The giants of the Maladeta massif stand close to Benasque, making it a favourite destination for mountain walkers and climbers. The peaks of Aneto (3,404 metres), Pico Maldito (3,350m) and Pico de la Maladeta (3,308m) form part of a striding ridgeline flanked by glaciers and lakes. The summits are out of reach to all but experienced climbers armed with ice axes and crampons, but the slopes below them are criss-crossed by footpaths which can be enjoyed by many walkers. And they are able to look up and imagine what it would be like to scale these magnificent peaks.
The main valley, the Valle de Benasque, runs up towards the France border, where there are some fantastic routes. Branching off at the sides are valleys which are of great interest for walkers, with two of them carrying the GR-11; our ever-present ally for exploring the Pyrenees. One of these ravine/valleys, Vallibierna, is featured on this site as part of the lakes trek into Cataluña; with a route up to the pass at 2,732m passing the Vallibierna glacial lakes. Shooting up the other side of the Benasque valley is the Estós valley which heads towards Bielsa and carries the GR-11 to the Chistau pass at 2,577m. It lies below the Posets massif which has more than a dozen peaks over 3,000 metres, crowned by the summit of Posets at 3,375m.
And there are more of these off-shoot valleys.
But how much time have you got? There is a great walk up to the Cregueña glacial lake which lies below Pico Maldito (3,350m) ascending the valley of the same name; and another up the Remuñe valley, which goes up to 3,000-metre peaks at the border.
Also, bear in mind that one of the must-see spots is the Hospital flats at the head of the Benasque valley. Starting at an altitude of 1,750m, a well-walked path leads up to La Besurta and on to the Aiguallut waterfalls, before emerging at the verdant and spectacular Aiguallut flats. The easy walking stops here at just over 2,000 metres, and paths head off in different directions in search of passes such as Salenques at 2,809m and summits including Aneto. Most of the walks are well signposted and appear on the Valle de Benasque 1:30,000 scale map from Editorial Alpina, available from shops in the town and essential for these routes.
Although it’s growing, Benasque still retains the charm of a mountain town and the historic centre is a joy to walk round. The soaring summits are visible from many hotel windows and more than a dozen hotels and campsites cater for mountain lovers.
I have stayed at Hotel Araguells www.hotelaraguells.com which is a good, well-priced option right in the centre. Nearby is the more expensive Sommos Hotel Benasque Spa, which has an indoor pool. Google the hotel name for details. There are many other options via booking.com
Read more about the walks in the next post
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