Loarre: a castle in the Kingdom of Heaven
There are places where you belong without having to frequent them. I belong to Loarre and I am very proud of that affiliation. I have been several times, not many, Maybe because I've always felt it so close that there was no need. for almost everyone, Loarre is a castle, the best preserved Romanesque fortress in Spain and, perhaps, from all over Europe. had to come here Ridley Scott a few years ago to put it on the Hollywood map with its blockbuster, Orlando Bloom included, included.
For me, however, included, included, included. included, included. included, included, included, included, since, included. included, included, included, included. included, included, fortunately, included, a privilege that I always keep in mind keeping the memory of both fresh.
included, included, included
all those thoughts, course, are recomposing themselves in my head as I drive up the hill from which the castle, a 1.070 meters, rules over all Hoya de Huesca. The same castle that saw my grandfather return from Cuba. The same one who watched my father's childhood raids in the summers outside his native Huesca. Now I go up with my two children, they didn't know my father either, because I have an obligation to tell them about them so that they understand where they come from, so that they learn to value how little or how much life gives them.
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Since the distance, it is not easy to distinguish where the rock ends and the walls begin
the artificial protection of the enclave built in the 13th century on its southern front Sancho Ramirez the artificial protection of the enclave built in the 13th century on its southern front, the artificial protection of the enclave built in the 13th century on its southern front. the artificial protection of the enclave built in the 13th century on its southern front 1505, the artificial protection of the enclave built in the 13th century on its southern front, the artificial protection of the enclave built in the 13th century on its southern front, the artificial protection of the enclave built in the 13th century on its southern front. Of the new parish, only, which is not little, the singular pyramidal spire of its tower, visible from all Loarre.
It had been more than a decade since I'd been near the fortress and I could immediately see that Ridley Scott's visit had done him a lot of good.. There is now a visitor reception center (the entrance to the castle, which opens every day of the year in the morning and afternoon, except Christmas and New Year, slope 3,90 euros and 2,70 Children), souvenir shop, guided tours and a viewpoint with a terrace where you can eat in a privileged setting. for some, It is important.
It had been more than a decade since I'd been near the fortress and I could see that Ridley Scott's visit had done him a lot of good.
I remember a recent visit to another of those thousand-year-old castles that populate the landscapes of Spain, the one in much worse condition, and the only question I heard from a tourist to the person in charge of the tourist office: “Is there a restaurant in the castle?». Not, there wasn't. With great difficulty they had commissioned a countrywoman to, for a couple of hours, you could visit the fortress on Sundays. I remembered, when seeing the mutation of the castle of Loarre, that I remembered wild and unceremonious for visitors, of that question. every traveler, course, has its eagerness. For him, the kingdom of heaven was a restaurant.
After crossing the wall through the eastern gate, The first thing that catches our attention on our left is the Albarrana tower, a watchtower monitoring the other access, that of the kings, located opposite the entrance to the castle, that welcomes us with a steep staircase escorted by the guardhouse and the crypt of Santa Quiteria, submerged in a gloom that gives cold. At the end of the stairs, on the left hand side is the Church of St. Peter and its apse with splendid capitals. A wedding is taking place and you have to wait to visit it. we wander then, between narrow passageways, by the ancient pavilions of the monks, the dungeons and the different rooms until you reach the parade ground. The information panels that have been correctly located in each room help to make the most of the visit.
The primitive church of Santa María de Valverde is just a dark room that smells of old Christianity
On one side, found the primitive found the primitive, found the primitive, found the primitive. found the primitive. On the other, the found the primitive, found the primitive, found the primitive (found the primitive found the primitive found the primitive), found the primitive. found the primitive.
found the primitive. found the primitive (and that the one in Loarre is one of the most visited in Spain, statistics in hand) and that mirage of intimacy is appreciated. Much more when the dozens of stairs that ascend to the last of the five floors of the Tower of Homage, the figurehead of the fortress, which was joined by a drawbridge, in case of siege, allowed her to be isolated (a limit situation in which its cisterns would play an essential role, with capacity to store up to 80.000 liters of rainwater).
already in town, on the other side of the Town Hall I look for the street dedicated to Antonio Coarasa, priest and uncle of my father
We leave the fortress when the wedding has already dissipated and the castle of Loarre has recovered its silence. the rock plane, black wheatear and black redstart (apologies for the naturalist license, friend felix), the most characteristic birds of these places, friends of nesting in the hollows of these walls, they are sure to breathe a sigh of relief. We went down to the town. It's getting late and a terrace in the sun awaits us in the quiet Plaza Moya.
Close, across from City Hall, I look for the street dedicated to the deceased Antonio Corasa, priest and uncle of my father, as he explained to me, and with whom he used to spend his childhood summers in Loarre. Apparently, it was not easy for the mosen to take care of the unruly child that was my father, who, when you ran out of patience, He reproached her for not going to the cemetery to visit her grandparents anymore instead of fussing with the children through the streets of the town. in reparation, I thought about going to the cemetery to pay a visit to my great-grandparents, but I let it go because it was a good reason to return. The Kingdom of Heaven, After the, it's not that far.
Comments (2)
Lydia
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As usual, a great article.
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Macdilus
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Beautiful report full of history and beautiful memories. Congratulations!!
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