Discover Ainet de Besan: History, Culture and Nature

The parish of Ainet de Besan was first explicitly mentioned in 1075.

History

The church of Sant Julià is mentioned in a visit by delegates of the Archbishop of Tarragona in 1314. Permission was requested for the first forge; it was built in 1665 in the Fontifora forest. The Fontifora forest is located in the La Canaleta area, which lies within Ainet de Besan.

In Ainet de Besan, ecclesiastical evidence is thus connected with the history of local craftsmanship. The parish, the church and the forge represent different stages in the history of the locality: the first mention dates back to the Middle Ages, while the 17th-century forge documents the craft use of the Fontifora forest area.

Culture

The parish church of Sant Julià is a heavily remodelled building with a Baroque interior. Its slender bell tower has a pyramidal roof. On the railing of a bridge over the Noguera de Vallferrera, you can see a slate boundary cross dating from the 15th century.

Historical details can also be found beyond the church amid the present-day townscape. The slate boundary cross stands on a bridge over the river, while Sant Julià, with its Baroque interior and distinctive bell tower, forms a separate architectural testimony. Religious architectural history, a river crossing and local materials thus appear in close proximity to one another.

Nature

The Bosc de Virós lies on the shady slope of the Noguera de Vallferrera valley. The Noguera de Vallferrera runs through Alins, Ainet de Besan and Araós. In the declaration of the Parc Natural de l'Alt Pirineu, the Bosc de Virós is considered an area of particular scenic interest. The Bosc de Virós refers to the area around Araós and Ainet de Besan.

The old village of Ainet de Besan lies on the right bank of the Noguera de Vallferrera. It is situated in a widening of the Vall Ferrera. A rock face rises to the north of the valley, beneath which the old village lies.

The river, the widening of the valley, the slope and the rock face shape different aspects of the same landscape. The Bosc de Virós lies on the shady slope, while the old village is situated on the right bank in the widening of the Vall Ferrera, below the northern rock face. The named places Alins, Ainet de Besan and Araós follow the course of the Noguera de Vallferrera.

Traces

The Refugi Gall Fer recreation area is located in Ainet de Besan. There are two tables there. A hydraulic sawmill and stone troughs are recorded in Ainet de Besan. A device for shoeing livestock is also recorded. A circular trail along the Noguera de Vallferrera allows you to discover the historical heritage and wrought-iron sculptures of Ainet de Besan and Araós.

The surviving or documented elements therefore range from the hydraulic sawmill and stone troughs to the device for shoeing livestock. Two tables stand in the recreation area at Refugi Gall Fer. The circular trail connects these historical traces with the river landscape and leads to the wrought-iron sculptures of Ainet de Besan and Araós.

More destinations

Other places in the same higher-level area include: La Baronia De Rialb, Les Valls De Valira, Montan De Tost, Talarn, Brics, Sant Guim De La Plana, Bassella and Corbins.

To the higher-level travel overview: Lleida.