Uncastillo can be explored through a wide range of historical evidence: the Museo del Frío is dedicated to the storage of winter ice and snow; the fortress and churches offer further cultural and historical perspectives. There are also traces of Jewish life and a natural setting suited to hiking. When planning your trip, you can therefore explore cultural history from several angles and make nature a focus in its own right.

Winter Ice, Fortress and Views

The Museo del Frío in La Poza de Hielo explains how winter ice and snow were stored and kept for use in other seasons. Its central theme is the transition between winter and the other seasons: the focus is not only on the ice itself, but also on preserving it for later use.

A small museum is housed in the keep of the Fortaleza de Uncastillo. The terrace of the fortress is the highest point in Uncastillo and offers views of the town and its natural surroundings. A restoration project made it possible to open the Fortaleza to the public after centuries of decay.

Synagogue, Portal and Cemetery

The synagogue in Uncastillo was built in the second half of the 13th century. It included a communal oven, a garden and a columbarium, or dovecote; part of the synagogue has been restored. These features give the building several distinct aspects: they point both to its communal use and to the architectural history of the site.

At the Iglesia de Santa María, a sculpture by the Maestro de Olorón adorns the archivolts of the south portal. The attribution to the Maestro de Olorón remains part of the description of the work. Archivolts are the arch-shaped mouldings of a portal; here, they frame the sculpture and make the south portal a specific place to appreciate Romanesque architecture.

Outside Uncastillo, the Jewish cemetery preserves around 150 intact graves cut into the earth or rock. The funeral procession reached the cemetery via the Puente de los Judíos. The approximate number of graves, their construction in the ground and the recorded route each offer a distinct perspective on Uncastillo’s Jewish heritage.

Church Art, Commerce and Archaeology

The Centro de Arte Religioso del Prepirineo is housed in the 12th-century Romanesque church of San Martín de Tours. Its carefully selected collection includes medieval sculptures, reliefs, goldsmiths’ work and paintings. The collection offers more than a view of individual sculptures, encompassing a range of forms of religious art.

The Iglesia de San Miguel was fully restored by the Fundación Uncastillo and converted into a conference hall. The Lonja was later used for commercial transactions conducted in Uncastillo’s market square. The two buildings are associated with different uses: San Miguel was converted into a conference hall, while the Lonja was linked to trade in the market square.

The archaeological site of Los Bañales preserves the ruins of an urban settlement from Roman times, including several villas and public buildings such as baths, a temple, a forum and an aqueduct. The bath building preserves three rooms for cold, warm and hot baths, as well as a sauna. The different temperature zones are clearly distinguishable; together with the temple, forum and aqueduct, they show the variety of buildings preserved at the settlement.

Plan for Culture and Nature

Hiking is another possible focus: Uncastillo’s natural surroundings are well suited to it. If you do not want to devote your entire stay to buildings and collections, you can consider hiking as an additional travel idea. This lets you plan around cultural history and nature as distinct interests.

Discover more destinations: Paracuellos De Jiloca, Cerveruela, Pinseque, Alagón, Herrera De Los Navarros, Fuentes De Ebro, Luna, Épila

For the regional travel overview: Zaragoza.