THE MILITARY MONUMENTAL HERITAGE IN CATALONIA

We consider as military monument’s heritage in Catalonia the ensemble of fortification works built in the Catalan cultural area during the historic period that goes from 1500 until 1945. These works are considered by the specific state laws and by the autonomic laws to qualify individually and generally as Bien de Interés Cultural, BIC (Heritage Cultural Property) or Bien Cultural de Interés Nacional, BCIN (National Heritage Cultural Property1).

What are these monuments? Where can they be found? What do they look like? What technique was used to build them? You will see how difficult it is to answer these questions. Additionally you will see the lack of interest by a large sector of society towards this part of our monumental heritage. The reality shows that this lack of interest comes from unfamiliarity.

It’s evident than in order to decide if we like something or not, first we need to approach it closely to be able to judge it. In that way, you will be able to have a clear personal opinion. Experience has taught us that opinions, about things and people, can change to positive or negative when we get to know them deeply. This is the main purpose of our Foundation. We invite you to see if this experience can also be true with the military monuments of Catalonia.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE MILITARY MONUMENTAL HERITAGE IN THE CULTURAL CATALAN AREA2

1 The fortifications of the Spanish Civil War and later works: campaign works, coastal battery and the Pyrenees defensive line were excluded from this grade. Some of these works are currently being studied to be declared as Bien Cultural de Interés Local, BCIL (Local Heritage Cultural Property)

 

2 With the purpose of not converting this information into an exhaustive catalogue, some less important works have been excluded. Isolated towers, extra bastioned pieces added to medieval works as well many works from the Spanish Civil War and postwar periods have been excluded, except those that have been adapted for guided visit. For example: in La Jonquera, Martinet and in the Gandesa county area.