The first recorded documents of Cerler’s origin, Sarllé in patués (the local dialect), date back to the IX century. However, little had been mentioned about it before the 1970s when Cerler was nothing but an ensemble of inaccessible clustered houses. The perfectly preserved old town survives to the surroundings development triggered by the great rise of the winter activities that are practiced in the Cerler’s ski resort.

History

Nowadays, it is usual to see skiers, hikers and cyclists as part of Cerler’s landscape, but this town already existed before the opening of the ski resort which made it famous. During the Spanish Civil War, all the data was destroyed and part of the history of this town was left behind.

The old town of Cerler is erected around Saint Lorenzo’s parish church and it was built with forge, stone, wood and slate. It features numerous novelty houses from the 16th century and some structures dating from previous eras.

Probably, the most ancient building in Cerler is Casa Cornel, former residence of Pedro Cornel (Tarazona’s bishop during the 15th century), which has been linked since the 12th century to the family with the same name, a valley centenary lineage of noblemen, bishops, soldiers and even ministers. The house preserves the courtyard as an almost paradigmatic example of a ground floor protected by an opened portico pointing the uncovered indoors patio.

In the old town also stand out other houses named after the families that have dwelled them, such as Casa Beltrán, Santa María, Pepe, Casalero, Antondos, Barbero, Marta and Caballé, forming the mandatory itinerary that represents the conventional austerity of the local architecture. Regarding the streets, the main one is the Bishop’s Street that traverses the town from the entrance to the Main Square and which receives other minor streets as impeccable branches: La Fuente, Fuendemuro, Camino Benasque, etc.

Ideal surroundings

Cerler town is raised over Benasque Valley and it has spectacular views over the greatest concentration of Pyrenees’s summits of more than three thousand meters high. Located in Benasque Valley, Cerler is a neck of the woods where we will enjoy the calm, the peace, the majesty and the closeness of nature.

Doubtlessly, the natural surroundings of Benasque municipality and the valley in general are the best remedy to release the daily stress and rush, either enjoying it peacefully or practicing the dozens of sports locally available during all year long.

Wintry magnificence

Cerler ski resort has an alpine nature with a maximum altitude of 2,630 m over the sea level. Distributed around three valleys, Cerler, Ampriu and Castanesa, this ski resort is aimed at enjoying the technique, the descents and the challenges of the different disciplines.

Given the privileged location, surrounded by the highest peaks of the Pyrenees —Aneto with 3,404 m, Posets with 3,372 m, Maladeta with 3,312 m and Perdiguero with 3,222 m—, the resort has one of the greatest slope gradients of the mountain chain and therefore one of the most breathtaking landscapes. The altitude and the northern aspect of Aramón Cerler ski resort slopes allow the ski season to be extended beyond winter’s end.

Cerler ski resort has the greatest elevation gain of all the Pyrenees (1,130 m) and it consciously takes care of the ski experience. However, Cerler is even more because it is the perfect destination to enjoy with the family. It is the ideal place for sharing the mountain and snow passion with the children by living adventures in the Enchanted Forest or the Funny tracks. Feel the landscape attraction when jumping the Snow Park modules, the seduction when sliding the 9 km track from Gallinero, the ski resort summit.

In the surroundings of Cerler, there are other possibilities to enjoy the snow: practicing cross-country skiing in Llanos del Hospital ski resort located in the heart of Posets-Maldeta Nature Park or, if you are an experienced athlete, you can also reach some of the highest summits of the valley in touring skis or snowshoes.

Summer activities in Cerler

 
If winter brings us great sport and adventure opportunities in Cerler, summer meets also the highest standards. During this season, we can enjoy countless paths to the mountains by leaving directly from Cerler or a wide range of outdoors activities in other towns of the valley; water activities, such as rafting, hydrospeed, kayaking, canyoning, paragliding, climbing, MTB, among others.

Tres Cascadas route

It is one of the most beautiful and easiest routes of Benasque Valley, a lovely hideout that becomes particularly special during the snow melting when the volume of flow is simply spectacular. This circular hiking route leaves from Cerler and takes less than 7 km. It is well marked and does not present technical difficulties during the season where there is no snow. In this route, we can closely gaze at the three waterfalls: Masearada, El Clotet and El Bom.

This route, which is all well-marked in yellow and white paintings (indicating small path), starts in Cerler town and it continues gaining altitude until reaching San Pedro Mártir chapel. The first waterfall we arrive to is Ardonés waterfall, the biggest and the widest one. In order to cross it and continue to the other two, we will find several metallic bridges equipped with a towrope in case the rock is slippery. The path ends in San Lorenzo church in Cerler, perhaps of Romanic origin.

Cerler, Anciles, Benasque circular route (PR-HU 33 and 27)

This route of approximately 10 km long goes through lovely settings surrounded by green fields, horses, beautiful waterfalls and unique nature views. Leaving from Cerler, we will have to set off for Cerler ski resort parking lot, right in front of the ticket offices, where we will take the PR-HU 23 path in order to go down in the shadow towards Anciles town. From there, we will have to cross Ésera River and continue next to it until reaching Benasque town.

Once there, we take the PR-HU 27 path at the entrance. After crossing La Saleta junction (PR-HU 28), we will continue on the right through Es Felegás forest. Once we reach Tusal Redondo, we will have to continue until reaching another split. There, we will have to take the path on the left, which will lead us to Cerler again.