Búbal between village history and mountain scenery

Búbal offers a special opportunity to learn about and explore in depth traditional life in the mountains and everyday life in the Pyrenean valley of Valle de Tena. It also features a landscape with pronounced differences in elevation and the history of a village that was expropriated for the construction of the Embalse de Búbal and later abandoned. Cultural history and the natural environment thus offer two different perspectives to consider when planning your trip.

Landscape between the river and the highlands

The landscape around Búbal has diverse geomorphology and vegetation. It ranges from the banks of the Gállego River at around 900 metres to high mountain regions reaching up to 2,800 metres. The lower-lying areas near the river are favourable for growing cereals and maintaining small orchards. Comparing the riverside areas with the much higher mountain regions brings the range of the landscape into focus. References to cereals and small orchards add an agricultural perspective to the comparison of elevations: the riverside areas are defined not only by their proximity to the Gállego, but also by the crops that are favoured there. Natural features such as proximity to the river and elevation therefore sit alongside an agricultural perspective. Together with the cultural perspective on traditional mountain life, the landscape description is connected to everyday life in Valle de Tena.

The landscape of Búbal is dominated by Peña Telera. The area also includes the forest known as Selva de Búbal. Protected animal species are found in the area, including the bearded vulture. For nature enthusiasts, these named features add mountains, forests and wildlife to the description of elevation and vegetation.

Village history and PRUEPA

Búbal was expropriated in 1961 for the construction of the Embalse de Búbal reservoir and finally abandoned in 1971. The two dates refer to different events: ten years passed between the expropriation and the final abandonment. This sequence of events helps put the village's history in context without conflating the two.

The programme for the restoration and educational use of abandoned villages (PRUEPA) is also carried out in Búbal (Huesca). Participation is organised through educational institutions. If you are interested in PRUEPA, take this organisational framework into account when planning. The programme combines the restoration of abandoned villages with their educational use.

Among the 35 restored buildings and infrastructure facilities in Búbal is an ethnological museum. The programme for 2025 also included walking excursions in the area around Búbal. The programme described therefore encompasses both restored facilities and activities in the surrounding area.

Practical information

The 2025 participant information lists Búbal as a place without shops. Check whether this information is still current before travelling.

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