The mountains of Aragon are plagued by Christian crosses. Now there is a battle to tear them down or maintain them

Aragon lives his peculiar “Cruces War”. One that has begun in the mountains of the region, has jumped to the administrations and threatens Finish in the Courts. And all following a crucifix of several meters installed in the Sierra de Albarracín, a construction that has divided part of the Aragonese political class and society: for some it is a symbol that It must be preserved for its heritage, historical and symbolic value; For others, an element that must be withdrawn by representing a danger or directly crash with the aconfesionality of the State.

The debate is served.

The beginning of everything, a ray. If Aragon has faced his particular “battle of the crosses” for a few weeks, it is for lightning. A few months ago, In September of 2024, the Sierra de Albarracín suffered a storm that affected THE CROSS OF BEZASa monument of several meters high and several steps located on top of a rock. The cross did not fall, but it was affected by a ray that, Precise Diario de TeruelHe broke part of the concrete and gave a scare to a guard.

What happened? The episode was a problem for several reasons. The ray was supposedly splintered part of the stone that covers the metal structure of the cross and the fragments fell near a guard. Enough for the Provincial Environment Service will send a letter to the town hall in which he proposed to withdraw the monument. Among other reasons alleged that it acts as a lightning rod during storms, a risk that could now increase that its metal is air.

“An environmental risk”. The regional report in which it was argued that the cross represents “An environmental risk” convinced the Consistory, that He gave green light to demolition. Beyond the danger it can represent, the cross is popular in the area (it names the Peñasco on which it rose), but it is not especially old nor is there a clear unanimity about its historical value.

The monument was installed in July 1939in memory of battalion 135 Bailén, but Alfonso Casas, expert in the Spanish Civil War, I explained recently In an interview with Diario de Teruel that in his opinion “it is not properly a vestige of the war.” Moreover, in his opinion he also does not have a special artistic value.

And the debate arrived. Not everyone thinks the same. The decision to tear down the cross He didn’t like it For example to Christian lawyers, who a few days ago filed an appeal before the contentious-administrative court of Teruel. Its argument is simple: the cross has been in the same state for several decades (they presented a video in which they ensure that it can be seen how in the 80s the structure already had the pampering damages that now blame the lightning), so there is no reasons to remove it from the rock.

“This monument, erected in 1939, reaches three meters with the base and is an important symbol of Christianity in the valley,” Highlight entitywho complains that “everything that recalls that Spain is and must remain Catholic” produces “a strange hives” in institutions. To reinforce his claim he has also initiated a collection of signatures that backed by more than 13,300 people.

Beyond the Cruz de Bezas. So far the case is interesting but basically affects the municipality of Bezas and its neighbors. If you have caught the attention of state media It is because the debate has climbed and that September ray has put in the point of view other religious monuments distributed throughout the Aragonese mountains. One of the key actors of that debate has been Vox, which He has taken advantage to go beyond the decision of demolition of Bezas.

His spokesman in the courts of Aragon, Alejandro Nolasco, has advanced Two party decisions. First, claim in the courts to keep the Cross of Bezas. Second, promote an initiative for “all historical and artistic goods that the Taliban of the PP and PSOE want to destroy” are declared BIC. “We are going to live times in which the crosses are going to tear down putting environmental, landscape excuses. Of course, free way for mills and plates.”

“Contributes to degradation”. Vox has already proposed to achieve BIC’s tag (and armor) sights Located in the Old Pueblo de Belchite, Los Pinares de Venice, Monzón, Barbastro or Teruel, where he also wants protection to The cross located in the Plaza del Seminario. However, another group that advocates something very different: the Movement towards a secular state (Mhuel). In fact the entity has launched A campaign to demand the withdrawal of religious symbols distributed by the Summits of Aragon.

“Aragonese mountains are fragile spaces that already suffer strong pressure from human activity,” The association arguesthat insists in that the presence of metal crossings affects the ecosystem and are a danger for hikers, especially during storms. “The installation of artificial elements contributes to the degradation of these spaces, many cataloged.”

The great background debate. It is not the only argument that Mhuel wields, which also points to the great background debate: religious symbols in the middle of the mountain. “The presence of Christian symbols in public natural spaces contravenes the principle of aconfesionality of the State collected in our Constitution,” ditch: “The mountains are heritage of all citizens, regardless of their beliefs, and must remain free of religious symbols that represent only one part.” Hence the entity advocates extending Bezas’s criteria.

But … how many are there? Good question, difficult answer. Bezas is not the only cross that crown rocks or peaks. In La Peña Oroel There is another very popular, just like that of The top of Anetowho jumped to the media in 2013 after the Benasque City Council decided to withdraw it to repair it. In 2024 Today Aragon needed That in the mountains there are different types of crosses with a religious or civil value, from indicators of sanctuaries or hermitages to guides for pilgrims, tributes to deceased or commemorations of war actions.

The Aragonese Heritage Information System (SIPCA) states that there are hundreds of term crossings and Peirones distributed throughout the community. Specifically, during the first two phases of the inventory, he added 800 constructions of both type in Zaragoza and part of Huesca, although the “term crosses” have peculiarities that differentiate it a priori from that of Bezas. For a start They have the BIC categoryrecognized in the BOE, and Sipca himself He considers them “A crucial element in the historical configuration of our landscape.”

Images | Bezas City Council

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