There is a town in Huesca that welcomes thousands of visitors every year looking for more than a vacation. They choose it for their views to the Pyrenees, for their animated environment, for its gastronomy of height and for a five -pointed fortress that has become a symbol of the territory. There, history and mountain shake hands in one of the most surprising cities in the north of Spain.
And it is that Jaca was the capital of the kingdom of Aragon, houses the first Romanesque cathedral of the Iberian Peninsula and its 16th century citadel is one of the best preserved military sets in the country and that in 2024 reached its number one million visitor, consolidating itself as one of the great tourist attractions of northern Aragon.
But it also has ski clues a few minutes, hiking routes that cross spectacular valleys, music and folklore festivals, tapas that make the mouth water and a cultural agenda that does not rest in winter or summer.
The Jaca Citadel, the star -shaped fortress
What to do and what to do in Jaca
The Jaca Citadel, the star -shaped fortress
Jaca’s citadel is one of the most impressive places to see in the Pyrenees Aragonese. This five -pointed fortress, also known as San Pedro Castle, was built by order of Felipe II at the end of the 16th century to defend the border with France. Its star -shaped design, the pit without water and the defensive bastions make this enclosure one of the best examples of Renaissance military architecture in Europe.
The Cathedral of San Pedro de Jaca was built at the end of the eleventh century. Photo: Aragón Tourism
The set includes barracks, tunnels, dusts, a drawbridge, the baroque chapel of San Pedro and a spectacular museum of military miniatures, with more than 32,000 figures distributed in 23 dioramas that recreate historical battles from ancient Egypt to the present. All this surrounded by a pit where a small herd of deer lives, one of the most photographed icons of the place.
The visit to the Jaca citadel can be done for free or with guide. The general ticket costs 8 euros at the box office or 5 euros if purchased online. Visits guided They cost 10 euros (6 euros online), and there are reduced rates for pensioners, students, large families and unemployed people. Children under 6 years enter free. There are also family activities such as “Echociudella”, “Animalandia” and theatrical visits such as “The Memory of the Stone”, from 7 or 8 euros.
The schedules of the Jaca Citadel vary according to the season. In summer, it opens from 10.30 to 13.30 and from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. During the rest of the year, the afternoon schedule is usually shortened. The enclosure remains closed only on concrete dates: January 1, May 5, June 25 and December 24, 25 and 31.
What to do and what to do in Jaca
In addition to its impressive five -pointed strength, Jaca has many other jewels that cannot be forgotten.
The Cathedral of San Pedro de Jaca: First Romanesque temple in Spain.
The Cathedral of San Pedro de Jaca was built at the end of the eleventh century by order of King Sancho Ramírez and continued by Alfonso I the Battler. It is considered the first Romanesque temple of the Iberian Peninsula. Its basilical plant, the three ships separated by robust columns, the octagonal dome on tubes and the presence of the feathered Jaqueses characteristic make it an architectural reference.
The Jaca Cathedral is considered the first Romanesque temple of the Iberian Peninsula. Photo: Aragón Tourism
The temple retains historical capitals with biblical scenes and plant ornamentations, as well as covers with Romanesque eardrums that continue to surprise the visitor. Within the same enclosure, is the Diocesan Museum of Jaca, installed in the old cloister. This exhibition space houses one of the best collections of Romanesque wall painting in Europe, with frescoes from Pyrenean churches such as Bagüés, Ruesta or Ipas, in addition to sculptures, altarpieces and pieces of sacred goldsmiths.
The schedules of the Cathedral of San Pedro de Jaca are from 09.00 to 13.30 in the morning and from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the afternoon, from Tuesday to Sunday, although they can be modified during liturgical celebrations. The general entrance costs only 2.50 euros, and includes a brief guided tour of the temple.
Jaca Diocesan Museum
Located in the cloister and units attached to the Cathedral of San Pedro de Jaca, the Diocesan Museum of Jaca gathers one of the most relevant collections of Romanesque wall painting in the world. It was inaugurated in 1970 and reopened in February 2010 after a deep museum reform.
The museum shows fresh from Pyrenean churches such as Bagüés, Ruesta or Navasa, in addition to Romanesque sculptures, capitals, rejejías and pieces of sacred art of the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. The Bagüés room stands out, a real -scale recreated space of the original temple where paintings are exposed by completing a practically intact medieval biblical narrative.
Although access to the Diocesan Museum of Jaca is paid under normal conditions, with a general entry of 6 euros, there are open days on special dates, such as International Museum Day or the Anniversaries of the Center. In February 2025, for example, free visits were held on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of its reopening.
For the rest of the year, reduced rates of 4.50 euros are applied for students, retirees and large families, and 3 euros for children between 7 and 16 years. Minors of 7 enter free.
Old helmet
One of the great pleasures that Jaca offers is to get lost in his old town, a framework of streets with centuries of history, animated squares and buildings loaded with symbolism. Here traditional shops, tapas bars and monuments that tell the medieval past of the city, since it was the capital of the kingdom of Aragon are mixed. The walk allows you to discover unique corners, blast facades and some of the most important temples of the Pyrenees.
In the center is the City of Jaca, a sixteenth -century Renaissance building with supports, monumental shield and elegant balconies. Very close, several historical churches of Jaca such as Santiago, Carmen and San Salvador and San Ginés stand out, the latter one of the oldest and most unique in the city.
Inside is a real jewel of Aragonese heritage: the sarcophagus of Doña Sancha, dated in the twelfth century and considered one of the most important works of funeral Romanesque sculpture in Spain. Carved in limestone, it represents scenes of the soul of the infant ascending to heaven, with symbolic iconography that links it to the art of full Romanesque.
Doña Sancha was the daughter of Ramiro I and sister of Sancho Ramírez, and spent her last years in the monastery of Santa Cruz de la Serós. After his death in 1097, his grave was transferred to Jaca, where today is one of the most valued elements of Aragonese medieval art.
Two parties that fill Jaca with visitors
The first Friday of May and the Folkloric Festival of the Pyrenees, both declared parties of National Tourist Interest are events that gather thousands of people every year and that reflect the deep connection of the city with its history and popular culture.
The first Friday of May is celebrated every year on that exact date, recalling a legendary victory of Count Aznar Galíndez over Muslim troops. The day begins with a popular breakfast in the Llano de la Victoria, where according to the legend the battle took place, and culminates with a spectacular historical courtship through the center of Jaca, in which hundreds of people dressed in the vintage participate. The culminating moment comes when the local anthem is sung on the balcony of the City Council, before thousands of attendees. This party was recognized as of national tourist interest in 2020 and continues to grow year after year, both in participation and in parallel activities, such as artisanal markets, workshops and concerts.
For its part, the Pyrenees Folk Festival is held every two years, in odd editions, and transforms Jaca into a crossing of cultures for five days. Founded in 1963 and with national recognition since 1988, the festival hosts folk groups of the five continents, which parade through the streets and offer shows in different scenarios, such as the Olimpia pavilion or the ice rink. The last edition, in 2025, brought together more than 50,000 attendees and about twenty international delegations. In addition to the galas and parade, workshops, exhibitions and activities for all ages are organized, making the festival a unique immersive cultural experience in Europe.
The best Jaca viewpoint is in the Rapitán Fort
The Fort of Rapitán, located on the top of the mountain that bears his name, offers the one who is probably the best Jaca viewpoint. From this strategic point, a privileged panoramic view of the entire city and the natural environment that surrounds it is obtained, with the Peña Oroel dominating the horizon. Although the interior of the building is not always open, the visit is worth it only for its exteriors: a semi -soured fortress whose stone walls seem to emerge from the mountain itself.
The Jaca Citadel is one of the best examples of Renaissance military architecture in Europe.
A few meters from the fort is a viewpoint conditioned with informative panels that facilitate the identification of the main elements of the landscape. The view covers the city of Jaca in the foreground and, in the background, the unmistakable silhouette of the Peña Oroel. This enclave allows you to enjoy a quiet, ideal for observation and photography.
Access can be done on foot, through a route that runs through the mountain, or in a private vehicle through a curve road that is completed in approximately 10 minutes. At the entrance of the fort there is a free parking, which facilitates the visit without complications. The Rapitán fort is consolidated as well as one of the essential stops for those who wish to contemplate Jaca from the heights.
How to get to Jaca
From Zaragoza
To go from Zaragoza to Jaca, the best option is by car since it only takes 1 hour and 35 minutes. You can also go by bus that takes 2 hours and 15 minutes and costs between 11 and 19 euros or by train whose price varies between 2 to 16 euros and takes 2 hours and 45 minutes.
From Huesca
From Huesca to Jaca there is a little less than 1 hour if you go by car, by bus it is 1 hour and 15 minutes and it costs between 5 and 9 euros or other option is by train that takes approximately 1 hour and 44 minutes and costs between 10 and 15 minutes.
From Teruel
From Teruel to Jaca there are approximately 3 hours and 5 minutes, and it is undoubtedly the best option.
