The zone
Halfway between Fraga and Huesca, Lastanosa is close to the Monegros desert, the Jubierre route, the Somontano vineyards and the mountains of the Sierra Guara and the Pyrenees.
Lastanosa is located in the north of Monegros, famous in Spain for being an arid and infertile desert.
Fortunately, since irrigation canals were built in the 1970s, Lastanosa is surrounded by fields ranging from wheat to sunflowers to corn.
Lastanosa is at the end of the road, with no passing traffic. It has around 20 permanent residents, increasing to approximately 100 in the summer.
There are no shops or bars. It is the perfect place to relax, see the sky and see what rural life in Spain is like.
The church was built in the 15th and 16th centuries on the remains of a 12th century church.
It was looted during the Spanish Civil War, but still has panels from the old Gothic altarpiece attributed to Juan de la Abadía, a well-known painter in Huesca of his time.
At the top of the hill above the fields is the Ermita de San Sebastián, a 15th century chapel.
In San Sebastián, on January 20, the townspeople go up to the chapel for mass.
On the south side of the city is the Hermitage of Santa Ana, also from the 15th century.
Before irrigation reached Lastanosa, processions to Santa Ana were popular to pray for water for the dry fields.
The municipal swimming pool is open from the end of June to September.
With the small town of Lastanosa, many locals say it’s like having your own pool.
The Charterhouse of Our Lady of the Fountains
https://www.dphuesca.es/cartuja-de-las-fuentes
Founded in the early 16th century by Carthusian monks on the outskirts of Sariñena, a new monastery was built in the 18th century. The monument has historical and pictorial value, with more than 2,000 square meters of murals painted by Fray Manuel Bayeu, who painted them almost all of his life.
Jubierre
https://www.turismodearagon.com/ficha/ruta-por-jubierre/
Jubierre offers a unique landscape that is rare outside the Living Desert that is Los Monegros. With its ravines and tozales or torrollones it attracts many film and advertising producers. It can be visited by car, motorcycle or mountain bike and thus access multiple marked routes for hiking. From the top of the mountain range you can see views reminiscent of Western movies.
La Gabarda
https://www.excursionesporhuesca.es/actividades/torrollones-de-la-gabarda/
La Garbarda is a “domesticated” Jubierre, that is, it offers many beautiful and wild views but with better conditioned roads. It can be easily done by car and offers walking paths and an old Arab fortification in Alberuela de Tubo. There is also an adventure park that has zip lines, bridges, and other activities to enjoy.
The Sariñena Lagoon
https://www.sariñena.es/la-laguna
With a perimeter of 8 kilometers, Laguna de Sariñena is one of the 10 largest lagoons in Spain. According to the Sariñena City Council, in the last 15 years more than 200 species of birds have been observed, many considered rare in the Iberian Peninsula. A perfect place for bird watching.
The monastery was founded in 1188 at the wish of Doña Sancha of Castilla, wife of Alfonso II of Aragon, who when she died was buried within its walls. In the royal pantheon, there is also the tomb of Pedro II, a sign of the importance that the monastery had in the past, being one of the richest monasteries in Aragon. It has a Romanesque façade with fourteen archivolts and has been a national monument since 1923.
https://turismolosmonegros.org/ruta-orwell
As recounted in his book Homage to Catalonia, the writer George Orwell fought for the republican cause in the Spanish Civil War. In January 1937 he was assigned to Monte Irazo at the top of the Sierra de Alcubierre, between the towns of Alcubierre and Leciñena. There are preserved trenches with detailed explanation on both sides of the road.
https://www.miguelservet.org/home/content/33/historia
In Villanueva de Sigena is the birthplace of Miguel Servet, an essential thinker of the 16th century who left his mark in the fields of astronomy, theology, physics and anatomy, among others. The house has an interpretation center about the scientist and the library of the Instituto de Estudios Sijenenses.
https://culturadearagon.es/museos/museo-oficios-antiguos-de-monegros/
It is a curious three-story private museum that houses utensils and objects related to past trades. There are more than 60 trades represented and it recreates traditional spaces.
El Vino del Desierto
https://elvinodeldesierto.com/
Fernando Mir del Vino del Desierto has been creating wines that express the terroir and special climate of Los Monegros for more than a decade. Over the years it has grown until today it offers four special wines. You can schedule visits or taste the wines in our restaurant.
D.O. Somantano
Somantano is a neighboring region famous for its wines that is just 30 minutes from Lastanosa. Twenty-eight wineries make up the designation of origin at the foot of the Pyrenees and you can visit many. The regulatory council organizes many events such as La Ruta del Vino or El Festival de Vino at the beginning of August.
Cycling
Los Monegros is perfect for a cycling trip given its low population and traffic density. The king is mountain biking, since Sariñena is the headquarters of the Orbea race in the month of April. There are already many routes through Wikiloc or through the region. At Los Chicos de Lastanosa we have space in the garden for your bicycles.
Hiking
https://tudemonegros.es/rutas-senderistas/
Hiking is a perfect activity to enjoy the rich landscape of Los Monegros. There are a multitude of trails of different complexity and views that can be undertaken to delight the eyes.
