The only excommunicated people in Spain is in Aragon

The Moncayo mountain range is a refuge for centuries-old stories full of mystery, terror and magic. Its corners have witnessed events marked by abbots, witches, covens and curses. And, to this day, these echoes of the past continue to endure in the small Zaragoza municipality of Trasmoz, the protagonist of this story.

Located about ten kilometres from Tarazona, Trasmoz is a cursed town that, several centuries after having been condemned, remains the only town excommunicated by the Catholic Church in all of Spain. But what did the inhabitants of the town do to end up in these conditions? In this article we tell you the story of Trasmoz, the only excommunicated town in Spain.

THE EXCOMMUNICATION OF TRASMOZ

We go back to the year 1255, a time when Trasmoz was a town known for its clashes with the Catholic Church in relation to all kinds of issues, whether it was the delimitation of territories or the town’s refusal to contribute resources to the entity.

Its inhabitants refused to submit to the rule of the imposing monastery of Veruela, located five kilometres away from the town. The monks of the Cistercian Order acquired control of the monastery after King James I of Aragon ceded the property rights to them; and after several unsuccessful attempts to subject the inhabitants of Trasmoz to their rule, an event was unleashed that changed the image of Trasmoz forever.

One day, the inhabitants of the village suffered a conflict with the clergy of the monastery because of the alleged ownership of the firewood of Monte de la Mata. This clash led to the drastic decision of the abbot of the monastery, Andrés de Tudela, to excommunicate the village for all eternity.

According to historical records, it was Pope Julius II who ratified the excommunication of Trasmoz in the 16th century at the request of the monastery. To this day, the Church has not withdrawn the status of excommunication from the Aragonese municipality and Trasmoz remains the only excommunicated town in all of Spain.

HIDDEN REASONS FOR EXCOMMUNICATION

Although many may think that a “simple” conflict over firewood ended up causing this excommunication, the truth is that there were other, bigger reasons behind it all.

To begin with, Trasmoz has always been known for having a reputation linked to witchcraft and necromancy. The author Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer reflected on this in his work ” Letters from my cell “, which he wrote while he was recovering from tuberculosis in the Monastery of Veruela.

History has already shown that some of these legends were actually created and spread by monks to discourage citizens from associating with the inhabitants of Trasmoz. However, it has always been rumored that the town’s famous castle was a center for meetings and alchemical experiments in the dark arts.

THE CURSE OF TRASMOZ

In addition to the excommunication, in 1512, another confrontation between Trasmoz and the monastery triggered the fall of a curse on the municipality. The situation began because of a confrontation over water, a vital resource for the survival of the town. When the lord of Trasmoz, Pedro Manuel Ximénez de Urrea, confronted the abbot of the Monastery of Veruela due to the diversion of the water course towards the convent, the response of the Church was to cast a curse on Trasmoz.

According to the accounts, the abbot covered the altar crucifix with a black veil and recited Psalm 108 of the Bible, known to be a curse from God against his enemies.

All these events have increased, over the centuries, the fact that Trasmoz remains the only excommunicated town in Spain. However, despite the seriousness of this situation, the inhabitants of the municipality have taken advantage of these popular beliefs to use them as traditions and tourist attractions. Some of these activities recall the celebration of pagan festivals and the ancient rituals that were carried out centuries ago.

HALLOWEEN IN TRASMOZ

As it could not be otherwise, on these special dates, when Halloween night is approaching, Trasmoz always takes advantage of its past full of mysticism to pay tribute to the dead in the most special way.

That is why, next Saturday, November 2, the Aragonese town will celebrate its traditional festival “ Luz de las ánimas ”. This event will have a program that will cover a schedule  from 10:00 to 00:00 hours, and which will include activities such as collecting and emptying pumpkins, a popular meal,  various concerts and performances and, of course, a terrifying tour of the streets, the church and the cemetery of the town.

So, if you are looking to immerse yourself in the folklore of a town that represents courage, rebellion and a past full of spiritual legends, do not hesitate to visit Trasmoz during these days.

HOW TO GET TO TRASMOZ

Getting to the Zaragoza municipality is a simple process, with several transportation options including car, bus, train or taxi:

– If you want to opt for the car option , you simply have to use the AP-68 and then take a detour to the N-122 towards Monasterio de Veruela, Tarazona and Sierra del Moncayo. After passing near towns such as Magallón, Borja or Bulbuente, you will arrive at Trasmoz.

– If you prefer to choose a bus, in the case of Zaragoza, the Central Bus Station offers a bus every four hours with a 57-minute journey to Bulbuente. Once you arrive at Bulbuente, you will only need to take a taxi, which will take you to Trasmoz in approximately ten minutes.

– Finally, there is the train route. Zaragoza-Delicias station offers a train to Tudela de Navarra every hour. The journey takes 43 minutes. Once you arrive in Tudela, you will have to order a taxi to take you to Trasmoz in approximately 36 minutes.