Sariñena: Lagoon, History and Tradition

Sariñena combines a significant wetland with buildings from different centuries and cultural traditions. This offers a range of interests to explore during your stay: the Laguna de Sariñena and its birdlife, historic architecture, remnants of the Aeródromo Alas Rojas, as well as events and local food culture.

Nature and Birdlife at the Laguna de Sariñena

The Laguna de Sariñena covers 204 hectares and has a perimeter of approximately 8 kilometres. It is designated a Refugio de Fauna Silvestre under Decree 70/1995 of 4 April, and a Special Protection Area for Birds (ZEPA) under the Order of 20 August 2001. It is Aragón’s most important breeding site for the bittern, and is home to 10 percent of the Iberian population of this species, which is endangered on the Iberian Peninsula. The area and perimeter describe its size, while the designations define its protection status for fauna and birds.

The Centro de Interpretación de la Naturaleza is located beside the lagoon and offers visitors walking and cycling trails. If you plan to visit the centre, check the opening times in advance, as they may change. At the Museo de La Laguna, the lagoon room complements a visit to the wetland with models and photographs. The museum is housed in a restored building of Aragonese civil architecture and is divided into three exhibition areas.

Buildings and Historic Landmarks

The Ermita de Santiago is Sariñena’s oldest surviving historic and architectural feature and dates from the 13th century. The area around the ermita also includes a restored 16th-century ice house and a landscaped visitor area. Another historic landmark is the Iglesia Parroquial San Salvador: construction began in 1796, and it was completed in the mid-19th century. A 13th-century feature, a 16th-century ice house and a church built from the late 18th to the mid-19th century thus stand side by side.

The Torreón de los Foces was restored in 2011 and converted into the Centro de Interpretación del Dance de Sariñena. The Cartuja de Nuestra Señora de las Fuentes, also known as the Cartuja de los Monegros, is another part of Sariñena’s history. It is protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural (BIC) in the Monument category and was the first Carthusian monastery founded in the Kingdom of Aragón.

The Aeródromo Alas Rojas

The remains of the Aeródromo Alas Rojas extend along the HU-V-8.301, which connects Sariñena and Albalatillo. They can be visited independently; check the conditions before setting out. The surviving features include 30 linear metres of trench, a rifle position, two machine-gun nests and an anti-aircraft machine-gun position. There are also entrances to an underground ammunition bunker. Information panels on site explain each feature and provide context for the structural remains.

Traditions and Local Food Culture

The Dance de Sariñena is performed again in Sariñena on 15 May, with a procession parade. FEMOGA takes place annually in Sariñena and is an industrial, agricultural and livestock fair. The two events have different formats: the Dance is linked to a procession, while FEMOGA is a fair covering several economic sectors. If you plan your trip around either event, check the date in advance.

The tradition of charcuterie is also part of the town’s character. It is represented in Sariñena’s butcher shops and adds a local culinary dimension to the natural and cultural experiences on offer.

Discover more destinations: Martillué, Villanovilla, Denúy, Puértolas, Aragüés Del Puerto, Cajigar, Coscojuela De Sobrarbe, Biescas

See the broader travel overview: Huesca.