The province of Zaragoza is home to numerous treasures within its borders, in the form of monasteries, castles and fortresses that are well worth a visit. Enclaves that, in addition to their beauty, stand out for their more than 2,000 years of history. In this article, we tell you how to organise the best monasteries and fortresses driving tour from Zaragoza.
How to plan your monasteries and fortresses of Zaragoza driving tour
If you are passionate about history, art and culture, spending a few days touring the castles and monasteries of this Aragonese province is one of the best plans. And, so that you don't have to worry about a thing, you can rent a car in Zaragoza to get around with total freedom. Here are some of the highlights of this route:
Cinco Villas
The Cinco Villas route is one of the most popular routes in Zaragoza. It is formed by the towns of Tauste, Ejea de los Caballeros, Sádaba, Uncastillo and Sos del Rey Católico, in a zigzagging route that can be easily covered by car.
The Mudejar tower of Tauste, the medieval castle of Sádaba, the remains of the castle that gave its name to Uncastillo and the complete medieval complex of Sos del Rey Católico, birthplace of King Ferdinand the Catholic, make this an unmissable route in Zaragoza.
Monasterio de Piedra (Stone Monastery)
The Monasterio de Piedra is one of the great emblems of Zaragoza and Aragon in general. The 12th-century Cistercian monastery's location in a natural park full of waterfalls forms a spectacular image.
Among all the waterfalls in the monastery's surroundings, the one called Cola de Caballo stands out, where you can see a large natural cave. And, due to its proximity to Calatayud, after visiting the monastery you can head there for a meal and round off the day.
Castle of Loarre
The Castle of Loarre is not actually in Zaragoza, but in Huesca, although if you rent a car you can reach it in a little over an hour. It is also one of the most cinematographic castles in Spain, since it has been the setting for films such as Kingdom of Heaven and TV shows like The Ministry of Time (El Ministerio del Tiempo).
It is an 11th-century fortress and one of the most important Romanesque castles due to its strategic location, which is also one of its great tourist attractions.
Rueda Abbey
In the small town of Sástago we find Rueda Abbey, belonging to the Cistercian order and built in the 13th century.
In addition to the Gothic cloister and the beautiful Mudejar tower, the highlight of this religious site is the 18-metre waterwheel, which gives it its name. This waterwheel is part of a hydraulic system that the monks who lived in the monastery used to get water from the river.
Castle of Trasmoz
Near the Sierra del Moncayo mountain range stands the castle of Trasmoz, in the village of the same name, the traditional border between the kingdoms of Aragon and Navarre. Today you can only visit the remains, but the image offered by the castle crowning the village atop the hill is still one of the most photographed in the region.
The castle is also shrouded in mystery. According to legend, Trasmoz was one of the places where witches used to meet to plan their covens.
Veruela Abbey
The third monastery of the Cistercian order on our list is also one of the most beautiful in Zaragoza. It dates back to the 12th century, and is really the first one where construction began, approximately around the year 1145, at the foot of the Moncayo mountain range. The poet Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer stayed in this monastery for a few months, where he wrote his epistolary work "Cartas desde mi celda" (Letters from my cell).
Ayyub Castle
Finally, we recommend visiting the ruins of Ayyub Castle, also known as Castillo Mayor. It is a fortress of Muslim origin, dating back to the ninth century, and from which derives the current name of Calatayud (Qalat Ayyub). It is technically a fortified enclosure in which five castles are located, and it is situated in the highest part of Calatayud.
This driving tour through the monasteries and fortresses from Zaragoza will have you visiting places steeped in history, and you can extend it depending on the length of your stay in the area.
In any case, renting a car in Zaragoza with OK Mobility will offer you the most flexibility and allow you to discover the architectural and historical jewels of this province. At OK Mobility, we help you choose the car that best suits your needs so that all you have to worry about is enjoying the trip.
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