ESGLESIA DE SON

Son: Living History of Romanesque Art in the Heart of the Pyrenees

Son is one of the highest villages in the Àneu valleys, nestled in the central Pyrenees. Located at 1,393 meters above sea level and just 7 kilometers from Esterri d’Àneu, it preserves the charm of small mountain communities, with only 25 inhabitants.

Its Monumental Complex is one of the most remarkable Romanesque sites in the Àneu valley, in the province of Lleida, Spain. This ensemble includes the church of Sant Just i Sant Pastor, the clock tower, a 15th-century Gothic altarpiece, and holy water and baptismal fonts — all bearing witness to the area’s rich historical and artistic heritage.

The parish church, first mentioned in 1076, features a single nave and an apse adorned with Lombard windows and arches. Its bell tower, with a square base and three levels, is unique in the region. Restoration work carried out in 1990–1991 restored the building's original elegance. Inside, visitors can access the tower and view an important collection of religious art.

The clock tower, standing like a sentinel at the entrance to the complex, reveals the original defensive purpose of the site. Restored in 1996, it is now accessible up to the upper floors. Originally built as a medieval fortress on a circular base, it later took on religious functions, used by the local community to pray for good weather and appeal to the forces of nature.

If you’d like to take a piece of this history home, you can purchase a detailed scale model of the church of Son — a faithful reproduction that pays tribute to this gem of Pyrenean Romanesque architecture.