Balcony of the Pyrenees from San Juán de la Peña
With the privilege of being able to enjoy a unique view of the Pyrenees, San Juan de la PeñaHuesca, Huesca, offers a privileged natural environment that hikers and nature lovers will find marvellous.
The hermitages hidden among the vegetation, the forests of beech and fir trees, and the songs of the various birds make this a special place. Its viewpoints, which resemble immense balconies, make it known as the Balcony of the Pyrenees.
Three viewpoints
A circular route is proposed, with a gradient of 175 metres and an altitude of 1260 metres, with a duration of one and a half hours. It starts at the new monastery of San Juan de la Peña, which was built in 1975, very close to the old monastery.
To the left of the monastery begins a path, which, after turning right at a fork, starts a gentle climb, with information panels on the flora and fauna of the site. This climb, known as Paseo de San Vicente, lasts about 500 metres and is covered with Scots pine and beech trees.
When this walk ends, you will reach the Balcony of the Pyrenees. From this special place, you can enjoy spectacular views of several important Pyrenean peaks.
To help the traveller identify the summits there is an information panel on the site. From there you can see Monte Perdido, Bisuarin and Midi d'Ossau.
The proposed route continues turning left in the direction of San Voto. This section of the path continues through the forest.
At the crossroads, continue on to the San Voto Hermitage, which you will reach after a 200-metre descent through a pine forest.
When you reach the hermitage, take a path that leads to the second viewpoint. From here, you can contemplate the Old Monastery of San Juan de la Peña from a unique perspective. This special monastery was built into the rock. It is a beautiful example of Romanesque art.
The path then heads in the direction of the meadow. You will cross a tarmac road and on your right you will pass a snow pit. In the middle of the San Indalecio meadow is the Centro de Interpretación de la Naturaleza (Nature Interpretation Centre) and there is a signpost indicating the way to the Santa Teresa viewpoint.
After walking some 800 metres along a straight path, you will reach the ruins of the Ermita de Santa Teresa hermitage. Here the viewpoint points south and you will be able to see the north face of the Sierra de Guara and the Pre-Pyrenees.
The walk will end with a return to the meadow.
