The old Benedictine monastery of Santa Maria d'Àneu is located to the west of Escalarre, though within its parish limits. It stands almost on the banks of the river Noguera Pallaresa. It had once (in Visigothic times) been devoted to Saint Deodata, though was later devoted to Saint Peter (at the end of the 10th century). In 1064 it was handed over to Ramon V of Pallars Jussà, together with the monasteries of Burgal and Les Maleses, by Arta I of Pallars Sobirà. This was part of an exchange involving the monastery of Lavaix and other goods. It only continued as a Benedictine monastery until the 12th century, with it subsequently passing into the hands of an Augustinian canon. It later lost this religious function coinciding with the secularisation of the end of the 16th century. The church, which served as the religious centre of the parishes of the valley of Àneu and was first the seat of the deaconry and later the archpriestry of Àneu, is a Romanesque building dating from around the 11th century. It was considerably reformed during the 16th century (with the three original naves being reduced to just one).


The remaining apse has double arcades between Lombard bands; the vault is pointed and the facade has been reformed at a later date and has a small belfry. The font is made of stone and decorated with figures in prominent relief. With respect to Romanesque remains, the section of the mural that decorated the chancel of the temple are of particular importance and are now conserved in the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya. The paintings, whose main theme was the Epiphany and the Adoration of the Magi are rich in polychromy. The paintings are not particularly well conserved, but the famous angels or serafines in the lower part are in a rather better state, complete with six wings filled with eyes (a symbol of vigilance) and surrounded by the letters (repeated three times) of the Sanctus. They are depicted holding earthenware jars hands filled with burning coal (a scene from the purification of the mouth of Isaiah), and burning wheels. They have been associated with the Master of Pedret (towards 1100), although they would appear to be of rather more recent creation. The temple presently serves as a sanctuary and also as centre of devotion within the Àneu valley. It is now devoted to the Virgin Mary and contains a modern image of her.