El Bajo Aragon Turolense. Province of Teruel. Teruel. Aragon. Spain.

Comarca natural

Bajo Aragon de Teruel is a region full of history and tradition, which is reflected in its most characteristic sound, the rumbling of drums and Easter drums. From the heights of the Ports of Beceite and Peñarroya, playing with the provinces of Castellón and Tarragona where the three are joined in the Tossal dels Tres Reis at 1356 m., Playing with the province of Castellón, to the plains of Alcañiz and Calanda, The different peoples of Arabized names have kept their traditions intact, combining them with the needs of modern life, in a clear demonstration of their openness to novelties and hospitable with foreigners.

To breathe better.

The Estanca and the Salt Flats of Alcañiz: They are endorheic lagoons formed by underground waters. The Estanca de Alcañiz is an old salty lagoon, today of fresh water due to the artificial influx of the Guadalope River. With an extension of 875,000 m2, it is inhabited by anades and steppe birds. It is a fishing ground. Nearby are the Salty of Alcañiz, interesting endorheic lagoons populated by steppe birds.

The Ports of Beceite and Peñarroya: The Matarraña River and its tributaries have formed at its birth an abrupt and spectacular orography of cuts and ravines: The Ports of Beceite. The Strait of El Parrisal marks the birth of the Matarraña River, originating a deep canyon of 200 m. in length, 60 in height and only 2 in width. It is National Hunting Reserve, with Hispanic goat, otter, wild boar and raptors, and has a recreational area of pine forest. Other interesting places are the ravines of the Pesquera or Ulldemó, of L'Escresola, the Peñas de Masmut and the courses of the rivers Algás and Tastavins or the source of the apple, the T-shirt and the Nogués ravine in Monroyo.

The Crystal Grottoes of Molinos: Unique in their region. The main hall the Crystal Palace, is the most interesting because of the eccentric stalactites, which develop not vertically, but inclined and even horizontal.

The Sima de San Pedro: Near Oliete, 90 meters in diameter.

From Azaila to Alcañiz, the bread, dry and dusty lands follow each other, then to the south, and the east disappear replaced by olive groves that undoubtedly produce the finest oil in the world, orchards in Las Vegas and where the irrigation fields arrive Peach trees, those of Alcañiz and Valderrobres as rich as those of Calanda are good and famous.

And in the mountains a soft and varied nature: Pines, oaks and oaks.

Another charm: the mother tongue that is still preserved.
That it is not the same in Monroyo as in Peñarroya and Fuentespalda below it looks a bit more like Catalan although from Valderrobres towards Calaceite baichen and puchen, especially in Fresneda and Valchunquera but where it is spoken of in a more unlikely and perhaps more authentic way It is from La Codoñera to Aguaviva.

To learn

The popular architecture has given rise to towns that retain their rustic or medieval flavor, such as Oliete, Ariño, Samper, Híjar, Monroyo, Beceite, Calaceite or Arens de Lledó, highlighting Albalate and its mulberry, Valderrobres and La Fresneda

Rock Art: Levantine-style paintings with hunting scenes have been found in the cave of Val del Charco del Agua Amarga, near Alcañiz and in 8 coats of Alacon. There are also paintings in Mazaleón, Cretas, Beceite, Castellote and Ariño.

Ibero-Roman art: There are interesting villages that can be visited in Oliete (El Palomar, with walls), and Azaila (Iberian-Celtic-Roman, unique in Spain, with streets, towers and moats and with a Roman temple in antis), and in Alloza (El Castelillo) and Calaceite.

Gothic: Sta. María La Mayor de Valderrobres is inspired by the Gothic Levantine, and with the eleven archivolts pointed to its facade and its beautiful rosette influenced the entire Lower Aragon.
From the same era is the nearby castle-castle crenellated.
The church of Molinos is flamboyant, Levantine-inspired and has a beautiful facade.
Also gothic are the episcopal castle of Albalate, the fish market of Alcañiz, the tower of the Castle of Alcañiz, with Franco-Gothic paintings, and the churches of Lledó and Arens de Lledo.

Mudéjar: In Peñarroya de Tastavins highlights in the Gothic hermitage of the Virgen de la Fuente its interesting roof. Also interesting are the towers of the churches of Alcorisa, Crivillen and Muniesa and the church of Hijar.

Renaissance: The most important Renaissance monument is the town hall in the Plaza de España in Alcañiz, Italian-looking for its galleries or loggia. Also important are the municipalities of Alloza, Valderrobres, La Fresneda, and that of Monroyo with its porticoed square. And the very Mannerist church of Andorra.

Baroque: The most attractive monument is the collegiate church of Sta. María la Mayor de Alcañiz, located in the Plaza de España, with a beautiful facade flanked by two towers, and the Carmen church and the Castle palace, now Parador National. The churches of Urrea, Ariño (very rococo), Alacón, Samper and the facade of that of Alcorisa are also baroque.

Paleontological sites: The Barranco de L'Escresola in Peñarroya de Tastavins, with the recent discovery of a fossilized dinosaur.

To participate

Drum and bass drum route: Spectacular and noisy celebration of Holy Week in Lower Aragon, declared of tourist interest, in which drums and drums remember the shudder that shook nature when Jesus Christ died and It is rooted in the pre-Christian traditions of the rites of the spring after winter.

It is formed by Albalate, Alcañiz, Alcorisa, Andorra, Calanda, Hijar, La Puebla, Samper and Urrea. In almost all of them there are ascents to Calvary and "broken" of the hour.

The processions of Hijar are very severe, and are dominated by the black color of the tunic and the thirdol (pleated hood). They emphasize the ascent to Calvary and the "break" time, at 0 h. Good Friday
Calanda, birthplace of Luis Buñuel, celebrates his spectacular breaking time at 12 noon. Good Friday with a rumble that lasts 26 exhausting hours and ends with the palillera march.

Valderrobres Carnival: Recovered carnival that opens with a "ghost" and the arrival of Carnival, a doll that will burn last night. Saturday is distributed "calming" among the attendees until late in the morning.

Pilgrimage of men to the Llovedor: In Castellote on May 1, only for men, to ask for the essential rain to the Virgin.

Fairs of great splendor in other times have recovered spectacularly, offering crafts, culture, native cuisine, and market, highlights that of Monroyo on the first Saturday and Sunday of November if it does not coincide with Todos Santos and in late successive weeks those of Ráfales and Aguaviva.

It is worth noting the efforts of smaller towns to make their parties popular, with all their acts and free performances for their visitors.

Traditions that are recovered: In Monroyo a group of local dulzaineros formed in 1990 by 5 young enthusiasts, with great dedication, have returned the sound of this ancient instrument that the uncle played at the beginning of the century Gaité, to each village festival, recovering popular dances such as Samarreta.

To do exercise

Mountaineering:
Climbing, in Peña Galera 2 equipped routes and Masmut with more than 12 routes information in Posada Guadalupe de Monroyo you will find climbing routes, canyoning hiking and mountain biking, photographic safari on guided 4x4 routes to know the most beautiful places from our Iberian mountain range to the salt of Alcañiz or the Calanda desert, its hermitages, farmhouses, fauna, and flora culture and traditions,
trekking and hiking can be practiced in the Ports of Beceite and in the swamps of Cueva Foradada, Santolea and Gallipuén.
Mountain bike enthusiasts have numerous roads, tracks and horseshoe trails in these areas that are also easy routes for this hobby.
You can ride a horse in Valderrobres and Aguaviva.

Water sports: Windsurfing, sailing, water skiing, canoeing and other sports can be done in the calm waters of the swamps. There are hotel and sports equipment rental facilities in the swamps of Santolea, Gallipuén and Cueva Foradada and in La Estanca de Alcañiz.

Hunting: In the National Game Reserve of the ports of Beceite with abundance of Hispanic goat ... and the preserves of Peñarroya, Monroyo, Fuentespalda, Torre de Arcas and La Cerollera with abundance of Wild boar and where beats are organized every Sunday of the season. In La Cerollera, a trail dog competition for rabbit hunting takes place annually in February.

Fishing: Mas de las Matas and Calanda on the Guadalope River, and Beceite and Valderrobres on the Matarraña River are excellent trout preserves. Other species are also fished in the swamps of Cueva Foradada, Gallipuén, Santolea and La Pena.

To eat

There is a wide network of restaurants of all categories, some very picturesque, to savor the specialties of the land. In Lower Aragón, pork, game and trout derivatives, pickles and truffled stews stand out. Sheep and goat cheeses in Alcañiz, The village of Hijar, Samper de Calanda and Peñarroya de Tastavíns.

Famous specialties are the peaches of Calanda, the oil (one of the best in Spain) and the wines of Calaceite and Valderrobres, and the famous Ham of Teruel, with designation of origin, in Peñarroya de Tastavins (Virgin of the Source and Peña-ham) La Cerollera (Jalacete) and Monroyo (Ham of Monroyo).

In season the mushrooms and the precious black truffle of winter.

Truffle (Tuber melanosporum)

That grows in the forests of Monroyo and Peñaroya from December to March, it is a great unknown among us since it is hardly consumed in Spain.

It is a kind of somewhat special fungus that develops in symbiosis or parasitizing the roots of only some oaks and oaks, has the shape of a potato and grows underground so that the collaboration of a trained dog is necessary to find them. Totally black on the outside and inside veined with small white grooves, when ripe it gives off a penetrating aroma.
Their indiscriminate exploitation by foreign seekers in the 60s, when the owners did not know their economic value, significantly reduced their abundance, totally ruining some truffles.

Of great culinary value, it is exquisite simply scrambled with eggs, but do not be fooled by canned food since authentic black truffle can rarely be found in Spain. Let me give you some tips: In the small boats of 10 gr. where they are usually kept for retail sale, a label with the ingredients must be included, it will put in large letters "Truffle" and in small letters the type of truffle that is, you must put "Tuber melanosporum" if you put as in most " Tuber aestivium "better dismiss your purchase because you will feel cheated as it is a type of lower quality truffle and you will pay dearly.

If you are interested in acquiring quality truffles you should only approach the production area in season, do not forget to call beforehand so that they are stored, a small amount, 100 gr. Marinated in brandy are enough to flavor a good amount of stews and roasts.

Ample your information on Aragon

If you want Ample your information on Aragon you can begin crossing some Monasteries, o 40 Castles another interesting route is the Mudejar, Patrimony of the Humanity, also you can extend your cultural knowledge on Aragón examining its municipal and institutional heraldy without forgetting, of course, some of its emblematicas figures as San George Pattern of Aragon or its personages I illustrate adding to these data a minimum crossed by its history o some books.

Also Aragon enjoys a diverse and varied Nature where passing by plants, animals, or landscapes we can arrive at a fantastic bestiario that lives in its monuments.

The information will not be complete without a stroll by its three provinces: Zaragoza, Teruel and Huesca and ours varied Regions, with shutdown in some of its spectacular landscapes like Ordesa or the Moncayo or by opposition in the valle of the Ebro.

If reasons of work or relatives have taken to you Far from Aragon you can Download images of bottom, sounds or animations

Also you can dedicate you to the intangible ones: from the legend compilation that also does to universal Aragon you can persecute the presence of Santo Grial in Aragon.

Other pages on Aragon in Internet

Other current also you can interest.

El Bajo Aragon Turolense. Province of Teruel.

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