Located in the foothills of the Pyrenees Mountains and with a population of about 75 people, Oto is a desolate village where crumbling medieval stone is an unforgettable ode to the past. Besides the occasional hiker or local, Oto has a palpable stillness that allows for retrospection, giving it the quality of being held in time by an impressionist’s brushstroke. The main attraction of the town is a historic 15th-century tower available as a vacation rental. Renovated to preserve its medieval history while offering modern comforts, this rental is ideal for anyone looking to stay in the Pyrenees and explore northern Spain’s lush natural wonders or unwind in the crisp mountain air. Recently, I had the opportunity to stay at this rental myself and was swooned by the natural beauty, tranquility, and history embedded in this remote crumb of Spain.
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My Experience and Rental Review
The medieval fantasy of Oto quickly became more tangible upon arrival at our rental. My husband and I had picked up our friends in Barcelona and made the 4-hour drive to Oto as part of a northern Spain road trip. The tower stood proudly among the aged stone village, and once our host let us in, I practically ran up the tower’s four floors to scope it out. Breathless and filled with enthusiasm, I clomped down the stairs to inquire where my husband was, only to find him standing smugly in the bright green lawn, fully outfitted in a crusader knight’s costume.
“I must be hallucinating,” I thought as my breathlessness turned into fits of laughter.
Ja had found a knight’s helmet on the ground floor of the tower and eagerly donned it, which prompted the host to bring forth her secret stash of medieval costumes for us to try on. We giggled while we all took pictures of each other in the costumes, bringing Oto’s medieval roots to fruition.
When we finally explored the inside of the tower as a group, we gushed over the rustic design. The smell of the aged wooden floors and the coolness of the stone walls gave the tower a primitive, yet cozy appeal. There was an ample kitchen on the first floor, a spacious living room on the second floor, and the third and fourth floors were separate bedrooms. Outside, the staircase leading up to the tower had a wide landing that could fit a table and some chairs, with views of the mountainous landscape and the village’s cobbled street below.
Exploring Oto and Broto
Since Oto is a small town with no restaurants or shops, it is necessary to walk 15 minutes to neighboring Broto to eat and buy essentials. After a relaxing evening of soaking in mountain views from the rental, inhaling pizza in Broto, and saying hello to some local “burros” we found on our walk, we woke up bright and semi-early to get breakfast. We found a cafeteria that served up a simple Spanish breakfast (toasted bread with a topping or two) and great coffee. While the cafeteria would be unremarkable in any other place, its location next to the mighty rush of the Ara River cutting through the center of Broto made it a memorable place to start the day.
After our refreshing breakfast and coffee, we took a walk to Sorrosal Waterfall using an easy-to-access trail. The trail was short, but we made a morning of it with a stop along the way to bask on some warm rocks like little lizards and dip our feet in the runoff river’s icy current. The eventual arrival at the waterfall was impressive. The narrow slip of water falls from an impressive height of 394 feet (120 meters), and adventurers can acutely observe its power from a boulder below. We admired the beauty of the waterfall and took some photos before heading back to Oto to refresh for lunch.
The rest of the day went by in a tipsy haze. We ate a delicious steak lunch at Casa Joaquin, meandered through the small web of Broto’s narrow streets, and found a place along the river to once again dip our feet in and relax from the late afternoon sun. Because we were celebrating our friends’ recent marriage, a lot of wine and laughter infused the day, and later illuminated a long night on the tower’s porch under the smile of the moon.
Final Thoughts
Having the opportunity to stay at a historic vacation rental in the Pyrenees added an unforgettable layer to a rejuvenating weekend in the mountains. My time in Oto was as serene as the rush of the Ara River and as whimsical as my medieval fantasies. With many small towns and Ordesa National Park nearby, the area is a fantastic place for anyone looking to relax, hike, and explore. No matter what visitors are planning to do, renting out a medieval tower will undoubtedly amplify the experience. I know it certainly did for us.
Where to Book Oto’s Medieval Tower Vacation Rental
Other Vacation Rentals in the Pyrenees
If you are looking for lower-budget options for vacation rentals in the Pyrenees, consider using Booking.com as a fantastic option for accommodation in Oto and neighboring Broto.
