Huesca (province)
Encyclopedia
Huesca officially Huesca/Uesca, is a province
of northeastern Spain
, in northern Aragon
. The capital is Huesca
.
Positioned just south of the central Pyrenees
, Huesca borders France
and the French Departments of Pyrénées-Atlantiques
and Hautes-Pyrénées
. Within Spain, Huesca's neighboring provinces are Navarre
, Zaragoza
and Lleida
.
. The low population density, 14.62/km², has meant that Huesca's lush valleys, rivers, and lofty mountain ranges have remained relatively pristine and unspoiled by progress.
Home to majestic scenery, the tallest mountain in the Pyrenees
, the Aneto
; eternal glaciers, such as at Monte Perdido; and the National Park of Ordesa and Monte Perdido
, rich in flora and protected fauna. Popular with mountaineers
, spelunkers
, paragliders
, and white water rafters
it is also a popular snow skiing
destination with notable resorts in Candanchú
, Formigal
, Astún
, Panticosa
and Cerler
.
, and continued to live there well into the 5th century until the arrival of the visigoths. As a mountainous frontier region, it was difficult to dominate. The northern counties had at one time belonged to the Kingdom of Navarre
but split off and managed to stem early Moorish
invasions in the Middle Ages by forming alliances between themselves and with the Franks
, to become Frankish feudal marches
. The imperative of sovereignty
, or independence, for the northern border counts, gave rise to the legendary Kingdom of Aragon
, which was the precursor to the Empire or Crown of Aragon
, and ultimately the Kingdom of Spain.
s and 202 municipalities.
The following comarcas having their capital in Huesca Province include municipal terms within Zaragoza Province:
, which now survives mainly in the northernmost comarcas, such as the Aragon Valley
in Jacetania
, the Alto Gallego
, Sobrarbe
, and Ribagorza, where hitherto landlocked and isolated villages have helped the language to thrive into the 21st century.
In the easternmost areas of the province, varieties of the Catalan language
are spoken, with a few transitional varieties difficult to classify as Aragonese or Catalan.
Provinces of Spain
Spain and its autonomous communities are divided into fifty provinces .In other languages of Spain:*Catalan/Valencian , sing. província.*Galician , sing. provincia.*Basque |Galicia]] — are not also the capitals of provinces...
of northeastern Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, in northern Aragon
Aragon
Aragon is a modern autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. Located in northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces : Huesca, Zaragoza, and Teruel. Its capital is Zaragoza...
. The capital is Huesca
Huesca
Huesca is a city in north-eastern Spain, within the autonomous community of Aragon. It is also the capital of the Spanish province of the same name and the comarca of Hoya de Huesca....
.
Positioned just south of the central Pyrenees
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees is a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain...
, Huesca borders France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and the French Departments of Pyrénées-Atlantiques
Pyrénées-Atlantiques
Pyrénées-Atlantiques is a department in the southwest of France which takes its name from the Pyrenees mountains and the Atlantic Ocean.- History :...
and Hautes-Pyrénées
Hautes-Pyrénées
Hautes-Pyrénées is a department in southwestern France. It is part of the Midi-Pyrénées region.-History:...
. Within Spain, Huesca's neighboring provinces are Navarre
Navarre
Navarre , officially the Chartered Community of Navarre is an autonomous community in northern Spain, bordering the Basque Country, La Rioja, and Aragon in Spain and Aquitaine in France...
, Zaragoza
Zaragoza (province)
Zaragoza is a province of northern Spain, in the central part of the autonomous community of Aragon.Its capital is Zaragoza, which is also the capital of the autonomous community. Other towns in Zaragoza include Calatayud, Borja, La Almunia de Doña Godina, Ejea de los Caballeros and Tarazona.Its...
and Lleida
Lleida (province)
thumb|250px|Monastery of [[Santa Maria de Bellpuig de les Avellanes]].Lleida is a province of north-eastern Spain, in the western part of the autonomous community of Catalonia. It is bordered by the provinces of Girona, Barcelona, Tarragona, Zaragoza and Huesca and the countries of France and...
.
Geography
Covering a primarily mountainous area of 15,626 km², the province of Huesca has a total population of 228,566 (in 2010), with almost a quarter of its people living in the capital city of HuescaHuesca
Huesca is a city in north-eastern Spain, within the autonomous community of Aragon. It is also the capital of the Spanish province of the same name and the comarca of Hoya de Huesca....
. The low population density, 14.62/km², has meant that Huesca's lush valleys, rivers, and lofty mountain ranges have remained relatively pristine and unspoiled by progress.
Home to majestic scenery, the tallest mountain in the Pyrenees
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees is a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain...
, the Aneto
Aneto
Aneto is the highest mountain in the Pyrenees and in Aragon, and Spain's third highest mountain, reaching a height of . It lies in the Spanish province of Huesca, the northernmost of all three Aragonese provinces. It forms the southernmost part of the Maladeta massif...
; eternal glaciers, such as at Monte Perdido; and the National Park of Ordesa and Monte Perdido
Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park
Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park is an IUCN Category II National Park situated in the Pyrenees of Huesca province, Aragon, Spain. There has been a National Park in the Ordesa Valley since 1918. Its protected area was enlarged in 1982 to cover the whole region amounting to 156.08 km².It has...
, rich in flora and protected fauna. Popular with mountaineers
Mountaineering
Mountaineering or mountain climbing is the sport, hobby or profession of hiking, skiing, and climbing mountains. While mountaineering began as attempts to reach the highest point of unclimbed mountains it has branched into specialisations that address different aspects of the mountain and consists...
, spelunkers
Caving
Caving—also occasionally known as spelunking in the United States and potholing in the United Kingdom—is the recreational pastime of exploring wild cave systems...
, paragliders
Paragliding
Paragliding is the recreational and competitive adventure sport of flying paragliders: lightweight, free-flying, foot-launched glider aircraft with no rigid primary structure...
, and white water rafters
Rafting
Rafting or white water rafting is a challenging recreational outdoor activity using an inflatable raft to navigate a river or other bodies of water. This is usually done on white water or different degrees of rough water, in order to thrill and excite the raft passengers. The development of this...
it is also a popular snow skiing
Skiing
Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
destination with notable resorts in Candanchú
Candanchú
Candanchú is a ski resort situated near the town of Canfranc in the High Aragon of the western Pyrenees . The name of the area is a corruption of "Camp d'Anjou" as this was originally the site of a military camp of the French Angevin dynasty...
, Formigal
Formigal
Formigal, officially called Aramón Formigal, is a ski resort situated near the town of Sallent de Gallego in the upper Tena Valley of the western Pyrenees .-The resort:...
, Astún
Astún
Astún is a ski resort situated near the town of Canfranc in the High Aragon of the western Pyrenees . The source of the Aragon River is in the resort.-The resort:...
, Panticosa
Panticosa
Panticosa is a municipality located in the province of Huesca, Aragon, Spain.During the late 19th century and early 20th century, it was a successful spa town, famous for its pure mountain waters, that supposedly cured from liver diseases and herpes. Its belle-epoque spa buildings are well kept and...
and Cerler
Cerler
Cerler, officially called Aramón Cerler, is a ski resort situated in the high Benasque Valley, near the town of Benasque in the central Pyrenees . Near Cerler are the highest peaks of the Pyrenees, Aneto, Monte Perdido, and Posets.-The resort:It has 72 km of marked pistes, and it's one of the...
.
History
The Romans colonised the province of Huesca, which formed the northern part of Hispania TarraconensisHispania Tarraconensis
Hispania Tarraconensis was one of three Roman provinces in Hispania. It encompassed much of the Mediterranean coast of Spain along with the central plateau. Southern Spain, the region now called Andalusia, was the province of Hispania Baetica...
, and continued to live there well into the 5th century until the arrival of the visigoths. As a mountainous frontier region, it was difficult to dominate. The northern counties had at one time belonged to the Kingdom of Navarre
Kingdom of Navarre
The Kingdom of Navarre , originally the Kingdom of Pamplona, was a European kingdom which occupied lands on either side of the Pyrenees alongside the Atlantic Ocean....
but split off and managed to stem early Moorish
Moors
The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of the Maghreb region who are predominately of Berber and Arab descent. They came to conquer and rule the Iberian Peninsula for nearly 800 years. At that time they were Muslim, although earlier the people had followed...
invasions in the Middle Ages by forming alliances between themselves and with the Franks
Franks
The Franks were a confederation of Germanic tribes first attested in the third century AD as living north and east of the Lower Rhine River. From the third to fifth centuries some Franks raided Roman territory while other Franks joined the Roman troops in Gaul. Only the Salian Franks formed a...
, to become Frankish feudal marches
Marches
A march or mark refers to a border region similar to a frontier, such as the Welsh Marches, the borderland between England and Wales. During the Frankish Carolingian Dynasty, the word spread throughout Europe....
. The imperative of sovereignty
Sovereignty
Sovereignty is the quality of having supreme, independent authority over a geographic area, such as a territory. It can be found in a power to rule and make law that rests on a political fact for which no purely legal explanation can be provided...
, or independence, for the northern border counts, gave rise to the legendary Kingdom of Aragon
Kingdom of Aragon
The Kingdom of Aragon was a medieval and early modern kingdom in the Iberian Peninsula, corresponding to the modern-day autonomous community of Aragon, in Spain...
, which was the precursor to the Empire or Crown of Aragon
Crown of Aragon
The Crown of Aragon Corona d'Aragón Corona d'Aragó Corona Aragonum controlling a large portion of the present-day eastern Spain and southeastern France, as well as some of the major islands and mainland possessions stretching across the Mediterranean as far as Greece...
, and ultimately the Kingdom of Spain.
Administrative divisions
The modern day province comprises 10 comarcaComarca
A comarca is a traditional region or local administrative division found in parts of Spain, Portugal, Panama, Nicaragua, and Brazil. The term is derived from the term marca, meaning a "march, mark", plus the prefix co- meaning "together, jointly".The comarca is known in Aragonese as redolada and...
s and 202 municipalities.
| Name of the Comarca Comarca A comarca is a traditional region or local administrative division found in parts of Spain, Portugal, Panama, Nicaragua, and Brazil. The term is derived from the term marca, meaning a "march, mark", plus the prefix co- meaning "together, jointly".The comarca is known in Aragonese as redolada and... | Capital City |
|---|---|
| Alto Gállego Alto Gállego Alto Gállego is a comarca located in the north of the autonomous community of Aragón which occupies practically the entirety of the upper basin of the Río Gállego.... |
Sabiñánigo Sabiñánigo Sabiñánigo is a municipality located in the province of Huesca, Aragón, Spain, capital of the comarca of Alto Gállego... |
| Bajo Cinca | Fraga Fraga Fraga is the major town of the comarca of Bajo Cinca in the province of Huesca, Aragon, Spain. It is located by the river Cinca.King Alfonso I of Aragon died at its walls in 1134 while trying to conquer it... |
| Cinca Medio Cinca Medio The Cinca Medio is a is a comarca in eastern Aragon, Spain. It is named after river Cinca.This comarca is bordered on the northwest by the Somontano de Barbastro comarca, to the east by La Litera and the south by the Bajo Cinca and Monegros.... |
Monzón Monzón Monzón is a small town in the autonomous community of Aragon, Spain. It has a population of 17,050. It is located in the northeast and adjoins the rivers Cinca and Sosa.-Historical overview:... |
| Hoya de Huesca | Huesca Huesca Huesca is a city in north-eastern Spain, within the autonomous community of Aragon. It is also the capital of the Spanish province of the same name and the comarca of Hoya de Huesca.... |
| Jacetania Jacetania Jacetania is a comarca in northern Aragon, Spain. It is located in the northwestern corner of the Huesca and Zaragoza provinces.The administrative capital is Jaca, with 13,374 inhabitants the largest town of the comarca. The area is famous for its ski resorts.Jacetania borders with France in the... |
Jaca Jaca Jaca is a city of northeastern Spain near the border with France, in the midst of the Pyrenees in the province of Huesca... |
| La Litera | Tamarite de Litera Tamarite de Litera Tamarite de Litera or Tamarit de Llitera is the first major town of the comarca of La Litera/La Llitera in the province of Huesca, Aragon, Spain.It was reconquered from the Moors by Alfonso I of Aragon in 1107.... |
| Monegros Monegros Los Monegros is a comarca in Aragon, Spain. It is located within the provinces of Zaragoza and Huesca. The area is prone to chronic droughts, and much of the area is badlands.... |
Sariñena Sariñena Sariñena is a municipality in the province of Huesca, Aragon, Spain. It is located in the Monegros comarca, near the Sierra de Alcubierre range.The Baroque monastery of Nuestra Señora de las Fuentes is located in the municipal term.-Villages:*Sariñena town... |
| Ribagorza | Graus Graus Graus is a village in the Spanish province of Huesca, located in the Pyrenees at the confluence of rivers Esera and Isabena. It is the administrative capital of the region. It is one of the areas of Aragon in which is still preserved the Aragonese language.... , formerly Benabarre Benabarre Benabarre or Benavarri is a town in the Aragonese county of Ribagorza, in the province of Huesca, Spain.Traditionally, Benabarre was the capital of the historic County of Ribagorza, which was more expansive in territory than today, and included the comarca of Alta Ribagorça, now in the province... |
| Sobrarbe Sobrarbe Sobrarbe is one of the Comarcas of Aragon, Spain. It is located in the northern part of the province of Huesca, part of the autonomous community of Aragon in Spain... |
Ainsa Ainsa Ainsa, Aínsa is the main town in the Aínsa-Sobrarbe municipal term, Aragon, Spain.It is located south of the Pyrenees, in a geologically interesting setting... and Boltaña Boltaña Boltaña is a municipality located in the province of Huesca, Aragon, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 870 inhabitants.Boltaña is the economic development capital of the Sobrarbe comarca.- External links :... |
| Somontano de Barbastro Somontano de Barbastro Somontano de Barbastro is a comarca in Huesca Province, Aragon, Spain.Somontano borders the counties of Sobrarbe and Alto Gállego to the north, Ribagorza and La Litera to the east, Cinca Medio to the southwest, the Monegros desert to the south and Hoya de Huesca to the west.As its Latin name... |
Barbastro Barbastro Barbastro is a city in the Somontano county, province of Huesca, Spain... |
The following comarcas having their capital in Huesca Province include municipal terms within Zaragoza Province:
- Bajo Cinca: MequinenzaMequinenzaMequinenza or Mequinensa is a town and municipality of the province of Zaragoza, in the autonomous community of Aragon, Spain. It is located by the confluence of the rivers Segre and Ebro.-History & Features:...
. - Hoya de Huesca: Murillo de GállegoMurillo de GállegoMurillo de Gállego is a municipality located in the province of Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 182 inhabitants....
and Santa Eulalia de GállegoSanta Eulalia de GállegoSanta Eulalia de Gállego is a municipality located in the province of Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 134 inhabitants....
. - JacetaniaJacetaniaJacetania is a comarca in northern Aragon, Spain. It is located in the northwestern corner of the Huesca and Zaragoza provinces.The administrative capital is Jaca, with 13,374 inhabitants the largest town of the comarca. The area is famous for its ski resorts.Jacetania borders with France in the...
: ArtiedaArtiedaArtieda is a municipality located in the province of Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 107 inhabitants....
, MianosMianosMianos is a municipality located in the province of Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 45 inhabitants....
, Salvatierra de EscaSalvatierra de EscaSalvatierra de Esca is a municipality located in the province of Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 269 inhabitants.-Villages:*Salvatierra de Esca*Lorbés...
and SigüésSigüésSigüés is a municipality located in the province of Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 172 inhabitants.-Villages:*Asso-Veral*Escó*Tiermas...
. - MonegrosMonegrosLos Monegros is a comarca in Aragon, Spain. It is located within the provinces of Zaragoza and Huesca. The area is prone to chronic droughts, and much of the area is badlands....
: La AlmoldaLa AlmoldaLa Almolda is a municipality located in the province of Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 653 inhabitants....
, BujaralozBujaralozBujaraloz is a municipality located in the province of Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 1,002 inhabitants.- External links :*....
, FarleteFarleteFarlete is a municipality located in the province of Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 442 inhabitants.The Sierra de Alcubierre rises east of the town....
, LeciñenaLeciñenaLeciñena is a municipality located in the province of Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 1,280 inhabitants.The Sierra de Alcubierre rises east of the town....
, MonegrilloMonegrilloMonegrillo is a municipality located in the province of Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain. According to the 2009 census , the town has a population of 495 inhabitants. The Postal Code is 50164The Sierra de Alcubierre rises east of the town....
and PerdigueraPerdigueraPerdiguera is a municipality located in the province of Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain. According to the 2009 census , the municipality has a population of 662 inhabitants.The Sierra de Alcubierre rises east of the town....
.
Language
Spanish is the primary language in the province, however the local linguistic varieties in the center and north of the province (often called fabla) belong to the Aragonese languageAragonese language
Aragonese is a Romance language now spoken in a number of local varieties by between 10,000 and 30,000 people over the valleys of the Aragón River, Sobrarbe and Ribagorza in Aragon, Spain...
, which now survives mainly in the northernmost comarcas, such as the Aragon Valley
Aragón River
The River Aragón is one of the left-hand tributaries of the river Ebro. It starts at Astún , passes through Jaca and Sangüesa , and joins the Ebro at Milagro , near Tudela....
in Jacetania
Jacetania
Jacetania is a comarca in northern Aragon, Spain. It is located in the northwestern corner of the Huesca and Zaragoza provinces.The administrative capital is Jaca, with 13,374 inhabitants the largest town of the comarca. The area is famous for its ski resorts.Jacetania borders with France in the...
, the Alto Gallego
Alto Gállego
Alto Gállego is a comarca located in the north of the autonomous community of Aragón which occupies practically the entirety of the upper basin of the Río Gállego....
, Sobrarbe
Sobrarbe
Sobrarbe is one of the Comarcas of Aragon, Spain. It is located in the northern part of the province of Huesca, part of the autonomous community of Aragon in Spain...
, and Ribagorza, where hitherto landlocked and isolated villages have helped the language to thrive into the 21st century.
In the easternmost areas of the province, varieties of the Catalan language
Catalan language
Catalan is a Romance language, the national and only official language of Andorra and a co-official language in the Spanish autonomous communities of Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and Valencian Community, where it is known as Valencian , as well as in the city of Alghero, on the Italian island...
are spoken, with a few transitional varieties difficult to classify as Aragonese or Catalan.