Huesca and around travel guide

Background

Huesca’s history is an interesting one. An important Roman town, it was known as Urbs Victrix Osca and was used by Sertorius as an education centre for Romanizing the sons of local chieftains. Taken by the Muslims, it was known as Al-Wasqa before Pedro I retook it. It became a significant bastion in the continuing Reconquista, a walled town with 90 sturdy towers that was capital of the young Aragonese kingdom for a few years. Its importance declined, along with Aragón’s, after union with Castilla. Republicans besieged it for a long period during the Civil War but unsuccessfully; George Orwell tells how an optimistic general’s catchcry “Tomorrow we’ll have coffee in Huesca” became a bitter, cynical joke in the loyalist lines as the weeks went by.

Getting there and around

Huesca is small and easily traversed on foot. The old town is ringed by a road, which changes name several times; south of here is the main area for bars and restaurants, as well as the combined bus and train station on Calle Zaragoza. There are frequent connections with Zaragoza and regular connections to all major cities in Spain. The new fast train and airport have made Huesca, and the snow beyond, more accessible.

Air

The new Huesca-Pirineos airport 10 km from town works with Pyrenair (http://www.pyrenair.es), which offers budget flights operated by other airlines from Madrid, A Coruña, and London Gatwick among other cities. Their website has winter offers that include transport to the ski fields and lift passes.

Bus

Regular buses run from Huesca to Zaragoza more than hourly (55 mins, €6.25). Other destinations include Barcelona 4 a day, Pamplona 5 a day and Lleida 6 a day. Several buses go to Jaca (€6.80, 1hr), Barbastro, and Monzón. 1-2 buses daily to Loarre, departing at 0825 (Mon-Sat) and 1330 (Mon-Fri).

Train

6-8 trains daily to Zaragoza (40-60 mins, from €6.95), a slow train to Jaca (2 hrs, €7.95) and a fast train to Madrid (2 hrs 20 mins, €55.50).

Internet

Locutorio Latino Africano, C Cleriguech 1, cheap internet and telephone. Also terminals in the bus/train station.