Spanish Civil War 1936–1939

Poble Vell de Corbera d'Ebre

Ruined village

The story

The old hilltop village of Corbera d'Ebre lay on the road junction between Gandesa and the Ebro crossings. After the Republican Army of the Ebro crossed the river on the night of 24–25 July 1938, Corbera became a front-line and rear-area target, pounded by Nationalist artillery and by the German and Italian air forces over the 115 days of the battle. Fighting swept back through it in the Nationalist counter-offensives of September–November; the British Battalion of the XV International Brigade fought its last action in the hills nearby before the Brigades were withdrawn. The inhabitants never returned: a new village was built below after the war, and the ruins were declared a Bé Cultural d'Interès in 1993 as a memorial to all victims of the battle.

What you can see today

Roofless streets climbing to the shell-scarred baroque church of Sant Pere; the 'Abecedari per la llibertat' installation, the 'Calaix de Lletres' and 'La Bota' art interventions; a plaque to the British Battalion on Carrer Hospital.

Plan your visit

Pay-to-enter site (about €3, guided visits about €10); park at the top of the old village. Combine with the '115 dies' interpretation centre, C. Freginals 18–24, which is also the network's information point.

Sources

• patrimoni.gencat.cat/en/collection/poble-vell-de-corbera-debre
• patrimoni.gencat.cat/en/collection/poble-vell-de-corbera-debre
• poblevell.cat/
• batallaebre.org/els-espais-espais-historics/
• tracesofwar.com/sights/92282/Memorial-British-Battalion.htm

Nearby sites

• Museu Memorial de la Batalla de l'Ebre (CEBE), Gandesa · 4 km
• Quatre Camins – Cota 427 cross, Vilalba dels Arcs · 6 km
• Serra de Pàndols – Cota 705 memorial · 6 km
• Les Devees trenches, La Fatarella · 7 km
• Memorial de les Camposines · 7 km
• Vilalba dels Arcs: Els Barrancs trenches & Mirador del Bassot · 7 km

All 158 sites in Spanish Civil War 1936–1939 →