Uncastillo – Architecture, History and Views

If you’re looking for a hotel in Uncastillo, the historic buildings, collections and natural surroundings can shape your stay. The attractions offer a range of different themes, from the storage of winter ice to religious art and a fortress with a museum and views. Hiking is also one of the things you can do in the natural surroundings. You can therefore decide whether you’re particularly interested in architecture, the history of the town or the landscape.

Museums and Views

The Museo del Frío in La Poza de Hielo shows how winter ice and snow were stored and kept for use in other seasons. The focus is therefore not just on winter, but also on how the stored supplies were used later. The museum offers a unique insight into a specific aspect of how snow and ice were used in the past.

The keep at the Fortaleza de Uncastillo houses a small museum. The terrace offers a different perspective: it is the highest point in Uncastillo and affords spectacular views of the town and its natural surroundings. Within the fortress, a museum visit and views over the town and landscape go hand in hand. Restoration work made it possible to open the Fortaleza to the public after centuries of decline; this development is also part of the site’s history.

Romanesque Art and Architectural History

The sculpture attributed to the Maestro de Olorón adorns the archivolts of the south portal of the Iglesia de Santa María. Archivolts are the curved mouldings of a portal; here, the sculpture is associated with a specific architectural detail. By contrast, the Centro de Arte Religioso del Prepirineo, housed in the Romanesque church of San Martín de Tours, focuses on a diverse collection of medieval sculptures, reliefs, goldsmithing and paintings. The two offer different perspectives on religious art: at Santa María, the focus is on the design of a portal, while at San Martín it is on different art forms brought together in a collection.

The Iglesia de San Miguel also tells of a change in use: the Fundación Uncastillo fully restored it and converted it into a conference hall. This transformation adds another facet to the town’s architectural history, alongside its religious and artistic themes.

Jewish Heritage and Local History

The synagogue of Uncastillo was built in the second half of the 13th century. It included a communal oven, a garden and a columbarium, or dovecote; part of the synagogue has been restored. The date and the areas mentioned give a concrete impression of the complex, while the restoration marks another aspect of its history.

The Jewish heritage also includes the cemetery outside Uncastillo. About 150 intact graves, cut into earth or rock, have been preserved there. The funeral procession reached the cemetery via the Puente de los Judíos. The historic site therefore includes not only the graves, but also the traditional route of the procession.

The Lonja was later used for trading conducted in Uncastillo’s market square. This former function adds commerce in the town to its religious and museum-related themes.

Landscape and Hiking

If you’d like to shift your focus from buildings and collections to nature, Uncastillo’s natural surroundings are ideal for hiking. The view from the Fortaleza terrace takes in the town and its surroundings; when hiking, the landscape itself takes centre stage. Together, these options reveal different sides of a stay without requiring you to limit your choice to a single theme.

Discover more destinations: Biel, Tobed, Ibdes, Villalengua, Longares, Almonacid De La Cuba, Codo, San Juan De Mozarrifar

For the main travel overview: Zaragoza.