The village of Alquézar lies on a limestone spur from the Eoceen, West of the gorge of the Rio Vero on the South side of the Pyrenees. It developed around a castle and a church from the year 1100. The name is derived from the Arab Al Qaçr, which means fortress or castle. The castle became the main point of defence for the nearby town of Barbastro. In the area are more than 60 limestone caves with prehistoric cave paintings, which led to the proclamation of the region as a World Heritage Site by the Unesco.