The Christians, feudalism, and their legacy

The Christian period began in Aras de los Olmos with the arrival of the troops of James I at the beginning of the 13th century. In 1236, his troops conquered the area and in 1240, a royal decree assigned the town to the village of Alpuente, renaming it Aras de Alpuente. Shortly afterwards, in 1318, its management and government were entrusted, by royal donation, to the Order of Montesa. The Aragonese repopulation was to mark the culture of the place. In 1728 it became an independent royal town.

For more than six centuries Christianity and feudalism were to mark the way of life of the population. Its mark can be traced in the rich historical and artistic heritage of the period: the church of Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles, the hermitage of Santa Catalina, the hermitage of Santísimo Cristo, the Stations of the Cross, the medieval oven in calle del Jueguecillo, medieval mansions such as the Casa de la Parra or the Casa del Balcón Esquinado.