Day 20 Touring around Larres (day 2)

Day 20:  Touring out from Larres (day 2)

After breakfast today we set off in a different direction and under advice from the hotel owner's sister we first visited Castle de Lorres.  The drive up to the castle which is set high upon its own mountain/hill has a fabulous view in almost 360 degrees. You can tour the interior of the castle but unfortunately we didn’t go into the castle as there wasn’t enough time but the view down the valley was incredible.  We had just enough time to have a coffee and take in the scenery.   

Castle de Lorres

 We then headed to the rock formations of El Camino Del Sierra near Riglos. Pictures don’t really do this area justice. This is clearly a favorite destination for rock climbers as the car park was full of climbers with their gear carefully laid out.

El Camino del Sierra

After this we went to San Juan de Pena.  Again a fabulous drive up where you pass the old monastery which dates back to the 7^th century and then on the top of the mountain is the new monastery (built in the 1990’s). This includes a reconstructed display of life in the old monastery using under floor life sized scenes.  This monastery is on the Camino Pilgrim trail and although everything is explained in Spanish (we later learned that English audio guides were available) however there was enough visual information to help set the scene. From our limited Spanish it appeared the old monastery had been there since about 760AD. It is hard to get my head around this level of history!

Some-one must have spotted the 4 Alvis's on the way up and called ahead, as we drove past the new monastery to the parking area an attendant ran out and directed the Alvis’s to park in front of the chapel building!!  But not the MG.  Too modern I guess.  A Porsche Carrera drop head which was following was also waived on (the owner was actually quite amused by the situation).

Three of the 4 Alvis's in front of the chapel, San Juan de Pena

Heading home we took a different route back to our hotel which was not as steep but incredibly rough – their B and C roads are poor but very interesting.

A really great day of motoring was had by all.