Mills in Altoaragón
harinero, aceitero, central eléctrica

Centenera

Centenera is easily reached from Graus. Leave Graus in northern direction towards Campo and Castejón de Sos. Turn right for La Puebla de Fantova.
Once there do not enter the village, but continue straight-on towards Centenera and Abenozas. The construction is next to the road just before you cross the Barranco de la Ribera (or de Pinares). Our latest visit was on invitation of the owners at that time who did quite a good job in removing the luxuriant vegetation, making it easier for us than in 1998.

Pictures: I.1998, 08.III.2004

waterworks

harinero

aceitero

central eléctrica


The mill in the landscape		Aceitero left - Harinero and powerstation right

That'll be your first sight of the mill if you are coming from La Puebla de Fantova. The mill is in fact three mills and a bakery in one. The highest part counts four storeys. The lower three floors are still fine but the fourth floor (just under the roof and with many windows) is rotting away.

The living quarters were situated on this top floor. The next floor houses the bakery and the former flour mill. Below that was the power generator and at the bottom rests the old turbine. The second, and lower part of the complex, was fitted up as an aceitero. The oil mill contains all the regular furniture, some of it very modern.

The wall facing the road only features windows where the living quarters are. The wall at the level of the harinero shows a blind doorway. At the other side is a staircase leading to the top floor. This was probably a direct entrance to the miller's home and became obsolete after the road got a new layer.

You'll have to do some walking to get an understanding of the waterworks. But, trust me, you won't regret the effort. Walk a bit back toward Fantova and find a spot where you can climb the terraces. Walk back. You'll soon recognize the embalse. From there it's easy to trace the channel.


The dam - azud		First meters of the channel - canal

The dam is built of nice and regularly shaped stones. The channel starts at the left bank side of the dam and is carefully maintained, because it's used to water the fields. Irrigation is limited to when the Barranco de Pinares holds water, though. Because lots of mud and stone are captured behind the wall, the capacity of the lake is reduced to almost nothing.

Tracing the channel you'll eventually arrive at the embalse which isn't very deep currently. I think the embalse was always rather shallow, but this was compensated by the size. It's now invaded by reed-grass and cat's tail.
Work your way to the other side and reach the dam which is built on a promontory. Try to locate the mill and peer down. Hold your breath.


the canal		more of the canal		Cubo towers above the mill top of cubo = top-right of picture


The water reservoir - embalse		arrows showing cubo and cárcavo

		You are standing where the upper white arrow is pointing to. A short canal (with valve) brings the water from the lake to an impressive cubo. A cubo is used to create a high water-column to build-up more pressure to move the wheels. I've never seen something like this. Look at the gap between the top of the cubo and the cárcavo where the turbine waits. Find nice cubos in Nueno, Las Bellostas, Morana and more.
Interior of the cubo (pict. Andela & Schoonebeek)

waterworks

harinero

aceitero

central eléctrica

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