Valdelinares Ski Station

Fortanete is the nearest town to these modern facilities equipped with the most advanced technologies, in places of great natural beauty, surrounded by diverse vegetation, perfect for skiing, a vital and unforgettable experience. The access road has no traffic and drops you off 20 minutes from the slopes.

This privileged location allows you to enjoy a varied sports and leisure activities, such as hiking or rides on horseback.

The close and friendly manner of the staff, care services and the indulgent gastronomy, all make Valdelinares in that the charming different destination all that we all seek.

Station opening hours are from 9:00 to 17:00 hours.

Services offered:
– Parking close to the slopes
– Equipment hire
– Ski School
– Snow park
–Eating on the pistes

La entrada Skiing in Valdelinares se publicó primero en El Casal de Nicolás.

Fortanete, All Terrain Bike Pick-up-point

The BTT Centre in El Maestrazgo is a space offering free access for those who practice off-road biking (BTT) or Mountain Bike (MTB), with at least of 100 km of signposted itineraries, departing from Fortanete with tourist information and services for the bikes.

The ten routes that make up El Maestrazgo BTT Centre run through a varied and contrasting terrain, where treasured natural attractions are complemented by rich heritage and culture, evidence of an intense human activity throughout its history.

These mountain bike routes, adapted for all difficulty levels, invite visitors to discover all these treasures at the leisurely pace that the use of mountain bike permits.

 The BTT Centre in El Maestrazgo offers:

– Over 100 km of trails marked and mapped according to the different difficulty levels.
– Two pick-up points that offer bicycle services and are also a tourist office. They boast of cartographic material and technical material.
– Complementary services to facilitate bicycle use: bicycle rental, parking area, laundry, showers and services, etc.
– A standard of quality. The BTT Centre follows the same parameters and format as the rest of mountain biking centres in the country.

Routes from Fortanete:

– Sierra de la Cañada and Capellanía. 30Km / 2 – 2h 30’h. / 506 gradient
– R1-Pitarque-R9 Connection. 12.7Km / 45’/ +53/-650 gradient
– Las Dehesas Route. 28Km / 2 – 2h 30’h. / 664 gradient
– Fortanete Pine Grove. 50Km / 3 – 5h. / 506 gradient
– GR 8 and the Camino de los Pilones. 21,3Km / 1h 30′h/ +324/-426 gradient
– Cantavieja Varient. 9Km / 30′ / +55/-382 gradient

La entrada BTT routes in El Maestrazgo se publicó primero en El Casal de Nicolás.

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.

An essential route

The route from the source of the Pitarque River is a natural monument 40 Km from Fortanete. It’s one of the essential routes for any hiker visiting our region. It is a route of great beauty in a truly unique environment.

Steep landscapes, rising water in every corner and vegetation will accompany you along the way. The source of the Pitarque River is one of the most visited routes throughout the province.

Starting at Pitarque, the trip lasts two and a half hours. Within the town are several interpretive panels and signs that indicate the route to follow, in addition, roughly half, follow the GR 8 marks.

La entrada The source of the Pitarque River  se publicó primero en El Casal de Nicolás.

Cretaceous Strata

Impressive limestone needles at an altitude of more than two hundred meters, 36 Km from Fortanete, taking their name from their resemblance to the pipes of a musical organ.

The geological explanation of these curious formations is that they are a set of limestone strata from the superior cretaceous period, which were folded in a vertical position during the alpine orogeny phase. The consequent erosive process is the result of water, ice, winds and fluvial erosion, chiselling these peculiar forms, which are included within the network of the Points of geological interest of Aragon.

The best view of the Organs of Montoro can be seen the road itself, at the section called the Collado de Casa Mozuelos, where we can also find interpretive panels on the formation of this strange geological form.

La entrada The Organs of Montoro se publicó primero en El Casal de Nicolás.

The history of our planet

The Interpretation Centre and creation of routes aimed at researchers and university students is located 55 Km from Fortanete. 

A natural setting as well as a vantage point from which to contemplate the past 200 million years of the history of our planet.

Some of its wonderful formations and geological structures, modelled in spectacular relief, are considered by scientists as internationally unique examples.

It offers the possibility of a new perspective on the Earth; to continually ask questions… The accumulation of layers of stratum are like the leaves of a book that tell the story of our planet.

Created for both scientists and inquisitive visitors to get to investigate the Park and its vicinity, in the geological park of Aliaga there are two different routes. One more “scientific” in a natural setting, with 11 stops indicated on the road by metal-plates with explanations on ceramic plates, and another of a more “touristic” character which consists of 9 stops, some of which coincide with the scientific route.

La entrada Geological Park se publicó primero en El Casal de Nicolás.

Alternative Tourism

The concept of ‘slow’ tourism differs greatly from conventional tourism by moving away from traditional routes or guides with strict timetables. Travelling at a more relaxed and leisurely pace allows us to discover and learn more about the places we visit, investigating the nature in its landscapes, the local gastronomy, meeting people, enjoying every minute and above all, relaxing.

The concept of slow tourism is closely related to nature tourism.

The Casal de Nicolás specialises in offering the ideal setting for the purpose of avoiding any kind of stress during your stay.

El Maestrazgo is the ideal destination for the nature lovers and eco-tourism, because it offers nature reserves, protected areas, gardens… for walking or sports such as hiking and cycling.

These are perfect options for visitors who want to delve into the philosophy of the slow tourism, seeking to relax, unwind, find tranquillity and experience contact with nature.

La entrada Slow Tourism se publicó primero en El Casal de Nicolás.

A Natural Water Park

A pretty and exciting ravine suitable for all kinds of public 28 Km from Fortanete. It is a large water park in a completely natural setting full of slides, jumps, bathing areas and endless beautiful spots.

Beautiful landscapes in a little known and extremely peaceful setting that allows for a real appreciation of nature.

La entrada Pozo del Invierno, (Winter Well) se publicó primero en El Casal de Nicolás.