Royal Monastery of San Victorián

Few Aragonese monasteries enjoy a backdrop as imposing as the Royal Monastery of San Victorián. It stands 1,200 metres above sea level on the slopes of the Sierra Ferrera, directly beneath the bold silhouette of Peña Montañesa, the peak that dominates this part of the Huesca Pyrenees. Getting there is already part of the experience: the mountain scenery stays with you the whole way and explains why such a remote, elevated spot was chosen for monastic life.

The complex lies in the small village of Los Molinos, which belongs to the municipality of El Pueyo de Araguás, in the Sobrarbe district. This is a monastic complex rather than a single building, so it is worth setting aside some time to explore it at a leisurely pace, paying attention both to the buildings themselves and to the surroundings.

One detail that reveals how deeply rooted it is in the area is the name the locals use for it. In Aragonese, and in the everyday speech of the district, the monastery is known as San Beturián, a name worth remembering if you ask for directions or chat with local people. Its title of Royal, meanwhile, gives an idea of the esteem it once enjoyed.

The visit fits very nicely into a tour of Sobrarbe, as the monastery is just 14 kilometres from Aínsa, the district's main town. You can easily combine a stroll around Aínsa's historic centre with the drive up to San Victorián on the same day, moving from the bustle of a medieval town to the tranquillity of a mountain monastery, with Peña Montañesa always in view.