Valle de Chsitau
This valley combines natural beauties with the traditional humanized landscape in great harmony. Meadows and huts (or cabins) are part of a varied and heterogeneous environment that is worth enjoying without rushing. In this valley, both limestone mountains appear (specifically the Cotiella massif, to the south of the valley), as well as granitic and metamorphic mountains (Eriste, Llardana or Posets and Bachimala massifs); covered with pines and some firs.
Km 0.
The entrance to this valley starts at the Mesón de Salinas (27 km from Aínsa, on the road that leads to Bielsa and Francia).
Km 5.3
Detour to Saravillo once you have left a campsite behind. Above us we can see the beautiful Lavasar spiers, which are part of the Cotiella massif. The town of Saravillo is hidden between hazel trees and meadows and from there you can reach the Basa de la Mora or Ibón de Plán, a lake located in a beautiful location.
Excursion to the Basa de la Mora
Crossing the town of Sarabillo begins a track of mediocre condition that, after taking the detours on the left, ascends for 16 km to the Labasar shelter-cabin. From there you descend walking towards the SE and then gently ascend along the bottom of the valley, between meadows and pine forests, to the Basa de la Mora or Ibón de Plan (20'), a lake located in a beautiful location. To walk up from Sarabillo, take a marked path (GR15) from the square towards the SE. In 2h 30' you reach the refuge.
Km 5.7
A detour leads to Sin (4 km) and Serbeto (6 km). These two centers have a popular architecture of great flavor, very characteristic of this valley. We highlight the "skirts" and the galleries facing the sun, especially in Serbeto. The natural environment of both towns is remarkable, with spiky poplars growing among the abundant meadows.
Km 6-8
La Inclusa Pass. Several tunnels make it possible to cross this narrowing of the valley, in which the tremendous limestone walls of the Peña de Artiés stand out. After the narrowing, the pine forests appear again and then the salguerals of the Plandescún reservoir.
Km 12
Plan (services of all kinds). Nucleus that became famous as a result of the "request for women" made by the young men, causing a "caravan of women." Many mountain areas, isolated like this one, have suffered strong emigration since the mid-20th century, which has been more pronounced among women, producing depopulation and an imbalance between the sexes. Towards the E, the Peña del Mediodía, Peña de las Once and Peña de la Una rise above the valley, testifying to the use of these "nature clocks".
Km 13
San Chuan de Plan or San Juán de Plan. (hospitality, ethnographic museum). It has a Romanesque parish church and interesting popular architecture.
Km 16.5
Chistén or Gistaín (hospitality). Its Pyrenean houses still retain some of their typical character, with the parish church also standing out with its tower. In addition to it, there are two more towers - from the 16th century - and noble houses from that same century.
Sahún or Chía hill.
A forest track in good condition, paved in some sections, allows access to the Benasque valley. The track starts on the right from the town of Plan itself (km 0), crossing the Cinqueta River. You ascend between red pines and some meadows and birch trees. As you gain altitude, extensive forests of fir and black pine appear, revealing beautiful panoramic views over the San Chuan meadow and the rest of the valley. At km 14 you reach the Sahún hill, with a wonderful view of Tres Sorores and Punta Suelza (to the W), and the Cotiella massif (to the S). The descent takes us to the center of Chía (km 27) and Castejón de Sos (km 31), on the road to Benasque.
Going up the road that leads from San Chuan to Chistén, 1.5 km from San Juan, a track in fair or poor condition emerges that goes up the Cinqueta valley. This takes us through beautiful corners and landscapes always surrounded by well-kept meadows and huts (or cabins). Willows, poplars and other riverside trees also accompany us. We can recommend several stops, for example at km 1, km 2 (Molino Bridge) and km 6.5 (next to another bridge and fountain).
Km 9
Virgen Blanca Camp, where there is also a campsite. Soon the imposing Llardana or Posets massif (3370 m) will appear to our right, the second highest peak in the entire Pyrenees.
Km 10.
Detour. The left branch leads to Tabernés (the track ends 2 km further, next to a cabin). This is a quiet valley with meadows and black pines.
The track on the left leads us to the Biadós huts (1730 m) (shelter with guard, meals). We are in a beautiful group of cabins and meadows, framed by the tremendous massif of Posets or Llardana and Bagüeñola or Eriste (3009 m).
The Biadós huts are a good starting point to ascend the mountain (about 5h 30') or for excursions along well-signposted paths (they belong to the GR11), among which we can mention:
1) Añes Cruces-Estós.
From Biadós we always continue along a signposted path that heads north. In 1 hour we reach the last cabins in the valley and in 2 hours 30' the port of Gistaín (2592 m). From here you can descend to the Estós refuge (4 hours from Biadós), already in the Benasque valley.
2) Millars Ibones.
We will take the same path towards the N, but in the last cabins (or huts) of Biadós we will have to follow the path on the right, which descends to the river and crosses it, ascending slopes of meadows and abundant black pines. Following the signposted path, which can sometimes get a little lost, we will pass near the Millars lake (3 h-2350 m), which is located below the Eriste massif. Another similar lake – Leners – is located 45' higher.
Texts: Joaquín Guerrero.
Any reproduction is prohibited without written permission from the company for the purposes of article 32.1, second paragraph, of the Intellectual Property Law.
Km 0.
The entrance to this valley starts at the Mesón de Salinas (27 km from Aínsa, on the road that leads to Bielsa and Francia).
Km 5.3
Detour to Saravillo once you have left a campsite behind. Above us we can see the beautiful Lavasar spiers, which are part of the Cotiella massif. The town of Saravillo is hidden between hazel trees and meadows and from there you can reach the Basa de la Mora or Ibón de Plán, a lake located in a beautiful location.
Excursion to the Basa de la Mora
Crossing the town of Sarabillo begins a track of mediocre condition that, after taking the detours on the left, ascends for 16 km to the Labasar shelter-cabin. From there you descend walking towards the SE and then gently ascend along the bottom of the valley, between meadows and pine forests, to the Basa de la Mora or Ibón de Plan (20'), a lake located in a beautiful location. To walk up from Sarabillo, take a marked path (GR15) from the square towards the SE. In 2h 30' you reach the refuge.
Km 5.7
A detour leads to Sin (4 km) and Serbeto (6 km). These two centers have a popular architecture of great flavor, very characteristic of this valley. We highlight the "skirts" and the galleries facing the sun, especially in Serbeto. The natural environment of both towns is remarkable, with spiky poplars growing among the abundant meadows.
Km 6-8
La Inclusa Pass. Several tunnels make it possible to cross this narrowing of the valley, in which the tremendous limestone walls of the Peña de Artiés stand out. After the narrowing, the pine forests appear again and then the salguerals of the Plandescún reservoir.
Km 12
Plan (services of all kinds). Nucleus that became famous as a result of the "request for women" made by the young men, causing a "caravan of women." Many mountain areas, isolated like this one, have suffered strong emigration since the mid-20th century, which has been more pronounced among women, producing depopulation and an imbalance between the sexes. Towards the E, the Peña del Mediodía, Peña de las Once and Peña de la Una rise above the valley, testifying to the use of these "nature clocks".
Km 13
San Chuan de Plan or San Juán de Plan. (hospitality, ethnographic museum). It has a Romanesque parish church and interesting popular architecture.
Km 16.5
Chistén or Gistaín (hospitality). Its Pyrenean houses still retain some of their typical character, with the parish church also standing out with its tower. In addition to it, there are two more towers - from the 16th century - and noble houses from that same century.
Sahún or Chía hill.
A forest track in good condition, paved in some sections, allows access to the Benasque valley. The track starts on the right from the town of Plan itself (km 0), crossing the Cinqueta River. You ascend between red pines and some meadows and birch trees. As you gain altitude, extensive forests of fir and black pine appear, revealing beautiful panoramic views over the San Chuan meadow and the rest of the valley. At km 14 you reach the Sahún hill, with a wonderful view of Tres Sorores and Punta Suelza (to the W), and the Cotiella massif (to the S). The descent takes us to the center of Chía (km 27) and Castejón de Sos (km 31), on the road to Benasque.
Going up the road that leads from San Chuan to Chistén, 1.5 km from San Juan, a track in fair or poor condition emerges that goes up the Cinqueta valley. This takes us through beautiful corners and landscapes always surrounded by well-kept meadows and huts (or cabins). Willows, poplars and other riverside trees also accompany us. We can recommend several stops, for example at km 1, km 2 (Molino Bridge) and km 6.5 (next to another bridge and fountain).
Km 9
Virgen Blanca Camp, where there is also a campsite. Soon the imposing Llardana or Posets massif (3370 m) will appear to our right, the second highest peak in the entire Pyrenees.
Km 10.
Detour. The left branch leads to Tabernés (the track ends 2 km further, next to a cabin). This is a quiet valley with meadows and black pines.
The track on the left leads us to the Biadós huts (1730 m) (shelter with guard, meals). We are in a beautiful group of cabins and meadows, framed by the tremendous massif of Posets or Llardana and Bagüeñola or Eriste (3009 m).
The Biadós huts are a good starting point to ascend the mountain (about 5h 30') or for excursions along well-signposted paths (they belong to the GR11), among which we can mention:
1) Añes Cruces-Estós.
From Biadós we always continue along a signposted path that heads north. In 1 hour we reach the last cabins in the valley and in 2 hours 30' the port of Gistaín (2592 m). From here you can descend to the Estós refuge (4 hours from Biadós), already in the Benasque valley.
2) Millars Ibones.
We will take the same path towards the N, but in the last cabins (or huts) of Biadós we will have to follow the path on the right, which descends to the river and crosses it, ascending slopes of meadows and abundant black pines. Following the signposted path, which can sometimes get a little lost, we will pass near the Millars lake (3 h-2350 m), which is located below the Eriste massif. Another similar lake – Leners – is located 45' higher.
Texts: Joaquín Guerrero.
Any reproduction is prohibited without written permission from the company for the purposes of article 32.1, second paragraph, of the Intellectual Property Law.