Guided Visit to the Peñamiel Rock Shelters

The Peñamiel rock shelters hold cave paintings in the upper course of the Vero river, already in the Sierra de Guara. Aínsa-Sobrarbe Town Council organises a free guided walk that passes the shelters, an old mill and part of the Vero riverbed.

What You Will See

According to the Río Vero Cultural Park, the site is north of Almazorre and south of Santa María de la Nuez, in the stretch where the river begins to run in a narrow gorge, known as Los Estrechos, in the La Selva district. There are two adjoining rock shelters, long and shallow, open to the south-west at about 900 metres in altitude.

The paintings are in the schematic style and all in red. What recurs most are the finger marks, in groups of three or four, which can recall an animal track; the rest are bars and patches of colour. Some are very faded and barely visible, so do not expect scenes like those at other Vero shelters: the value is in the place and in what the guide tells you.

The Route

About 9 km with 250 m of ascent and descent, on tracks, stony paths and uneven ground; about four hours. It leaves from Paúles de Sarsa, beside the school, crosses fields and climbs to the holm-oak wood of La Selva, with views of the central Pyrenees. It drops to the shelters, continues to the ruins of a mill, follows a stretch of the Vero riverbed and returns by the Santa María de la Nuez area and the road to the starting point. It has no technical passages, but it does involve several hours of walking and stretches beside the river.

Dates and Booking

It leaves in time slots between 10:00 and 14:00, in groups of up to 12 people. It is recommended from age 10 and for those used to walking for several hours. Free dates appear in the calendar on the town council's website, and bookings close at 9:00 on the same day. The programme published in the municipal calendar runs until 22 May 2027. Questions on 974 500 767.

Independently

There is also the interactive Peña Miel route, number 15 in the municipal leaflet: circular, easy and signposted, 6.5 km with 159 m of ascent, between an hour and three-quarters and two and a half hours. It is designed for families, with stops on archaeology, rock art, fauna and flora, and reaches the paintings of the shelter.

To Combine

It is a whole morning. In the afternoon, back in Aínsa, the Saturday guided visit to the old town or the walk round the Plaza Mayor and the castle.