Flix Air-Raid Shelter

About this heritage

This is an air-raid shelter built in Flix during the Spanish Civil War. It is located on Sant Josep street and also has an opening to the Plaza de la Música. It is a work included in the Architectural Heritage Inventory of Catalonia.

Currently, the shelter is a museum, with audiovisuals and informative panels. The space recovers the historical memory of the different areas of the Battle of the Ebro and can be visited by prior appointment with the Town Hall.

To learn more

The Flix air-raid shelter was part of a group of 12 located shelters. The construction of the shelters was agreed upon after the sudden bombing on February 23, 1937, which forced the Local Passive Defense Board of Flix to dig within the town. The work was directed by technicians from the Riegos y Saltos del Ebro company, who had been building the dam since 1936, with the collaboration of the local population.

The Francoist army suspected that the Electrochemical Society factory in Flix could be manufacturing chemical compounds necessary to produce explosives. This, along with Flix's strategic position during the Battle of the Ebro, turned the town into a bombing target. The first bombings took place on February 23, 1937, and in the following days the construction of air-raid shelters in Flix was agreed upon, including the one on San José street. The exact number of bombings Flix suffered is unknown, but attacks were constant until November 17, 1938, when after 115 days of the Battle of the Ebro, Flix was occupied by fascist troops.

To know it better

The Flix Air-Raid Shelter is an important testimony to civilian life during the Spanish Civil War and the impact of the war on the non-combatant population. It represents not only the resilience and adaptability of the civilian population in the face of adversity but also the brutality of the conflict and efforts to mitigate its effects on civilians.

The shelter has undergone conservation and restoration work to preserve its original state and make its history accessible to future generations. These efforts include stabilizing the structures, cleaning corridors and rooms, and installing lighting and signage to facilitate visits.

The Flix Air-Raid Shelter has become a historical and tourist point of interest. Guided tours are organized that allow visitors to explore the shelter and learn about its construction, use during the war, and personal stories of those who took refuge there. The building can be visited through guided tours by experts in local history who explain the historical context, the importance of the shelter, and how it was used during air raids.

Temporary Exhibitions: Displays of objects, photographs, and documents related to the Civil War and life in Flix during that period.

Educational Workshops: Programs aimed at schools and educational groups to teach about the Spanish Civil War and the importance of historical memory.

Reflection

The Flix Air-Raid Shelter is not only a monument to civil resistance during one of the darkest periods of Spanish history but also a place for reflection on the importance of peace and human resilience. Through its preservation and public opening, the shelter serves as a tangible reminder of the horrors of war and the importance of remembering and learning from the past to build a better future.