The hermitage of San Juan y San Pablo is considered one of the oldest in the region, with its consecration dated to the year 1019.
The village of Tella is renowned for its prehistoric megalithic dolmen, located a short walk from the hermitage route.
Local folklore associates Tella with historical legends of witchcraft, historically known as the 'village of witches'.
The hermitages were positioned to maintain visual contact with one another, serving both religious and defensive functions.
The structures utilize local limestone, blending into the surrounding karst landscape of the Pyrenees.
The Ruta de las Ermitas de Tella is a circular hiking trail in the Sobrarbe region of Huesca, Spain, connecting three Romanesque hermitages: San Juan y San Pablo, Santa María, and la Virgen de la Peña. The route sits at an elevation of approximately 1,380 meters, overlooking the Cinca valley and the entrance to the Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park. Built primarily between the 11th and 12th centuries, these structures represent typical Aragonese rural Romanesque architecture. The trail is approximately 2.5 kilometers long and offers panoramic views of the Monte Perdido massif. The village of Tella itself is known for its high-altitude setting and historical significance as a strategic lookout point.
The viewpoint near the Hermitage of la Virgen de la Peña, which offers a wide-angle perspective of the village and the mountain backdrop.
Wear sturdy hiking boots as the limestone trail is uneven and can be slippery when wet.
Bring binoculars to observe the vultures and raptors frequently circling the nearby cliffs.
Plan for rapid weather changes, as the high-altitude mountain climate is unpredictable even in summer.
Attempting the hike in severe winter conditions due to ice, or during heavy summer thunderstorms which occur frequently in the Pyrenees.
The trail is accessible year-round, but snow may obstruct the path in winter; the hermitages are not always open for internal access.
Maintain silence near the hermitages, as they are considered sacred spaces, and stay on marked paths to protect the fragile alpine vegetation.
