Tour the dolmens of Huesca, its historic towns and trails with these two routes

Spring is one of the best times to enjoy the Aragonese landscape . And there is no small amount of enjoyment, Aragon is a land of dolmens. The archaeological inventory of the Government of Aragon collected in 2022 more than seventy megalithic monuments built from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age, and here you can find two dolmen routes in Huesca whose towns host different stories.

ROUTE THROUGH THE TENA VALLEY

If we enter the municipality of Tella, 700 meters before reaching the haunted town, we come across the Tella dolmen , also known as Piedra de Vasar or Losa de la Campa . Inside this rectangular dolmen, composed of a slab that acts as a roof and six vertical slabs, remains of a skull and teeth have been found, so it is thought that it had funerary use.

Legend has it that this Pyrenean area was an area of ​​witches, covens and spells. In fact, it is said that the three hermitages of the town, which are worth visiting, form a ring of forces that protect the inhabitants from the esoteric. However, the legend is far from reality, since it is a quite picturesque town that has one of the best views of Sobrarbe . In addition, finding this dolmen is very easy, since it has an explanatory sign near a parking lot (with a picnic area) located on the road that goes towards Tella.

The second dolmen that can be found on this route is the Santa Elena dolmen , located in the Tena Valley – in the town of Biescas -. This megalith is a reconstruction from the seventies, since as a result of the Civil War, the complex that had two dolmens was destroyed.

Both dolmens have a long history. The first – formed by a mound and two slabs on which the roof rests – was used to bury the deceased and deposit their spiers. However, because this dolmen was occupied and looted over time, the human remains found are not very revealing since they were removed on several occasions. From the second dolmen, the three orthostats that made up the open chamber are preserved.

These megaliths also have easy access, because the environment has information panels and parking. Likewise, it is advisable to visit the Fort of Santa Elena and the hermitage that is also named after the patron saint of Biescas.

ROUTE THROUGH THE ARAGON VALLEY

In the Aragón Valley is the Villanúa dolmen complex. A tour of the Güixas dolmen, the Letranz dolmen and the Tres Peñas or Diezcapanas dolmen within a radius of about seven kilometers.

The Güixas dolmen is the most complete of the Villanúa dolmens and one of the best preserved in Alto Aragón, as it maintains its rectangular shape and measures more than two meters long. This construction is located next to the Güixas cave, a place that owes its name to the fact that, according to tradition, it was a shelter for witches and covens. This cave can be visited for a price of 9 euros for adults and 7.50 euros for children, while the dolmen can be visited for free.

If we continue the route, we arrive at the Letranz dolmen . This is located on the southern slope of the Collarada, at a distance of two kilometers from the town. This archaeological monument is made up of a small chamber made up of four slabs, facing southeast.

During the excavation of this dolmen, fragments of modern ceramics and bone remains were found, which represents a significant find, since it is the only dolmen in the area in which remains have been found in their excavations. These discoveries show the use and occupation of this construction over several centuries, shedding light on the history and importance of this archaeological site.

Later, we arrived at the Tres Peñas dolmen , located in the area called Diezcapanas, which in Aragonese means “10 cabins.” It is said that Diezcapanas served as a shelter for shepherds in past times and the roof is preserved, which rests on two vertical slabs…

And this is how, through these two routes, you can discover the history of these dolmens and their towns, which remind us of the importance of preserving cultural heritage for future generations.