Belchite, Spain

Belchite, Spain

Belchite Spain

Belchite is a town and municipality in the province of Zaragoza, Spain, about 40 km (25 miles) southeast of Zaragoza. It is the capital of the Campo de Belchite comarca (administrative region) and sits on a plain surrounded by low hills, the highest of which is Lobo. The surrounding landscape is one of the most arid areas in Aragon. In 1122, Alfonso the Battler founded the Confraternity of Belchite to defend the frontier between the Christian kingdoms and al-Andalus. On June 15, 1809, during the Peninsular War, French and Spanish forces fought the Battle of María near the town. Between August 24 and September 7, 1937, during the Spanish Civil War, Spanish Republican forces loyal to the government fought General Franco’s rebel forces in the Battle of Belchite in and around the town. After 1939, a new town was built next to the ruins of the old one, which remain as a ghost town and memorial to the war. The ruins of the old village have served as a filming location for movies including Terry Gilliam’s 1988 film *The Adventures of Baron Munchausen* and Guillermo del Toro’s *Pan’s Labyrinth*. They were also featured in the opening scene of the 1983 ITV documentary *The Spanish Civil War*.
Recommended airport
Zaragoza (ZAZ)
Points of interest
  • Belchite
Nearby destinations
  • Zaragoza a 39.71 km
  • Sástago a 34.14 km
  • Alfajarín a 34.49 km