Testimony from the 11th Century

Set at 6 Km from Fortanete, visible from the road is the castle, which was the setting of Cid Campeadordurante’s raids during the end of the 11th century. A fairly small construction of an irregular trapezoidal shape adapted to the ground where it was erected, this ‘rocky spur’ dominates the view of the Valley of Mercadales from the right of the Rambla de Mal Burgo.

Despite its state of ruin and abandonment it is still an important testimony of Fortanete’s history.

It is a military construction, without any signs of having being lived in, a lookout point solely occupied in times of war. It is assumed that the troops would have camped outside the castle.

To reach the castle of the Cid you must travel along very beautiful nature trails. It cannot be reached by car. It can be reached by laboriously ascending from the track that leads from the bottom of a ravine nearby, or by walking from the Masada La Capellania following the markings of a PR-path.

La entrada Castillo del Cid, (El Cid Castle) se publicó primero en El Casal de Nicolás.

A unique experience

Set at 77 Km from Fortanete is a Coal Mine converted into Museum, where visitors experience what it feels like to be a miner.

A kind of theme park where visitors are immersed into the mine, visiting the different tunnels and specialized equipment.

The Park is located in a real mine in use until 1968 which has now been completely restored and converted for display to the public.

The guided tour is for groups of 23 people. Visitors, equipped with flashlights, descend 200 metres to reach the deepest tunnels where the working conditions in which the miners drew Brown Coal have been faithfully reconstructed.

The opening hours are from Tuesday to Friday from 11:00 to 19:00 and Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 10:00 to 20:00 hours.
The visit lasts 75 minutes, visitors staying at the Casal de Nicolás are given a 10% discount.

La entrada Mining Museum  se publicó primero en El Casal de Nicolás.

A hideaway in the midst of a Pine grove

Fortanete is one of the hiking references of Aragon. This route is one of the most interesting, as it combines admired natural elements within the area with its recent history and leads up to a hidden place in the mountain range.

The route known as the ‘Path of the Maquis’ starts at the Calle del Loreto in the town centre. Visitors are advised to bring water from Fortanete as there are no water fountains along the way. Heading towards the Ermita del Maquis, the trail follows the actual GR 8 signs.

The geological structures act as a refuge in the dense pine forest, a strategic place to stay.

During the journey, from the Masico de la Pez, you can still find the remains left by a tornado that passed in 2000 in this part of Fortanete, causing the fall of pine trees along a stretch of 300 m, in the surroundings of the Masico Jujarra.

The end of the route is the Campamento Maqui, a setting formed by large vertical stonewalls that form a kind of ‘rocky corridor’. Numerous cavities or holes of different sizes along the walls are most probably where the Spanish Maquis sought refuge.

Distance: 7,6 Km (Hike), one way
Duration: 2 hr, one way
Gradient: 257 m

La entrada The Path of the Maquis se publicó primero en El Casal de Nicolás.