Otal is a depopulated Spanish small village belonging to the municipality of Broto, in the Sobrarbe region, Huesca province, Aragon. It is part of the “Sobrepuerto”. The Sobrepuerto is formed by the other villages Ainielle, Basarán, Cillas, Cortillas, Escartín, Bergua y Sasa de Sobrepuerto, all around the Otal river.
Between the mountains of Erata (2.003 m) and Pelopín (2.007 m) this village is located at 1.456 m altitude, being the town located at the highest altitude in the entire Western Pyrenees.
A long-distance hiking path runs through Otal, the GR-16 Senderos del Serrablo, which makes a tour of the Mozarabic churches of the Serrablo. Also the GR 15, recently marked as the Aragon Tourist Trail, in the stage between Broto and Biescas.
Otal was first mentioned in 1050 although it can be confused with Oto. Other versions describe the existence of Otal in historical writings of 1100. With the passage of time and the successive struggles after the death of Martín I de Aragón, the area became a place of active presence of bandits.
In 1842 Otal has 59 inhabitants. Immediately after, it is integrated into the municipality of Basarán. In 1970 there are 4 inhabitants in Otal. It is currently uninhabited.
And I hope, that starting with 2020 I will be the first stable re-habitant of this village.
I really like, I really want to live in this place for the rest of my life, no matter the conditions will be. I do not request anything from anybody, only from the owners, the acceptance in their old village and allow me (by selling or renting) to have a land parcel in this magnificent village. I will do all my best to maintain and recover this abandoned village.
