By Rafael Salas
Abundant,
natural, and healing mountain waters make for many wonderful spas in the
Pyrenees. Used here for centuries, these therapeutic waters are perfect for
resting weary muscles after long days of skiing, sports, or site-seeing.
PANTICOSA SPA
This area is in the amazing valley of
Tena, in the Aragon Pyrenees mountains.
The glacial formed valley is surrounded
by high mountain peaks, reaching up to almost 3,000 meters. Collarada (2,888m)
is the highest.
There is also an old volcanic chimney
in the range of Tendeñera and Anayet, plus vast pastures, wild and black pine
forests, and the remains of an old oak and beech grove.
The cirque of Piedrafita in Sallent de
Gallego, and the stunning limestone formations of Peña Telera and Peña
Foratata are also worth a visit.
Some of the more famous peaks are:
Balaitus, the Picos Moros, and Picos del Infierno (peaks of hell).
The excellent Spa of Panticosa is fed
by the thermal spring waters that come from these mountains.
This is a most unique enclave situated
about 8km from the village. It is at 1,636metres above sea level and was formed
by glaciers which carved a bowl shaped valley with a shallow lake in the
centre. The valley is surrounded almost completely by 3,000-metre peaks
including, the Garmo Negro, Argualas, Pondiellos, Serrato, Batanes, Bacías and
Brazato. In addition, the mountains are dotted with a multitude of corries
(natural lakes) called “ibones” in the Pyrenees.
Panticosa spa achieved acclaim in the
heyday of the 19th century when visitors, many of whom from Spanish
aristocracy, travelled long distances from the cities to drink from the springs
and bathe in the thermal water which gushes out from the bedrock at 60º C.
We can in fact trace the history of the
Balneario back to roman times making it a truly timeless experience.