minute drive south from Baqueira.

Driving inside the park is not permitted, so most visitors leave their cars at the closest entrance and then take a taxi or shuttle, stationed at the main parking areas, to the trailhead. 

A collection of works by 20th-century sculptor Pablo Serrano (1908–85) and his wife, Juana Francés, are on display in this museum.

This 12th-century Romanesque church, with its quadruple-vaulted door and 13th-century cloister, is in the corner of the attractive, porticoed Plaza Mayor.

An important stop on the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, Jaca's 11th-century Catedral de San Pedro has lovely carved capitals and was the first French-Romanesque cathedral in Spain, paving the way for later Spanish Romanesque architecture. Inside the cathedral and near the cloisters, the Museo Diocesano has excellent Romanesque and Gothic frescoes and artifacts collected from nearby churches.

At the upper edge of town, this fortified church has wonderful acoustics.

This museum occupies parts of the former royal palace of the kings of Aragón and holds paintings by Aragonese primitives, including La Virgen del Rosario by Miguel Jiménez, and several works by the 16th-century Maestro de Sigena. The eight chambers, set around an octagonal patio, include the Sala de la Campana (Hall of the Bell), where beheadings of errant nobles took place.

This museum contains a treasure trove of works by Zaragoza's emblematic painter, Goya, including his portraits of Fernando VII and his best graphic works: Desastres de la Guerra, Caprichos, and La Tauromaquia.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this park within the Sierra de Guara contains more than 60 limestone caves with prehistoric paintings. Some date to around 22,000 BC, though most are from between 12,000 and 4,000 BC. Information, guided tours, and kid-friendly activities are available through the interpretation center in Colungo; check the monthly schedule on the home page. Hours vary, so call ahead.

The legend of this Marian religious retreat is based on the story of Sant Gil of Nîmes, who did penance in the Núria Valley during the 7th century. The saint left behind a wooden statue of the Virgin Mary, a bell he used to summon shepherds to prayer, and a cooking pot; 300 years later, a pilgrim found these treasures in this sanctuary. The bell and the pot came to have special importance to infertile women, who, according to local lore, would be blessed with as many children as they wished after placing their heads in the pot and ringing the bell.