Caserío San Marcial

The valley’s principal town Bielsa, a lofty 1,024 metres above sea level, lies 10 minutes’ drive away alongside the Cinca river, and is a splendid spot to spend a few hours wandering around: the Renaissance town hall is set in the main square, where you’ll also notice the carnival museum and a splendid 15th-century church. Climb a few hundred metres more above sea level, north along the Cinca, and you’ll reach the village of Espierba for yet more spectacular views over the valley; Parzán, 11 kilometres from base, is the last town along this road before it takes you over the French border. Elsewhere, a 20-minute drive will take you right to the edge of Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park via the Pineta valley, the aesthetic of which changes most spectacularly with the seasons; after traversing hillsides carpeted in forests of beech, fir and pine you’ll reach an ancient hermitage, and a large esplanade among alpine pastures on the other side of the river is the departure point for lots of hiking excursions high up into the peaks. For trips over the border into neighbouring France, the Barrosa river valley takes you there via the three-kilometre Bielsa-Aragnouet border tunnel, which leads swiftly to the alpine ski slopes of Piau-Engaly, 45 minutes away, as well as to the pistes of Saint-Lary, Peyragudes and Val -Louron, all within an hour-and-20-minutes’ drive. The Oredon and Cap-de-Long lakes are another couple of spots well worth a visit around there, so pack up your picnic hamper with locally sourced treats and prepare for long days of highly scenic waterside hikes.