Since the dawn of human civilization, ethnic, religious, and political groups have waged wars on each other, reshaping history in various ways. One of the most overlooked aspects of post-war reality is the disused military structures that dot the landscape, serving as testaments to tumultuous times. The Spanish Civil War, like many 20th-century conflicts, left a trail of devastation in its wake. Although the battles have long subsided, the Spanish capital is still home to many remnants of that era. Among them are three abandoned pillboxes in one of the city’s largest parks, just waiting to be explored.
By: Omri Westmark
Date: 20:38 29.07.24
Last Update: 20:42 29.07.24
Though the Spanish Civil War might seem like a distant chapter of history for many of us, this brutal conflict that raged from 1936 to 1939 left indelible marks across Spain. Some of the lesser-known vestiges of the war can be found in an unexpected part of Madrid, at Parque del Oeste.
Now a serene urban getaway, this park once bore witness to the harrowing events of this war. Hidden within its verdant confines are three abandoned pillboxes, relics from the times when this area was a fierce battleground between the Republicans and the Nationalists. Built in 1938 by Franco’s forces, these bunkers were part of a more extensive network of over 15 such structures aimed at seizing control of the city.
Strategically installed among the trenches that snaked through the park, the shelters were designed to house machine gun emplacements, with their barrels jutting out through embrasures in the concrete walls.
Of the original twenty, only three remain today, unassumingly blend into their green surroundings. The timeworn bunkers still bear the scars of the republican artillery’s relentless assault. One bunker stands out for retaining an engraved title left by the national unit tasked with its construction.
The park sustained extensive damage during the prolonged fighting, with its landscape dramatically altered as a result. Following the war, the park underwent a thorough restoration, during which its grounds were dug out to a depth of over 1.5 meters to remove any remaining ammunition that didn’t explode.
Nestled amid a cluster of pine trees, these historical remnants are strewn across a sliver of land along Avenida de Séneca. As the three extant bunkers are forever sealed, visitors can only admire their exterior parts.
photography by: Omri Westmark
photography by: Omri Westmark
photography by: Omri Westmark
photography by: Omri Westmark
photography by: Omri Westmark
photography by: Omri Westmark
photography by: Omri Westmark
photography by: Omri Westmark
photography by: Omri Westmark
photography by: Omri Westmark
photography by: Omri Westmark
