Bonansa

Bonansa is situated in the Ribagorza region in the far east of Huesca province. The mill is easily found in the valley below the village. From the village follow the GR15 towards Pont de Suert (direction south-east, that is). You will soon descend into the valley of the Riuet de la Mola and after about 500 m reach the mill which is built next to the rivulet just at the crossing of the GR15. The mill belonged to the Casa Navarri of Bonansa.

Pictures: 29.vii.2020

(1) The mill with the earthen walls of the huge pond.

The construction is in good condition with solid natural stone walls with well-filled joints. In the facade (2) we see a fairly wide wooden entrance door, and a (originally perhaps not so) large window above a carcavo that opens in a double arch (9). Except for a small slit-shaped window (3) next to the fireplace, there is no other opening in the walls.

Centered above the door there is a round stone with the date AÑO 1827.

Nothing remains of the original layout of the workshop. All the equipment has been dismantled and, apart from the two millstones (3, 4), we find scattered here and there, among all sorts of things and firewood, remains of the stone crane (5), the hanging system of the stones, and the tentering gear.

Near the mill we also find remains of the stone furniture (8, the stone casing) that is rotting among the vegetation.

(2) Front of the mill.

(3) The runner is now the floor stone of the fireplace.

(4) The bedstone (∅ 140cm) resting against the wall.

(8) Remains of the stonecase.

(9) Mouth of underhouse with double arch.

The mill pond is huge. The top of its walls is about level with the top of the chimney (1) of the mill. Most of its walls are built with earth, except for the side towards the mill (10). In this section more or less regular shaped natural stone is applied.