Parzán – Mining History and Routes

Parzán combines mining history with routes through a variety of landscapes. If you’re looking for a hotel in Parzán, you can choose your destination based on whether you’re particularly interested in the trail to the Circo de Barrosa, the mining remains, or the route through the Barranco de Urdiceto. The village has the municipality’s only petrol station.

Navigation and Trail Markings

The PR-HU 189 is signposted as a PR trail with white and yellow markings. It follows the service road along the canal and passes old mining remains, barracks, and other structures. For the family route into the Valle de Barrosa, the parking area is by the former Hospital de Parzán, beyond the old customs post on the road to France. Check parking and access conditions before your visit.

Parzán’s Mining History

The Minas de Parzán complex includes, among other things, the Luisa aerial cableway system and a power station. In the 20th century, the Société des Mines de Parzán was headquartered at the Hospital de Parzán. Materials extracted from the mines, mainly iron and silver, were transported to France by cableway with mine carts via the Puerto de Salcorz.

Taken together, the aerial cableway system, power station, company headquarters, and transport route illustrate different aspects of mining: technical facilities, administration, and the onward transport of extracted materials.

Barrosa Route: Forest, Grassland, and Mine Ruins

The round trip from the Hospital de Parzán to the Circo de Barrosa is 9 km long, with 350 m of elevation gain. On the Barrosa Route, the trail follows the river through a pine forest; the landscape then opens out into alpine grassland, with the Circo de Barrosa in the background. The Barrosa Route also leads to the ruins of the Minas de Parzán.

Towards Urdiceto

A track and a GR-11 trail climb 11 km from Parzán through the Barranco de Urdiceto. The Lago de Urdiceto is a former mountain lake that is now dammed; it lies below Fuesa and Suelsa. Beside it is a group of small mountain lakes called the Ibones de la Solana de Urdiceto. This group offers a view of Posets.

The route details are clearly distinguished: the Barrosa Route is a 9 km round trip with 350 m of elevation gain, while an 11 km route climbs through the Barranco de Urdiceto.

Annual Festival and Local History

Parzán’s patron saint’s festival takes place on 10 August, the feast day of Saint Lawrence (San Lorenzo). During the Civil War, the village was almost completely destroyed: nearly all the buildings, including the church, burned down.

The Museo de Bielsa in the town of Bielsa

The Museo de Bielsa is housed in Bielsa’s Renaissance town hall. It has an extensive collection of documents and photographs from different periods, as well as a section on La Bolsa de Bielsa.

Discover more destinations: Castigaleu, Canfranc, Barbenuta, Chibluco, Lecina, San Juan De Plan, Puente La Reina De Jaca, Ribagorza

For the main travel overview: Huesca.