'''Alquezar''' is a small town standing on the rocks in Aragon, north of Spain. It is a base point for many outdoor activities, primarily mountains- and rock-based.

Understand

The town looks very much like ''Poble Espanyol'' in Barcelona, but this time it's genuine old-time architecture, not an imitation.

Locals earn their living only by providing tourist services; no commercial agriculture is done in Alquezar.

Many weekend travellers come to town for a relaxed stay among the rocks for old folks and beginner-level activities for families. Also there are daily bus excursions with old folks visiting Alquezar for several hours: tourists see the Collegiata, eat at the central square and leave. Excursion buses arrive at the central square.

Weekday travelers are mainly French, with a few Belgians, Netherlanders and Italians mixed in.

Orientation

Maps of the town are freely available in the tourist office and at several stands around the town. Most traveller-oriented businesses can be found on the map.

Get in

Get around

The town is small enough to be fully accessible by foot.

There are several free parking lots around the town. Some hotels have their own private parking space.

Stone pavements are not comfortable for those with high-heeled shoes or a child carriage, but alpine boots are not required either, unless you do some serious trekking.

See

  • Collegiata de Santa Maria le Major. ame hours as in other museums of the city; closes at 7:30pm. ? adults (includes a guided tour). Visitors should wait near the entrance for a guide to finish with current group and join the next one. Picturesque terrace with patio.

  • City's striking clocks adding to feeling of living in a medieval town.
  • Do

  • '''Swim''' in a public pool (25m) near La Marmita de Guara albergue
  • '''Quad bikes'''. Operators:
  • * '''Guara Quad'''
  • '''Via ferrata''': much less popular than canyoning, advance reservation essential. Same operators as for canyoning.
  • '''Rock climbing''': performed by ''Vertientes Adventura'' (see below) in the evenings and canyoning off-season, and by many other activities operators.
  • see more in Aragon:Do.
  • Canyoning

    :''See also: Aragon:Do:Canyoning''. Alquezar is the main starting point for canyons in Aragon. Canyoning operators expect customers to drive by their own car from Alquezar to the start of canyon. Operators include:

  • Vertientes Adventura. /San Georgio, 5. lbergue Casa Tintorero. 74 318 354, 619 910 447, 619 905 458. ttp://www.vertientesaventura.com. ntil 9pm, March-Nov. ertientes@vertientesaventura.com. More oriented towards experienced canyoners, compared to Avalancha. Progressive discounts for repeat customers (which are 70% of its clients base). Also offers multi-day multi-day packages.

  • Avalancha. ame as Hotel Santa Maria. ttp://www.avalancha.org. une-Oct. More popular-sports oriented than Vertientes.

  • Guias Boira. ttp://www.guiasboira.com.

    Buy

    There's nothing unique to the town or region to be bought in Alquezar.

    Only ''chorizo'' sausages are worth buying as local souvenir (the same as elsewhere in Spain); cheese is made of sheep milk and is not really distinctive. Other local grocery items available are honey from Barbastro (many varieties up to Eucalyptus), wine, and olive oil (as cheap as €30 for 5L).

    Some local versions of Kukuxumusu are available.

    Eat

    Grocery shops

  • Alimentacion y Capnoceria. ook for Tabacos sign. The food shop appears to be oriented towards locals, but the locals consider it extremely expensive and tourist-oriented. They head to Barbastro which has a national hospital.

    Get out