Obón between Rock Art and the Río Martín

Obón lies at the confluence of the Río Martín valley and the Río Cabra. The Parque Cultural del Río Martín runs through the village along the Río Martín corridor. Rock art, archaeological traces and routes are among the themes to consider when planning a trip to Obón.

Rock Art and Archaeological Traces

At the El Cerrao rock shelter is a continuous frieze, 1.70 metres long and 0.60 metres high, with 27 figures painted in wine red. Hunting and battle scenes are among its motifs; archers are depicted in linear form. The dimensions and continuous arrangement give the frieze a clearly defined pictorial space.

El Cerrao is included in Aragon’s register of caves and rock shelters with rock art classified as Bienes de Interés Cultural. The Hocino de Chornas is also one of the nearby ensembles of Levantine rock art that can be visited from Obón. The Cueva del Chopo is also associated with Obón in the Parque Cultural del Río Martín and is among the notable rock art ensembles.

The Cueva de los Huesos offers a different glimpse into the past: it is a Middle Pleistocene site containing a large accumulation of cemented remains of large vertebrates. The cave formed in limestone from former seabeds, which also contain marine fossils such as ammonites. Here, rock art and traces of a much older geological history come together as distinct themes.

Trails in the Río Martín Corridor

From Obón, the GR 262 first follows a path towards the swimming pools and hostel, then climbs to the nearby Mirador de Obón. The GR 262 also runs opposite the La Coquinera rock paintings and a small rest area. These local landmarks help with navigation along the route, without implying an unsubstantiated guarantee of access to each stop.

The Obón–Alcaine section of the GR 262 is listed as 8 kilometres long, with a duration of 2 hours and 50 minutes. Check trail conditions and any requirements for a guided visit before setting out. The Ruta de los Cañones del río Martín runs between Obón and Alcaine and is associated with the La Coquinera rock shelters in Obón and La Cañada de Marco in Alcaine.

Another named route in Obón is the Ruta de las Chornas y el Cerrao. It is associated with the painted rock shelters of the Hocino de Chornas and El Cerrao. The different route names connect the Río Martín corridor with several rock art sites; however, the specific distance and duration provided apply to the Obón–Alcaine section of the GR 262.

Buildings and Travel Planning

The Church of the Assumption of Mary in Obón is a Baroque building dating from the 17th century. It adds a more recent chapter of local history to the prehistoric and archaeological themes. The Ermita de San Miguel is about four kilometres from Obón, following the local road; this distance describes its location and does not indicate current opening hours or access.

The Fiestas de la Virgen are celebrated in Obón on 15 August. Check the current programme before travelling if you would like to plan your stay around this date. The local road to Obón ends in the village; conditions may vary seasonally. These details are useful when planning your journey, while the rock art, named trails and historic buildings form the main focus of a stay in Obón.

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For the main travel overview: Teruel.