History

Cerler is the highest village in the Aragonese Pyrenees, 1540m high. The history of the village dates back from more than 10 centuries : large houses, porticoed yards and the narrow streets have been carefully restored and preserved. Its strategic location makes it an ideal point of view over the magnificent valley.

Casa Cornel stands in the heart of Cerler, it is an old Noble House and, as early as in the 13th century, some documents of the Cornel, linked with King Jaime I el Conquistador, can be found.

Pere Cornel was the man in charge of the education of King Jaime. His son Luis was buried in Valencia, which had just been conquered. His grandsons were the lords of Alfajarin and other villages in Aragon. And all of them were looking at Cerler. Pedro Cornel, bishop of Tarragona in the 15th century, wanted to be buried in the land of his ancestors, in Casa Cornel in Cerler. Juan Manuel Cornel, bishop of Barbastro in the 17th century, regularly came back to the house and had an oratory made there.

The cornel´s branch expands and ramifies throughout the centuries. Antonio Cornel was a minister in the 17th century, other family members were soldiers or priests. Mariquita Cornel proved she was a true Spanish noble (hidalgo) and that she had pure Spanish blood so as to enter in Sigena and, later on, she became the abbess of the monastery. Those who remained at home followed the rythm of life and kept the house alive.

Little resources, goodness, tradition, wars : all the thoughts and wishes are alive in one family tree : that of Casa Cornel.