Our history

During the first years after its construction, the house does not have a special history. The owners Don José and Doña Antonia, helped by their elderly father, led a quiet life, working hard in the land and educating their children.

It was still night when a substantial meal was prepared for the men of the house and the day labourers who had to go to cultivate the land. At dawn, after a hearty lunch, the men went to work the fields and the women stayed to take care of the children, the house and the animals.

House during the 90s

There was still time when it was dark to sit on the cadieras (benches) near the fireplace to comment the day events and tell stories to the children.

Unfortunately, Don José died a few years later and Doña Antonia, helped by Uncle Joaquín, her unmarried brother-in-law, had to face the situation by managing the day labourers and the buyers of the crops with a gentle iron fist and taking care of the good government and the economy of the house in general.

The Spanish war came and the house went through uncertain times when squads from other villages arrived trying to seize the house and arrest those who were not on their faction. Attempts that were stopped sensibly, firmly and with provisions by Doña Antonia and other influential people in the village.

Fortunately, neither in Radiquero nor in Alquézar did violent episodes have to be regretted.

Later the house saw the two eldest sons march to the front and the return of only one of them.

Renovation works in 2020

Already after the Second World War, due to its isolated position, the house suffered an eventful night; a sergeant of the Civil Guard who was going to Adahuesca in the line car overheard other passengers talking about the maquis who were coming down from the mountains in search of provisions.

Late at night, there was a knock on the door and the sergeant appeared with several guards. They sent the family to hide in the cellar and stationed themselves in the windows of the attic. After a while, footsteps of people were heard approaching and the guards fired in the air to scare away the supposed maquis. It is believed that in their escape some young people from the village helped them and supplied them with some bread. Still later there was another knock on the door and one of the maquis gave him in. In the early hours of the morning, an army platoon appeared whose lieutenant wanted to take the prisoner to "take a walk", which was avoided by the firmness and wisdom of the sergeant and Doña Antonia.

Finally the Civil Guard took the maqui to Huesca. As an anecdote and culmination of the story is the fact that the maqui secretly delivered the watch he was carrying to the youngest daughter of the family, María Teresa.

Months later a letter arrived in which the maqui told the family that he was in Huesca prison, thanked them and asked them to return his watch. The family were reassured and happy that the man was still alive, sent back the watch, and never heard from him again.

Once normality was restored, the house experienced years of economic recovery with the daily work of cultivating the land.

The son who remained married and went to live in Barbastro, to manage his wife's land and other businesses..

The daughters also married, and although they returned often, they had their own family to take care off.

And Doña Antonia and Uncle Joaquín, who were getting older and older, were left alone.

The house was always open to anyone who passed by and wanted to come in. The neighbours were always welcome. For a long time it was the de facto waiting room for line cars. To wait for the bus that stopped in the open a few meters from the house, the people of the village entered the kitchen to take shelter from the cold in winter and the heat in summer and took the opportunity to exchange news.

From the windows of the south man could see when the car left Adahuesca and then there was more than enough time to get out and get on. It also served as a casual post office since when the line car came from Barbastro or Huesca the driver left at the house the sacks with the letters and the orders that had been made to him and that would then be collected by the postman or the indicated people.

With fewer tasks to do, Doña Antonia often sat on the bench at the door and watched the neighbours pass by, many of whom sat for a while to discuss the news from Radiquero and the nearby villages. They still remember her sitting there dressed in black and with a black scarf on her head.

And, with the fall of agriculture in the area, the house gradually lost its fundamental function. The land was leased and Doña Antonia and Uncle Joaquín were left alone, with the only company on vacation of the grandchildren who were studying in the city and where they would later stay to work and form their own family away from Radiquero.

And when they died, the house was practically deserted except for some summer periods when María Teresa, Doña Antonia's daughter, arrived with the great-grandchildren and the house was once again filled with life and joy.

But, as Maria Teresa grew older, these periods became shorter and shorter and finally almost testimonial. And the house, without childish laughter, or specific use, deteriorated, causing a feeling of melancholy and sadness to María Teresa's children and the inhabitants of the village. For all these reasons and the love of the descendants for the house, they decided, a few years ago, to restore it and give it a reason for being.

An immense restoration work has been carried out, with a lot of dedication, effort, resources and affection

Maintaining the original structure, foundations, bollards, beams and slabs have been reinforced. The entire interior has been redesigned to make it a quality, quiet and peaceful rural accommodation, comfortable, in harmony with the natural environment, with bright, cozy and fully equipped apartments.  And what was once the orchard, the threshing floor and the corral of the animals has been converted into a garden, parking lot and recreational areas.

And this is our history. The great-grandson of Don José and Doña Antonia is now the host. And the house, to the delight of its owners and neighbours, comes back to life with guests who have quality, peaceful and comfortable accommodation, in harmony with the environment, where they can rest without any noise, sit on the terrace or the garden to sunbathe, have breakfast, an aperitif or dinner, and enjoy peace and tranquillity with the wonderful views of the fields of holm oaks and olive trees and the mountains of Guara.

2021. Again Childish Laughter