Page 69 - Studia Universitatis Hereditati, vol 12(2) (2024)

69

Figure 2. The Location of the Church Santa Maria d’Àneu and the Surrounding Parish Churches belonging to the Unveiling the Historical Significance of Santa Maria D’àneu
Deanery of Àneu: (1) Sant Lliser d’Alós, (2) Sant Joan d’Isil, (3) Sant Serni d’Àrreu, (4) Sant Martí de Borén, (5) Sant
Pere de Sorpe, (6) Sant Llorenç d’Isavarre, (7) Sant Serni de Cerbi, (8) Sant Esteve de Gavàs, (9) Sant Pere d’Aurós, (10)
Sant Andreu de València d’Àneu, (11) Sant Julià d’Unarre, (12) Sant Vicenç d’Esterri d’Àneu, (13) Sant Just i Sant Pastor
de Son, (14) Sant Martí d’Escalarre, (15) Sant Joan de Burgo, (16) Sant Miquel de Llavorre, (17) Sant Pere de Jou, 18) Sant
Bartomeu de Dorve, (19) Santa Llogaia d’Espot, (20) Sant Quirze de Berrós Sobirà, (21) Sant Jaume de Berrós Jussà, (22)
Sant Esteve d’Estaís. The parish churches are numbered from north to south, showing that they were positioned all
around Santa Maria d’Àneu, with many extending north along the main roads and the river Noguera Pallaresa.
from pastoral visitations (Palau Baduell 2015, Fort, Matas Blanxart, and Palau Baduell 2005,
90–91). 194). Additionally, it clarifies why the Counts of
The counterpart to this autonomy is the Pallars always preferred it, both to promote and
scant information we have about the churches appropriate it. Hypothetically, it would also be
in the territory around Santa Maria d’Àneu. In possible that this church remained in the Late
fact, we do not even know which church would Middle Ages as the ecclesiastical center of the
be the center of the deanery of Àneu. Several au- valley and the place of residence of the dean, pos-
thors have suggested that Santa Maria might in- sibly accompanied by other clerics. Consequent-
itially have held this role. This would explain ly, all the parishes that made up the late medie-
why, despite never appearing with the title of a val Àneu deanery, in total 22 according to Palau’s
parish church, it has such a unique architectur- reconstruction (Palau Baduell 2015, 130–131),
al specificity and pre-eminence (Adell Gisbert would have had some relationship of depend-
and Cases Loscos 1993, 243–244; Cabestany ence with it (fig. 2).