Alquézar is one of the most dramatic villages in Spain: a cluster of ochre houses piled on a rocky spur above the canyon of the Vero river, crowned by a castle and a collegiate church built on the site of a Moorish fortress. It lies at the southern edge of the Sierra de Guara, a limestone range in Aragon cut by deep canyons, and the area is famous across Europe for canyoning, with people abseiling, jumping and swimming through the narrow gorges in summer. The Corral de la Gascona is one of the rock-art sites in the Vero canyon and its surroundings, part of the UNESCO-listed rock art of the Mediterranean Basin.
The Vero canyon holds an extraordinary concentration of rock art, from different periods, including Levantine and schematic paintings. A cultural park protects the sites and the landscape, and guided visits to some of the shelters, such as Mallata and Chimiachas, can be arranged from Alquézar. A walk along the river, with its footbridges and walkways over the gorge, is a lovely way to see the canyon even without a guide.
The region around is the Somontano, the foothills of the Pyrenees, known for its wines, produced from vineyards on the gentle slopes south of the mountains. Barbastro, the main town, has a cathedral and a wine museum, and many wineries in the area offer tastings. Olive groves and almond orchards cover the hills, and in early spring the almond blossom is beautiful.
The riding is excellent. The roads around Alquézar and into the Sierra de Guara are narrow and winding, with tight bends and views of canyons, cliffs and villages. To the north, the roads climb into the Pyrenees, towards the Ordesa National Park and the Aragonese valleys, some of the best riding in Spain. Surfaces vary, and you will meet cyclists, campers and tractors. In summer, Alquézar is busy with canyoning groups, and parking can be difficult.
Alquézar has restaurants, bars and accommodation, but fuel is more reliable in Barbastro, a short ride south. Try ternasco de Aragón, roast lamb, or migas, fried breadcrumbs with sausage and grapes. Summers are hot and dry, winters cold. Spring and autumn are the best seasons for riding and walking.