Spain Hermitage of San Elías

Milky way over the hermitage of San Elías

Valcarca is a hamlet of the town of Binaced, located 12 km south of Monzón, which can be reached by following the A-1238, Monzón-Binaced or A-140, Binéfar-Binaced roads. Two kilometers north
of the locality, in the western end of the mountain range of San Quílez or mountain range of San Elías, is the hermitage of the same name. The access is made following the track that borders the irrigation ditch of Valcarca.

The hermitage is a building of rectangular plant, accompanied of a construction of smaller height attached in one of its ends. A lowered semicircular arch, with an impost in relief -a hand holding a vegetal element- serves as lintel of the door, on which appears the inscription year 1743. Above it rises a belfry of an eye in semicircular arch with its bell. In the slopes that overhang the landscape, under the emite, halfway up the slope, is the so-called Cueva de San Elías, a hermitage that has been explored, unlike many others in the surrounding area about which very little is known. Behind the hermitage there is a path that allows you to go down to see the hole in the cave.

As a historical fact, the Roman Imperial Road that went from Tarraco to Cesaraugusta left a milestone on its way through Valcarca, which indicates the mile, 225, and which is kept in a private property. From a natural
From a natural point of view, this is an ideal environment to see birds of prey, steppe birds or rupiculae. Don't forget your binoculars.