Popular Army Memorial

Spring 1938. The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) was into its final year. Franco had by now forced the collapse of the Aragon front, reaching the Mediterranean Sea through Vinarós and Alcanar, and splitting the Republican-held territory in two. The government of the Second Republic, with the firm and desperate purpose of defending Catalan territory, carried out a thorough reorganisation of the military units present in Catalonia.

During the spring of 1938, troops of the 18^th Army Corps arrived in Pujalt to set up what would become the training camp of this Popular Army Corps. The training camp was a military facility built from scratch with the logistical and organisational support that the town of Pujalt could offer at this time, such as electricity, telephone connections and buildings ready for immediate use, etc. The choice of this site was also due to the proximity of a water source and good transport infrastructures, such as the road from Cervera to Calaf. Pujalt was situated halfway between the front (60 km) and the large cities of the Catalan rearguard.

You are invited to visit the facilities of the former training camp of the 18^th Popular Army Corps of the Republic in Pujalt, now adapted as a museum. As you explore the forest, surrounded by a wonderful landscape, you will discover a world full of intense emotions: longing (for families and loved ones, as seen in letters to parents, siblings or fiancées – the sole and sporadic contact of these young people with their former lives), anxiety, fear of the unknown, war, the epic notion of fighting for a set of ideals, freedom, the Republic… so many feelings, so many emotions.

A visit to the facilities of this camp will enable you to rediscover a silent world that was allowed to fall into decay for many years and whose preservation today is essential as a living memory of what happened and what must never be allowed to occur again.

A tribute to all the men, women and children who lived through and suffered this tragic period in our history.

 OPENING HOURS:

To make a visit, call 691 242 794

PRICES:

Individuals and small groups:

General admission: €6

Children under 12 years old: free admission

Groups:

Up to 10 people: €6

From 11 to 20 people: €5

From 21 to 40 people: €4

More than 40 people: €3