Hermitage of Santa Bárbara

The hermitage of Santa Bárbara stands on top of a hill close to Monroyo, alongside the GR-8 trail. From its surroundings you can enjoy sweeping views over the town and the Matarraña landscapes.

It can be visited by following the route that connects the hermitages of Santa Bárbara and La Consolación through the forests and trails of Monroyo.

The route sets off next to the petrol station in Monroyo, waymarked as GR-8 (which we follow almost to the hermitage of Santa Bárbara) and as PR. We climb along a track that is cemented at the start, and after a few minutes we reach a triple fork: to the left, Santa Bárbara and the GR-8; to the right the hermitage of La Consolación, and behind leads back to Monroyo, where we started. We first take the left fork to head towards Santa Bárbara.

We soon leave the GR-8 on our left, which descends along a narrow path. We continue towards the hermitage, which we can already make out given its size. In 15 minutes we reach Santa Bárbara, a Baroque-style temple now in ruins, but which still retains an air of magnificence. It stands on top of a flat-topped hill, from which there are fine panoramic views.

We retrace the path back to the triple fork at the start; from there, we take the right-hand track to head towards the hermitage of Ntra. Sra. de La Consolación. We follow a rocky path and, through the woods, leave behind a forest lookout hut. At a triple junction, we take the left-hand direction (the right returns us, in 15 min. to Monroyo, below the petrol station, crossing the road).

After 5 min. of steady descent we reach the hermitage of La Consolación, a temple in good condition with structures from the 16th and 18th centuries. Next to the hermitage stands a large elm listed as a remarkable tree.