The
main attraction of the Mountain Range is the more than 70 canyons that have
made it into the European reference centre for Canyoning. But it is not
all canyons and ravines; the area of Bierge has cultural attractions that
many of the adventurers who come to the area have yet to discover: festivities,
monuments, chapels, towns, tales and legends.
One of the best ways to emerge yourself
in the Sierra de Guara Natural Park and the Guara Canyons is to start off
in the village of Bierge. This village, located between the pre-Pyrenean
mountains and the extensive plains of Somontano, is well worth a visit.
As you walk through the village towards the Santiago parish church, situated
at the highest point, you will find interesting examples of traditional
arquitecture. Magnificent doorways and shields stand out and speak of the
flourishing past fortunes of the families who lived there.
But without doubt, the most important site is the
San
Fructuoso hermitage , which no visitor should miss.
Nature lovers should head towards the hide; from where you
can observe various birds of prey which often congregate at the Feeding
Zone for Birds of Prey. Both the hide and the feeding zone are the result
of very hard work carried out by the Friends of the Vulture and the Guara
Park management.
Before leaving Bierge, you should also stop off at the Visitor
Information Centre for the Guara Sierra and Canyons, where you will find
a wealth of information regarding the most important natural and cultural
features of the Park.
From Bierge, there are two options. The first of these takes you to the
Salto de Bierge waterfall, via the A-1227, where you will
find the start of theFuente
de Tamara and el Puntillo track, and you can also
visit the interesting villages of San Román, Morrano and Yaso.
The second option takes you into the Sierra de Guara, via
the secondary road HU-341, in the direction of Valley of Rodellar. A well-signed
path leaves right from the road and takes you to the shrine of San Martín
de la Peonera, an ideal spot to enjoy the wild beauty of the countryside,
and appreciate sense of the isolation and mystery which all these places
possess, full of tradition and legends.
Upon reaching the Sierra de Rufas, you are rewarded with
a splendid panorama over one of the large Guara canyons, the Balcés,
and the Sierra de Sevil.
After traversing dark and verdant forests of wild pine,
you arrive at the first villages in the valley, such as San Saturnino
and Las Almunias de Rodellar. From the latter, there is an easy path,
passable on foot, or by bicycle, called the Camino de la Pedruel, which
offers various informative panels.
Continuing along the road, you reach the village which
gives its name to the valley, Rodellar, a beautiful mountain village which
has pride in its well-kept centre, located above the deep and twisting
Mascún gorge. Rodellar is the departure point of numerous routes
which descend into the gorges and of various footpaths, such as theRoute
of the Virgen del Castillo, or that which
enters the Mascún canyon in order to reach the Losa Mora dolmen,
Nasarre and Otín.
Bierge Foto: CEDER Somontano
Buitres en el 'comedero' de Bierge Foto: Mariano Olivera - Comarca del Somontano
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