Hermitage of the Virgen de la Piedad: Baroque gem of Valjunquera

The hermitage of Nuestra Señora de la Piedad, popularly known as “la Mare de Déu”, stands majestically on the outskirts of Valjunquera, a magnificent example of Aragonese Baroque. Its construction took place at the end of the 17th century, specifically between 1697 and 1699, a period of great artistic effervescence in the comarca del Matarraña.

The building stands out for its robustness, with walls combining ashlar masonry and rubble masonry, reflecting the solidity of the architecture of the era. Internally, the hermitage presents a single nave, covered by an elegant barrel vault with lunettes that culminates in an imposing great dome above the chancel, a distinctive feature of the Baroque style.

The exterior is striking, with an entrance porch that emulates the grandeur of a triumphal arch, harmoniously combining round arches and pointed arches. Adjacent to the chancel, a detached structure serves as a sacristy, completing the architectural ensemble.

An inscription on the façade stands as a silent witness to its resilience, recalling the serious damage suffered during the Spanish Civil War and its subsequent restoration. Another inscription reveals that the exquisite interior paintings, which adorn the lateral walls, the pillars and the entire ceiling, were carried out in 1865 “through the devotion of Don Francisco Riol”, endowing the space with a rich iconography and colour.

Around the construction of this hermitage, there exists a curious oral tradition that has been passed down from generation to generation in Valjunquera. It is said that the hermitage was built for the purpose of safeguarding an ancient image of the Virgin, which had been given as a gift to a local resident more than a century before. Unfortunately, this venerated image has not survived to the present day, but its memory lives on in popular lore.

Every year, faith and tradition intertwine during the Fiestas Mayores de Valjunquera, which begin around 29 September in honour of San Miguel. On the third day of these festivities, an emotional offering of flowers to the Virgin takes place, followed by a solemn procession that sets out from the parish church to the hermitage, uniting the community in an act of ancestral devotion.