Longares combines a Renaissance church, a Mudéjar tower and visible traces of former gateways with an annual festival tradition. One distinction is useful when planning your trip: the buildings define the town’s architectural highlights, while the Dance of the Sticks takes place during the patron saint festivities at specific times. This can help you decide whether to focus your stay primarily on architectural history or also on the festival dates.

Parish Church: Renaissance Architecture and Artworks

The parish church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción is protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural (BIC) and classified as a monument. The present Renaissance building was erected over a Romanesque church; construction began in 1526. The mummy of Doña Isabel de Ledesma is housed in the Chapel of San Pedro. The collection of artworks includes a Plateresque altarpiece: sculptor Domingo Tarín made it in the late 16th century, and Estarmolín gilded it.

Mudéjar Tower and Former Gateways

The Mudéjar tower is a detached, square brick structure. It can be dated to around 1390 as a Christian defensive tower. Its interior is divided into six floors with barrel vaults. The Puerta de Zaragoza was rebuilt in 2002, making three of Longares’ five former gateways visible to visitors.

The Fuente de los Machos stands at the junction of the road from Longares to Calatorao. Built from dressed stone, the fountain is the work of Francisco Rocha and belongs to a group of similar 16th-century fountains in the region. Together with the former gateways, it adds further examples outside the church to the town’s architectural history.

Dance of the Sticks: September Dates

The Dance of the Sticks was recognized as a Fiesta de Interés Turístico de Aragón on 5 December 2005. It takes place twice a year as part of the patron saint festivities: on 2 and 8 September. The dance, which accompanies the procession, follows a set route of about 400 metres through the streets of Longares. If you would like to plan your stay around the dance, check the festival dates before making your travel plans.

Walks and the Ruta del Vino Campo de Cariñena

For planning walks, the municipal tourism website offers a downloadable PDF entitled “Paseos de arquitectura popular”. The Ruta del Vino Campo de Cariñena also lists a named walk, “Paseo Longares”, with a downloadable route; check that the download is available before planning. Longares is one of the municipalities on the Ruta del Vino Campo de Cariñena. Along the route, you can see medieval and Renaissance architectural monuments as well as notable examples of Mudéjar art.

Getting There and Choosing Your Stay

Longares lies on the Autovía Mudéjar A-23, 38 kilometres from Zaragoza and 8 kilometres from Cariñena, between Muel and Cariñena. Its location on this road and the distances involved offer a useful guide if you are considering Longares as a place to stay. When looking for a holiday apartment in Longares, consider the reason for your trip: if your dates coincide with the patron saint festivities, the Dance of the Sticks adds a seasonal focus; for a stay centred on architecture, the church, tower and walking routes are the main highlights.

Discover more destinations: Sádaba, Juslibol, Ejea De Los Caballeros, Boquiñeni, Uncastillo, Pinseque, San Mateo De Gállego, Lobera de Onsella

For the regional travel overview: Zaragoza.