Barbastro was not a town we particularly liked. We found it rather unattractive, with several poorly maintained areas and streets that felt narrow and cramped. Our visit was mainly practical rather than touristic: we used the motorhome service area to empty and refill our tanks, then moved to a nearby supermarket car park for a short stop during the day. These two locations served their purpose, although neither gave us a particularly good impression of the town.
Our first stop was the motorhome service area at Plaza Guisar, beside the River Vero. We used it only for the services, rather than staying overnight. The service facilities were a little old and did not look particularly well maintained, but everything was working and the area was clean when we visited.
The service platform itself was spacious, with plenty of room to manoeuvre our 23-foot-long motorhome. This made using the facilities relatively straightforward, even though the general parking area can become busy. The main disadvantage was that we did not feel completely safe there, and some noise was noticeable during our visit.
The parking area also has ten officially designated motorhome pitches beside the river. These spaces are relatively spacious and shaded by trees, which is a considerable advantage in warmer weather. Unfortunately, they are often occupied, so finding one can be difficult. The location is very central, close to shops and the historic part of town, and the river runs immediately beside the parking area.
The services and parking are listed as free. However, the service area is part of a shared public car park, and recent visitor reports mention restrictions on overnight parking. We only used the facilities, so anyone planning to stay should check the signs on arrival rather than assume that every part of the car park can be used overnight.
After using the motorhome services, we moved to the Lidl car park on Camino Real de Zaragoza. We stayed for approximately three hours during the day, arriving at around 6 pm. Despite the size of our 23-foot-long motorhome, we had no difficulty finding a space.
The car park was completely free, and we did not encounter a time limit during our stay. There were no motorhome services available, so this was simply a place to park for a short time. It was extremely noisy, and we did not feel particularly safe, although nobody bothered us and we had no problems during those three hours.
The location was useful because we could park without difficulty and take a break before continuing our journey. Nevertheless, the noise and the general atmosphere meant that we would not choose it for a longer stop unless we had a practical reason to return. Since it is a supermarket car park, posted conditions and any rules imposed by the operator should always take precedence over the experience of a previous visit.
Although our personal impression of Barbastro was negative, the town has a long and important history. It is the capital of the Somontano region, in the province of Huesca, Aragón. It stands beside the River Vero, near the foothills of the Pyrenees and not far from the Sierra de Guara. Its position at a crossroads and close to the river helped it develop into an important administrative and commercial centre.
The town’s early history is closely linked to the period of Muslim rule in the Iberian Peninsula. According to the local historical account, a fortified settlement developed here during the ninth century, when Jalaf ibn Rasid built a castle and walled citadel on the elevated ground now known as the Entremuro district. Barbastro became a strategic stronghold and a centre of trade and learning. Its position made it important to both Muslim rulers and the Christian kingdoms advancing southwards.
Control of the town changed during the conflicts of the eleventh century. In 1064, Barbastro was conquered by an army associated with Sancho Ramírez of Aragón and forces from beyond the Pyrenees. Muslim ruler Al-Muqtadir recovered it in 1065, and Christian control was established again under Pedro I around 1100–1101. These events formed part of the wider expansion of the Christian kingdoms into territories that had previously been governed by Muslim rulers.
One of the most significant moments in Barbastro’s history came in 1137. In the district of Entremuro, an agreement was made concerning the marriage of Petronila, daughter of Ramiro II of Aragón, and Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Barcelona. This political arrangement became a decisive step towards the formation of the Crown of Aragón, linking the Aragonese and Catalan dynasties. The event is commemorated at Plaza de la Candelera, one of the town’s most historically significant squares.
Barbastro continued to develop as a commercial centre during the following centuries. In 1512, Queen Germana de Foix granted the town permission to hold a fair around the feast of Candlemas on 2 February. This annual event reinforced the town’s role as a meeting point for merchants and residents of the surrounding region. The traditional fair remains part of Barbastro’s calendar today.
The sixteenth century was particularly important for the town’s architecture. Several of its main buildings were constructed or developed during this period, including the cathedral, the episcopal palace and the town hall. Wealth generated through commerce and agriculture helped support the construction of substantial religious and civic buildings.
The Cathedral of Santa María de la Asunción is the town’s most important religious building. It was built between 1517 and 1533 on the site of the former main mosque and was raised to cathedral status in 1571. Its architecture combines late Gothic and Renaissance elements. Inside, one of its principal features is the alabaster main altarpiece, partly associated with the sculptor Damián Forment, an important figure in the development of Renaissance sculpture in Aragón.
The cathedral’s bell tower is particularly distinctive because it stands separately from the main building. Its position is connected to the earlier mosque complex, whose minaret occupied this part of the town. The tower has become one of Barbastro’s best-known landmarks.
Other historic buildings include the Church of San Francisco, whose origins are connected with the arrival of the Franciscan order in the thirteenth century. Its interior was modified during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, and it preserves examples of later decorative work. The Church of the Escolapios is also significant: the associated school was founded in 1677 and remains part of the town’s educational history.
Several old houses demonstrate the development of Aragón’s Renaissance civil architecture. Palacio Argensola is one example, with a decorated wooden roof overhang and features characteristic of the period. Casa Baselga and Casa Latorre also reflect the wealth of local families during the centuries when Barbastro played an important regional role.
The town’s bridges are another part of its history. The Puente del Portillo crosses the River Vero and provides one of the familiar views of the colourful buildings beside the river. The current bridge dates from the twentieth century and replaced an earlier structure that had been destroyed during the Spanish Civil War. The Puente de San Francisco is linked to the former Franciscan complex, while the Puente de Santa Fe, also known as the Iron Bridge, was built around the turn of the twentieth century.
Above the town, the Monastery of El Pueyo occupies a hill with views across the Somontano region towards the Pyrenees. The site has a long religious tradition associated with the veneration of an image of the Virgin Mary. The oldest parts of the surviving monastic complex date from the late thirteenth century, although the buildings and decoration belong to several different periods. Its location also illustrates the importance of religious sites outside the town’s central streets.
Barbastro is closely linked to the Somontano wine-producing region. Vineyards and wineries are important parts of the local economy, and wines from the Somontano Designation of Origin are among the area’s best-known products. The surrounding countryside also supports agriculture and other rural activities.
The town remains an important service centre for smaller settlements in the region. Its shops, public services, commercial premises and industrial activity serve residents from a wide area. The contrast between this modern role and the older buildings reflects the different stages of its development.
Despite this historical background, we did not find Barbastro particularly appealing during our visit. We were mainly interested in the practical facilities, and the service point was useful because the water and waste facilities were functioning. The Lidl car park also provided a convenient place for a short daytime stop, although it was very noisy.
For motorhome travellers, the main advantage of Barbastro is therefore its practical infrastructure and central location. The ten designated pitches beside the river may be useful when available, while the service platform provides a place to manage water and waste. However, the condition of the facilities, the noise and the need to check current parking restrictions are worth keeping in mind before planning a longer stay.