Spanish Civil War 1936–1939
Línea XYZ – La Muela & La Vegatilla trenches, Jérica
Trenches & fortifications
The story
After reaching the sea at Vinaròs in April 1938, Franco turned south towards Valencia. The Republic dug the Línea XYZ (or Matallana Line), a system of trenches, shelters and concrete bunkers about 150 km long, from Almenara on the coast to Santa Cruz de Moya. Between 18 and 24 July 1938, the forces of Varela, García Valiño, Solchaga and the Italian CTV attacked it. They broke against it less than 40 km from Valencia, and the Republican Ejército de Levante under General Menéndez held. Days later the Republic launched the Ebro offensive. Around Jérica, La Muela and La Vegatilla (Resistance Centre no. 7) were part of the rear line held by the 40th Division, and they survive very well.
What you can see today
Stone and excavated trenches, parapets, small shelters, machine-gun nests and concrete positions, some with Republican inscriptions, around La Muela and the Alto de Sayas.
Plan your visit
The waymarked 'Senda de las Trincheras' starts from the car park by the lavadero on Calle del Río in Jérica, about 13 km with climbs. The official La Muela–Aceitenebro route (12.3 km, about 3¼ h) starts from Novaliches. Wear boots and take water in summer.
Sources
- mapcarta.com/25059722
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XYZ_Line
- liniaxyz.com/rutes-de-memoria/ruta-la-muela-aceitenebro-des-de-novaliches/
- valenciabonita.es/2021/11/11/ruta-trincheras-de-jerica/
- deautor.hispanianostra.org/un-paseo-por-las-trincheras-de-la-linea-xyz/
Nearby sites
- Línea XYZ at Viver – Morredondo, Cerro Cruz & El Ragudo bunkers · 2 km
- Sierra de Espadán – Las Tetas & La Ràpita positions · 16 km
- Paredón de España (El Terrer), Paterna · 46 km
- Refugio antiaéreo de la Plaza Tetuán, Castelló de la Plana · 47 km
- Refugio de la calle Serranos, Valencia · 51 km
- Palau de Benicarló (seat of the Republican government) · 51 km
All 158 sites in Spanish Civil War 1936–1939 →
The Spanish Civil War 1936–1939
A free field guide for your phone: the route, the maps and the stories built in, even with no signal. The battlefields, trenches, ruined villages, shelters, museums and memorials of the Spanish Civil War across the whole of Spain, told fairly from both sides.
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