Loarre Castle — Attraction in Loarre

The castle's location on a rocky outcrop affected the layout; it was not possible to have one unified structure, and like many castles, Loarre was a collection of buildings bounded by curtain walls. Originally the internal plan included two towers and a chapel behind several curtain walls. Towards the end of the 11th century, an additional chapel was built in Romanesque style just outside the castle walls. The outermost walls of the castle and their eight towers were erected in the 13th or 14th century. The church and castle have been the subject of numerous restorations, a major one in 1913 and subsequent ones, particularly during the 1970s, have resulted in the rebuilding of many walls and towers that had fallen into disrepair. At least three towers, two of which survive, the keep (Torre del Homenaje) and the "Tower of the Queen" (Torre de la Reina), as well as a chapel dedicated to Saint Mary of Valverde and connecting walls are attributed to this campaign. The keep was built in an isolated position in front of the fortifications, to which it was connected by a wooden bridge. It contained a basement and five floors. The Torre de la Reina, comprising a basement and three floors, is particularly noteworthy for three sets of twin-arched windows, with columns of exaggerated entasis and trapezoidal capitals that have been related to both Lombard and Mozarabic architectural forms. The chapel is composed of a single-cell nave with an eastern apse covered by a semicircular vault. The original timber roof of the nave was replaced by a vault at the end of the...

Loarre castle is set in a superb location in the south-facing, rocky Pre-Pyrenees, commanding stunning views over the lowlands to the south. Not only that, the castle itself has been restored to create a memorable visual impact on any visitor approaching it from the road that winds up from the village of Loarre.

I have visited the castle surrounds many times now, although I have only done the audio-guided visit a couple of times. It's an interesting story and background, so if you're in the region it's worth your while to go to the visitor centre and to get geared up for the guided visit.

However, my main reason for visiting Loarre castle is, as usual, the birds. I have incorporated a visit to Loarre castle as a component of our November Winter Wallcreeper tours, not for the chances of seeing a Wallcreeper, which are very slim (never seen one here), but for other birds, in particular the Citril Finch and Rock Bunting. In the pinewoods you can find Crested Tit, Firecrest, Short-toed Treecreeper and more, and if you keep your eyes on the skies you have a small chance of spotting a Lammergeier. If you're there in early March then the Common Crane passage can be quite...

This is an amazing castle, especially from the outside, that turned out to be a disappointing visit in the end. The main problem is the lack of information provided. If you are unable to take the guided tour, unfortunately it didn't work with my schedule on the day I went, then you are left with the daunting task of trying to make sense of what you are seeing, especially inside. It's almost like a labrynth, which makes it intriguing, but it also makes it tough to know what is what. You can tell that there used to be information panels that have been removed. They should be put back. And the audio guide is short and insufficient. In the end they suggest you take the guided tour for more information. I am all for guided tours, but that's not always possible, and there should be a quality alternative available. Most places offer that alternative, but sadly that's not the case here. I left after seeing an incredible piece of Aragonese heritage, but knew little more about it than before I arrived. It's frustrating. I think the solutions are easy: making the sudio guide a little better and providing information panels to help you understand what...