Javierre de Olsón

Javierre is most easily to reach from the main road between L'Ainsa and Barbastro when you turn to Lamata in Mesón de Ligüerre de Cinca. Following the narrow road leading to Olsón you'll reach Javierre. Walk down towards the Río Susía, cross the river and there you are.
A much better way to enjoy the landscape is to walk in from the north starting at Castejón de Sobrarbe. Take a map and binoculars with you. The region teems with bird-life.
The mills tap water from the Río Susía.

Pictures: 05.iii.2003

Overview of the site - blue arrows point to aceitero.

Cárcavo of the aceitero below the place
where the olives were crushed.

The upper harinero (black arrow) rests against one of the walls of the embalse, the oil mill is built next to the other one. Most of the aceitero is reduced to bits and swept on a heap, but what remains proves what a beautiful site this once must have been.

In most olive mills, the ruello was turned around by a mule or a human - The Spanish call it energía de sangre -, but here the wheel to mash the olives was driven by water power. It's only the second mill of three I've seen where this is the case. The other two are in Santa Eulalia la Mayor and in Trillo.

Balsa with ruello (ruejo)
detail of stone at top of page

Cárcavo with arbol

a = upper harinero
b = balsa of aceitero
c = columns of the press
d = oil drum in stone (pila)
e = embalse

The two wooden poles are part of the suspension system of the press. The slits give the arm (viga) of the press the necessary freedom while the stack was loaded.

Bottom stone on which the mashed olives were stacked.