Parish Church of the Asunción de Nuestra Señora

The parish church of the Asunción de Nuestra Señora, in Arens de Lledó, is a magnificent example of Gothic architecture that transports us directly to the 14th century. Its imposing presence and the artistic quality of its construction earned it the declaration as a Bien de Interés Cultural (BIC, Spanish heritage listing) in 2001.

Strategically situated at the highest point of the village, the church rises majestically on a natural sandstone outcrop. From here, visitors can enjoy a viewpoint with excellent panoramic views of the Algars River, perfectly framing the beauty of the natural surroundings of the Matarraña.

Although its exact dating is difficult, studies of the stonemason's marks found in its stones allow its construction to be placed in the mid-14th century. These marks are a fascinating testimony to the craftsmen who shaped this monument. Look carefully for one of them on the main doorway, on the south side, specifically on the outermost arch of its decoration, at mid-height on the left side.

The church is built in solid ashlar masonry and has a rectangular plan oriented to the east. Inside, a single nave unfolds, divided into three bays that culminate in the chancel, with a raised choir loft at the west end.

The chancel is distinguished by its ribbed vault with elegant ribs resting on slender columns, creating a space of great harmony. The choir loft, for its part, is supported by a wooden beam and plaster infill floor structure, beautifully decorated with plant and animal motifs, and protected by a stone parapet with geometric motifs.

On the exterior, three elements catch the eye: the impressive doorway on the south side, the solid bell tower, and a beautiful Gothic window with elaborate decorative stonework and a pointed arch with tracery, located at the west end of the church.

The parish church of Arens, dedicated to the Asunción, is Gothic in style and was built during the second quarter of the 14th century, when the town was under the rule of the bishopric of Tortosa following the donation of King Pedro II el Católico in 1209. At the same time and in the same style, a church was also built in Lledó and in Calaceite, neighbouring villages that belonged to the same bishopric.

The building, in ashlar masonry, is situated in the upper part of the town, in front of where the castle once stood. It has a single nave with a rectangular plan, a pointed vault and a flat apse with a ribbed vault. In the 15th century the sacristy was added and in the 17th century two chapels were opened on the Gospel side. Among the sculptural decoration, the window with Gothic tracery and the stone parapet of the raised choir with designs that resemble a cryptogram stand out. Inside, four painted panels from the altarpiece of the hermitage of San Pol are preserved.

Attached to the apse, the Abadía was built at a later date, and adjacent to the west end, where there is currently a garden, stood the old cemetery, which was used until the end of the 19th century.

During the Spanish Civil War (1936-39), the images, the altarpiece and the bells were destroyed. Furthermore, the temple was used as a warehouse for the anarcho-syndicalist collectivisation. In the mid-1950s (20th century), lightning that entered through the bell tower melted the cross that crowned it and passed through the interior of the building during Mass without injuring anyone.