Belchite Viejo, cultural property in Belchite, Spain

Belchite Viejo is a ruined village in Zaragoza Province in northeastern Spain. Stone walls and a damaged bell tower stand in a dry plain among empty squares.

Republican and Nationalist troops fought here in August 1937 during a two-week battle. The complete destruction led residents to later move to a new settlement.

The site carries a Basque name and served for decades as a symbol of civil war destruction. Visitors today walk through empty streets and past collapsed facades that remain unchanged.

Guided tours start in the new town and take about an hour through the old streets. Rain makes the visit harder because many buildings no longer have roofs.

Residents lived among the rubble for 15 years after the war before moving to a new settlement in 1954. The dictator left the destruction as a memorial without allowing rebuilding.

• Capital city: Belchite
• Elevation above the sea: 440 m
• Shares border with: Almochuel, Almonacid de la Cuba, Lécera, Puebla de Albortón, Mediana de Aragón, Fuentes de Ebro, Quinto, Azaila, Vinaceite, Híjar, Codo, Velilla de Ebro, La Zaida
• Address: C. Becu, 50130 Belchite, Zaragoza, Spain
• Website: http://belchite.es
• GPS coordinates: 41.30099,-0.74815
• Latest update: December 12, 2025 17:57