Logbook · 12 places

What to see and do in Sariñena

What to see and do in Sariñena (Los Monegros, Huesca): 12 places across monuments, nature, activities and curiosities, with a photo and a Google Maps location.

1 Villages · 1 Monuments · 2 Nature · 1 Activities · 1 Curiosities · 3 Historical milestones · 3 Food and drink

How far each place is from the centre of Sariñena

Towns near Sariñena

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What to see in Lalueza 9.8 km · 3 places
What to see in Castelflorite 11 km · 2 places
What to see in Sena 13 km · 3 places
What to see in Alberuela de Tubo 14 km · 2 places
What to see in Lanaja 14 km · 4 places
What to see in Villanueva de Sigena 15 km · 6 places

Spain › Aragon › Huesca › Los Monegros › Sariñena

What to see and do in Sariñena

Sariñena
Village
Sariñena, in Aragonese Sarinyena, is the capital of Los Monegros, in Huesca, with one of the most extensive municipal areas in the province, which includes La Cartuja de Monegros, Lastanosa, Pallaruelo de Monegros, La Masadera and San Juan del Flumen, and 4,113 inhabitants. It lies at 406 metres above sea level, north of the Sierra de Alcubierre, between the basins of the Alcanadre and Flumen rivers; the endorheic lagoon that gives it ornithological fame occupies a depression in the plateau, or "saso", that borders the town to the west. The landscape contrasts the millennia-old market gardens of the Alcanadre with the sasos, once dry farmland now irrigated for cereals thanks to the Monegros and Cinca canals. The place name is documented from the late 11th century.
Lagoon of Sariñena
Nature
An endorheic lagoon at 281 metres above sea level between the Flumen and Alcanadre rivers, in the municipal area of Sariñena (Huesca), covering 206 hectares and with a depth ranging from 50 centimetres in the south to 2.35 metres in the north. Formerly known as the Chapazal, it was a shallow, temporary saline lagoon until, with the arrival of irrigation, it became a drain for surplus irrigation water and lost its salinity, leading to the construction of a drainage canal to regulate its level. The vegetation on its shores and the presence of fish made it a draw for waterfowl, especially ducks, which led to its being declared a Wildlife Refuge in 1995 and a Special Protection Area for Birds in 2001.
Festivities of San Antón de Sariñena
Activity
Local festival of Sariñena in honour of San Antón, with music, dancing and traditional food.
Church of Sariñena
Monument
Church of el Salvador (dedicated to the Transfiguration of the Lord), built in the late 18th century in neoclassical style after the collapse of the earlier church's tower in 1787; the latter stood, according to tradition, on an old mosque from the time of the Reconquest.
Val de Sisas
Nature
An endorheic depression of great ecological value in the municipal district of Sariñena.
Dances of Monegros
Curiosity
A body of mudanzas and stick dances preserved in a dozen villages of Los Monegros, among them those of Leciñena, Tardienta, La Almolda, Robres, Sariñena and Sena, declared Festivals of Tourist Interest of Aragón.
The reconquest of Sariñena by Pedro I
Historical milestone
The troops of Pedro I of Aragon took the Muslim stronghold of Sariñena in 1100, as part of the Christian advance across the Alcanadre plain prior to the conquest of Huesca and Zaragoza. The villa was incorporated into the royal patrimony and repopulated with people from the north.
Charter of fueros granted by Alfonso II to Sariñena
Historical milestone
In October 1170 Alfonso II granted the settlers of Sariñena the boundaries of the villa, the fueros of Zaragoza and licence to irrigate. In 1372 Pedro IV incorporated it into the Crown of Aragon and in 1381 it obtained a privilege to hold a fair and market.
Republican airfield of the Aragon front
Historical milestone
The airfield of Sariñena was the main Republican air base of the Aragon front. From it took off the missions over Huesca, Tardienta and Zaragoza until the Francoist troops occupied the aerodrome in March 1938.
Ternasco and lamb from the dry lands of Monegros
Food and drink
The lamb raised in the dry farmland of Monegros comes under the Protected Geographical Indication Ternasco de Aragón, which requires native breeds and slaughter at an early age. It is prepared roasted in a wood-fired oven, in chilindrón or stewed a la pastora with potato.
Rice of the irrigated lands of Monegros
Food and drink
The arrival of water by the Monegros Canal made it possible to introduce rice cultivation in the flat and saline lands of the irrigated area. It is harvested in autumn and used in stews with rabbit, snails and vegetables from the huerta watered by the same canals.
FEMOGA, the multisector fair of Monegros
Food and drink
The Monegros Fair is held in Sariñena in mid-September and was born as an agricultural and livestock show. It brings together irrigation machinery, livestock, food and craftwork, and functions as an annual showcase of the products of the comarca.