The town of Aínsa, in Huesca, is a small mountain location where you can breathe the pure and cold air of the Pyrenees. It is part of the Sobrarbe Region, an ideal environment for lovers of rural and alpine tourism.
What's interesting about it? Here we tell you: it is estimated that Aínsa was born at the beginning of the medieval period after conquering it from the Arabs. That is why it has the remains of a fortress castle from the 11th century.
It is a village with streets and buildings built entirely of stone in which various cultures have lived. It has Christian origin buildings such as the Parish Church of Santa María, located next to the Plaza Mayor that forms the center of activities in Aínsa; Jewish buildings, such as public baths, and finally Arab buildings, referring to the ruins under the city wall.
Part of the municipality belongs to the protected land of the Sierra y los Cañones de Guara Natural Park, the largest natural space in the entire community of Aragon. And not only that. The entire region is part of the Sobrarbe-Pirineos Geopark, which runs through the Cinca and Ara rivers that, precisely, converge on the border of Aínsa.
Of course, your holidays in nature will be the envy of all. And if you go as a family and want to make plans with the little ones, what can you do? Well, a fun activity that will help them learn to live hand by hand with nature can be to take one of the many hiking trails in the surroundings. We recommend the Piñeta Valley in Ordesa National Park, or the L’ Ausera botanical trail route in a different Natural Park, Posets-Maladeta.
Now comes another important question, where can I stay?
Well, the ideal way to live the mountain experience would be to look for a good hostel, but we cannot blame you if you prefer to indulge yourself in a rural hotel and take advantage its comforts to relax and return home as good as new. Either way, you can be sure that in any of the lodgings you choose they will serve dishes that will also make you enjoy their gastronomy.
High mountain cuisine is the most popular in these parts. Some of its best dishes? Above all, grilled meat dishes. Although there is also a long tradition of collecting mushrooms and truffles to make delicious homemade recipes. One of the most popular is the chireta, consisting of lamb tripe stuffed with meat, spices and rice.
We have mentioned truffles before, and the first weekend of February the Black Truffle Fair of the Pyrenees is celebrated in this village. But what other festivals are celebrated here?
Well, the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (September 14th), which are the patron saint festivities, and the Morisma (for the reconquest of the village that was in the hands of the Arabs in the eighth century), which takes place every two years, starting on the last Sunday of August.
If we have convinced you, don't waste time and sign up for a rural tourism vacation in the village of Ainsa, pack your bags and go straight for your experience in the Pyrenees!
