Casa Mata, Arcusa

The Region

Casa Mata is located at about 800m and borders the Sierra de Guara. This small yet remarkable foothill range of the Pyrenees was protected by UNESCO in 2006 as Geoparque Sobrarbe. It is famous for the countless canyons such as those of the Río Vero.

From Casa Mata, looking north, you can see the ridge of the Pyrenees. The highest peak is the photogenic Monte Perdido (3344m). At its feet lies one of the most famous nature reserves in Europe: the Parque Nacional de Ordesa y Monte Perdido.

Because of the region's low population density, nature is not affected by disturbance and pollution. There is also little light pollution in the area. With a bit of luck, you can listen to the European nightjar or the Eurasian scops owl under a breathtaking starry sky.

Get the most out of your stay

• Canyoning and whitewater swimming: countless top locations in the Sierra and the Pyrenees. Guides via EKM.
• Rafting, canoeing, paddleboarding: On the Mediano reservoir, you can paddle to a submerged church tower. You can book rafting with Sin Fronteras.
• Cycling, MTB: world-class routes
• Mountains: (multi-day) hikes above 3000m, climbing routes, via ferrata, etc.
• Stargazing: Sobrarbe is a region with little light pollution. You can often clearly see and photograph the Milky Way.
• Birdwatching: You would have to try hard not to spot a griffon vulture or a bee-eater. With a little luck, you'll add the short-toed snake eagle to your list.
• Skiing: The ski resorts of Piau, Saint-Lary and Cerler are well worth it.
• Towns and villages: Visit one of the most beautiful villages in Spain (Aínsa) or take a day trip to the world-famous Alquézar with its stunning Pasarelas del Vero.
• Food and drink: In Arcusa (10 minutes on foot) there is a reasonably priced restaurant, El Fogón. In the central town of Aínsa (20 min by car) there are several supermarkets and restaurants of all kinds.

Guest accommodation and pool

The ground floor of Casa Mata is set up as a holiday accommodation for up to four people, with a separate bathroom and kitchen. For adventurous guests, there is also a separate tiny house with three additional sleeping places and private sanitary facilities. The swimming pool is 12m long, so daily laps are an option.

How do you get there?

Casa Mata is not easy to reach by public transport. The simplest way is to come by car, possibly split over two days.

• 🚘 Car: Always set your GPS to Toulouse first, and only then to the final destination. This avoids a few strange detours that are sometimes recommended. You enter Spain via the Bielsa Tunnel (fastest way) or via the winding mountain pass of Pourtalet (most beautiful way). From Ghent to Arcusa, you should count on 12 to 15 hours, 120 EUR toll and 150 EUR fuel.
• ✈ Plane: Fly to Barcelona (via Zaventem) or to Zaragoza (via Charleroi), each time followed by a solid (rental) car trip of 3 and 2 hours respectively. There is also a bus from Barcelona to Barbastro (1 hour from Casa Mata).
• 🚃 Train: Ghent-Lille-Paris-Toulouse-Lannemezan, and from there another 2 hours by car.