A corner of hidden history
Between the mountain ranges that divide Anoia and La Segarra, there is a place that may seem simple at first sight: a wooden house adorned with a republican flag. However, this place is the key to the most extensive republican training field in Spain.
The Forest of Obagues: Witness of the past
Over time, nature has been claiming the Obagues forest, a space that hides under its roots the remains of one of the darkest episodes in our history: the Spanish Civil War. This forest currently retains the vestiges of one of the most significant popular reorganization fields in the country, which extended over two kilometers with a width of half a kilometer.
Thousands of lives, thousands of memories
During the period between the spring of 1938 until the end of the conflict, thousands of soldiers passed here, some temporarily and others in transit to return to the front.
A historical recovery project
The conversion of the Memorial of the Republican Army of Pujalt into a museum space began with the initiative of the company Cat Heritage in 2007, although the first archeological excavations took place between 2003 and 2004. Pere Tardà, the person in charge of the project, emphasizes the importance of continuing with research, since there is still much to be discovered.
Institutional collaboration
The City Council of Pujalt, together with the Democratic Memorial, the Generalitat de Catalunya and the Ministry of Interior of the Government of Spain, have funded this project with the aim of providing a clear historical perspective on the operation of the republican army.
Recreating military life
One of the highlights of museumization has been the recreation of various spaces that reflect the daily lives of soldiers, such as barracks, anti -aircraft shelters, military kitchens and bunkers. The sculptor Manel Vidal has contributed a special touch to the exhibition, creating figures representing scenes of life in Pujalt during 1938.
Restoration and conservation
After two decades, many of these figures needed urgent restoration due to deterioration. In March 2025, thanks to a subsidy from the Democratic Memorial, a restoration project has been started that includes the renewal of spaces and the replacement of damaged elements.
A space of historical reflection
In the spring of 1938, the Republican side was in a critical situation. In response to the Francoist offensive, the Body of the Popular Army Corps was created to reorganize military units. Eighty-six years later, this place has become a collective memory center, where visitors can explore the restoration and museumization of the military camp.
Discovering the past
Through excavations, objects have been found that offer a vision of the day -to -day soldiers, such as coins, canned cans and letters. Pujalt’s neighbors have contributed to family objects, including the shirt of a soldier marked by the traits that cost him his life.
Living Memory and Historical Justice
This memorial not only serves to remember the everyday moments of the soldiers, but also seeks to do justice in the anonymous lives that gave rise to Pujalt during the spring of 1938. It is a space that invites us to reflect on the past and to recognize the importance of collective memory.