Hermitage of San Rafael Arcángel

The hermitage of San Rafael Arcángel in Ráfales is a building of architectural and cultural interest. Its history dates back to the 18th century, and over the years it has undergone several renovations that have given it its current appearance.

It is a single-nave construction divided into four bays, with diaphragm arches that correspond on the exterior with buttresses. The mix of materials — rubble masonry and ashlar masonry at the corners and buttresses — gives it a distinctive appearance. The ceiling is wooden and the roof is pitched.

The entrance door, with its characteristic wood studded with wrought-iron nails, is located on one side of the hermitage and is sheltered by a post-and-beam porch supported by pillars and a column that appear to have been reused from other buildings.

Around the hermitage, there is a pond carved into the rock for water supply and two caves with evocative names: la de l'Abella (bee) and la del Moro. These cavities were used to shelter livestock and, in the case of the first, beehives, showing the historical interaction between people and nature in Ráfales.

The Sant Rafalet festival is held on the weekend closest to 24 October, with a pilgrimage and a communal meal at the hermitage. Although the tradition of lighting bonfires along the path from the village has been lost, the custom of lighting a bonfire in the village during this festival is still kept alive, preserving the essence of these ancient celebrations of the Matarraña region.

The climb to the hermitage of San Rafael in Ráfales starts from the upper part of the village. Take the street that leads to the cemetery.

The ascent is steady and steep, though the short distance means the route involves little difficulty. The first stretch is lined with old cultivated terraces or bancals where traces of olive and almond trees are still visible. The path soon enters areas of pine forest, holm oak and scrubland.

In the final stretch, the first cypress trees announce the imminent arrival of the hermitage. At this point, about 100 m to the right, you can see a stone pond carved into the bare rock, which was once used to supply the hermit with water. The hermitage, dedicated to San Rafael, stands out for its characteristic features such as a curious porch area and columns of ancient and sturdy craftsmanship. The views from the hermitage are excellent.