Page 188 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Northern Spain

186  NOR THERN SP AIN REGION B Y REGION

r Parque Nacional de Ordesa y Monte Perdido

Within its borders, the Parque Nacional de Ordesa y
Monte Perdido combines all the most dramatic
elements of Spain’s Pyrenean scenery. At the heart of
the park are four glacial canyons – the Ordesa, Añisclo,
Pineta and Escuaín valleys – which carve the great
upland limestone massifs into spectacular cliffs and
chasms. Most of the park is accessible only on foot:
even then, snow during autumn and winter makes it
inaccessible to all except those with specialist climbing
equipment. In high summer, however, the crowds testify Valle de Ordesa
The Río Arazas cuts through forested
to the park’s well-earned reputation as a paradise for limestone escarpments, providing
walkers and nature-lovers alike. some of Ordesa’s most popular walks.

Brecha de
Rolando Monte Perdido
3,355 m (11,008 ft)
El Taillón
3,144 m (10,315 ft)
Gruta de
Casteret J
Mondarruego
2,848 m (9,344 ft) Arazas
J
Valle de Ordesa
Cascada Gradas de Soaso
Torrombotera

Torla
Torla
This village, at the gateway to the park, huddles Biescas
beneath the forbidding slopes of Mondarruego.
With its core of cobbled streets and slate-roofed Broto
houses around the church, Torla is a popular base Fanlo
for visitors to Ordesa. Buisán
Oto
Sarvisé
Ara
Jalle
Ainsa

0 kilometres 3
0 miles 3

Key
Major road
Minor road
Mountain trail
Broto
Spanning a valley on the banks of the Río Ara, this village has Spanish–French border
traditional period houses. The extensive valley forms a fantastic National park boundary
backdrop for the fine regional architecture.
For hotels and restaurants see p207 and pp222–3

186-187__ss_.indd 186 13/09/16 5:28 pm