Day 40 - Most Beautiful Town In Spain?
Exploring Aínsa
As the car didn’t enjoy bringing the caravan up to the Pyrenees, we had to leave the caravan at the bottom of the mountains at a campsite and have a road trip up into the mountains to visit the picturesque town of Aínsa. It is considered one of the most beautiful towns in Spain, and it definitely lives up to its reputation. As soon as you arrive, you are struck by this medieval town and its breathtaking views.
A Bit Of History
Aínsa has a long and rich history, dating back to the 11th century. It was founded by Sancho Ramírez, the king of Aragon, in 1085. The village was originally built as a fortress to protect the Kingdom of Aragon from the Moors.
In 1124, Alfonso I, the Battler, granted Aínsa a charter of privileges, which made it a free and independent town. This charter gave Aínsa the right to hold its own market, mint its own coins, and build its own walls.
Aínsa played an important role in the Reconquista, the Christian reconquest of Spain from the Moors. In 1149, the town was besieged by the Moors, but it was successfully defended by the townspeople. This victory helped to secure the future of the Kingdom of Aragon.
Aínsa continued to grow and prosper in the Middle Ages. It became a major trading center, and its population grew to over 1,000 people. The town was also a popular destination for pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela.
Aínsa's fortunes declined in the 16th century. The town was hit by a series of plagues and famines, and its population declined. The town was also damaged by the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s.
Despite these setbacks, Aínsa has preserved its medieval charm. The town's old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it is one of the best-preserved medieval villages in Spain. The narrow streets are lined with whitewashed houses, and the village is dominated by a 12th-century castle. The castle offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains and the village below.
Our Thoughts
We loved everything about Aínsa. We are so glad that we decided to leave the caravan at the campsite and take the drive up into the mountains. As you walk through the town, you can almost feel the history seeping into your bones. We would definitely recommend visiting the church tower. The original narrow passage stairway leading up to the bell tower is an experience in itself, but the views from the top are truly magical.
Fast-Food
The next motorhome/caravan parking we found (going downhill) was in a small town called Zuera. It was a nice, comfortable area; the only minor problem was that the shops were a bit far away and we couldn't detach the car. To make up for it though, we had our first takeaway delivered directly to the caravan.
Not so lucky for us; they were building a funfair in the exact location where we were parked. We asked the organisers, who said we were not in the way. But after a police officer asked when we were leaving in the morning and then another in the afternoon asked the same and said that we couldn't be parked there while standing by the big panel with the rules, which explained that we could, we decided to leave. Not far down the road, we found a Cepsa service area, which had a large, secure parking area with services for emptying our grey and black water, fresh water that we could top up our tank with, and free electric point so that we could get everything fully charged again. We ended up staying there for the weekend as we just felt so comfortable there, plus the weekends came with a promotional price of Friday to Monday parking for 22€ with all the services. To be honest, it was better than the campsites we had been to so far!
Next Up - Day 51 - Zaragoza
Next time we will tell you all about the city of Zaragoza. Located on the banks of the Ebro River, it is the capital of Aragon, a region that was once a powerful kingdom. Zaragoza boasts impressive monuments, one of the largest baroque churches in the world and stunning examples of Islamic architecture.
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