Seno

The origins of Seno are very remote. The first remains found in the vicinity of the town come from the Neolithic, the Bronze Age or the Iron Age (e.g. the iron ore mine of Valdestrada, s.V. de C.). In its municipal term there are also Iberian remains (e.g. Vallipón, Iberian village destroyed by Roman legions) or of Muslim and Templar fortifications (e.g. near the Fuente del Salz).

The first time that the existence of the locality is documented is in the letter of population of Camarón (1194). During the 12th and 13th centuries it appears in different documents Templar and sanjuanistas like "castellar". Therefore, it is very likely that the first construction located where today is the Villa de Seno was a defense tower, probably Templar, as several existing in the area. Templar signs are present throughout the area, with their symbols, forts, fortifications, hermitages, crosses, etc. Not to forget, in addition, the nearby fortress of Castellote ("Castellot"), site of the Templar encomienda of the area, land ceded to the order of the Temple by King Alfonso II in 1196.

In the S. After several clashes with the nearby town of Castellote, King of Spain Charles II signed a privilege of segregation, although this separation did not take effect until July 23, 1789, when Charles IV definitively separated Castellote giving it the character of "Villa"to the town of Seno.

The parish church, dedicated to Saint Helena, is a magnificent baroque work carried out under the direction of the master of works Juan España, between 1763 and 1771, on the site of the old Church of the Holy Cross (1650). As the inscription on its cover reads, "Charitas me fecit", built by popular subscription. They are remarkable the spectacular paintings of the Presbytery, and the bell, of century XVIII, practically unique in Lower Aragon (the majority were broken during the Civil War by the anarchist columns).

During the Spanish civil war (1936–39), Seno was not bombed, unlike the majority of populations of the zone, reason why its population did not suffer directly the rigors of the war. The Church was converted into a store of the collectivity by the antifascist committee and much of its contents burned, saving, as has been said, the main bell of the tower. In 1938 a republican redoubt was established in the "cabezo" on the town to more than 1,000 msnm of altitude, in which numerous trenches and fortifications were constructed. On March 25 of this year, in the context of the third phase of the Battle of Aragon in which Franco divided Republican Spain into two with his troops reaching Vinaròs, the 83 division commanded by General Martín Alonso occupied the town of Seno, definitively expelling to the government troops of his redoubt in the mountain.

On February 1, 2009, Seno received the visit of the Bishop of the Diocese of Teruel and Albarracín, for the blessing of the restored Parish Church of Santa Elena, carried out thanks to the donations of the faithful of Seno, the General Council Of Aragon and the Town Hall of the Villa de Seno.

In 2016 the night illumination of the tower of the Church was inaugurated.

•Ruinas Castillo Templario

•Bosque Pétreo de Castellote

•Mirador de Castellote

Las fiestas patronales se celebran en honor a San Valero (29 de enero), patrono de Seno, el último fin de semana de enero, y en honor a Santa Elena, a quien está dedicada la iglesia parroquial, y a San Roque, el 14, 15 y 16 de agosto.

Durante el año, el Club Deportivo Senerico organiza dos eventos en los que todo el pueblo participa de forma muy activa:

La BTT Senerica, una clásica ya en el calendario, con dos rutas (corta, larga), ambas duras y exigentes. A final de julio.

La ruta senderista, a principios de octubre, con dos rutas también (corta y larga), que finaliza con una comida de hermandad.

•Vuelta a la Atalaya y Castillo de Castellote (PR-TE 53)

Alcaldía: Joaquin Belles Belles