International alert for the Old Town of Belchite: it will disappear in 20 years if measures are not taken

The historic urban fabric of Gaza, the ancient city of Antioch in Turkey or the Swahili Coast in Africa. All of them are places in the world that face important challenges such as climate change, tourism or natural disasters and that could even lead to their disappearance. That is why the World Monuments Fund organization makes a list every year that includes these places on which the administrations should focus in order to preserve them. This year, there is only one destination in Spain and it is none other than the Old Town of Belchite.

This list was presented on Wednesday in the ruins of the town besieged by the Civil War and it was stated that “after 80 years of abandonment, the remaining structures need urgent conservation. At the current rate of deterioration it is estimated that in 20 years the most notable monuments and the character of the town will have disappeared,” explained the World Monuments Fund.

The 25 sites included represent 29 countries on five continents and the Moon . The list is included in the global press release with the 25 monuments or spaces, which have been chosen by an international jury from the 212 applications submitted in this edition.

The Watch is a biennial nomination-based heritage advocacy programme that highlights 25 historic sites facing significant challenges such as climate change, tourism, armed conflict and natural disasters . This year it includes the Ruins of the Old Town of Belchite that have remained frozen in time for more than 80 years as a reminder of a difficult episode in Spanish history.

It was once a prosperous trading centre with rich Mudejar architecture that reflects the tradition of coexistence between Christians, Muslims and Jews. The village was destroyed during the Civil War and now urgently needs to be preserved. Its inclusion in the Watch has a double objective: to highlight the serious conservation problems of this rich cultural heritage and, through its conservation, to support sustainable tourism in the region.

Present at the presentation in Belchite were Arancha Ferrer, Head of the Conservation and Restoration Service of the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage of the Government of Aragon; Pablo Longoria, Executive Director of WMF in Spain; Carmelo Pérez, Mayor of Belchite and President of the Pueblo Viejo Foundation; and Joan Sastre, nominator of the candidacy.

A PROSPEROUS EXCHANGE CENTRE

The ruins of the old town are a fragile reminder of a difficult episode in Spanish history.  Belchite was a historic town with origins dating back to Roman times, more than two thousand years ago. During the Middle Ages, the town became a prosperous centre of agricultural production and administration for the entire region.

The town’s unique architecture – which included churches, synagogues and houses in Renaissance, Baroque and Vernacular styles – reflected its history as a place of coexistence between Christians, Muslims and Jews until the 15th century. Belchite was especially rich in Mudejar architecture, a style that was the fruit of centuries of intercultural exchange, which is today recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Aragon region where Belchite is located.

AN ICONIC PLACE OF MEMORY

During the Civil War that ravaged Spain between 1936 and 1939 , Belchite was besieged and destroyed, and its much-depleted population was moved to a new village built next to the ruins. At the end of the war, it was decided to leave the ruins intact, and their significance evolved over time as a striking reminder of the horrors of war, now being recognised as an iconic place of memory in Spain and beyond.

PRESERVE THE REMAINS

Today, preserving the remains of this devastated village as a place of memory and reflection offers a crucial and unique opportunity for present and future generations to understand the tragedy of war. It also poses a unique conservation challenge when it comes to preserving and interpreting historical war ruins.

Promoting sustainable tourism in Belchite can also be a way to local economic growth and rural development.