Belchite

Belchite is a municipality and village in the province of Zaragoza, Spain, about 40 km southeast of Zaragoza. It is the capital of Campo de Belchite comarca (administrative region) and is located in a plain surrounded by low hills, the highest of which is Lobo. The area around Belchite is one of the most arid places of Aragon.

Belchite
Municipality
Old town of Belchite
Flag Coat of arms
Belchite Location in Spain
Coordinates: 41°18′23″N 0°45′15″W
Country	Spain
Autonomous community	Aragon
Province	Zaragoza
Comarca	Campo de Belchite
Judicial district	Zaragoza
Government
• Mayor	Angeles Ortiz Álvarez (PSOE)
Area
• Total	273.7 km^2 (105.7 sq mi)
Elevation	440 m (1,440 ft)
Population  (2018)[1]
• Total	1,528
• Density	5.6/km^2 (14/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Belchitanos
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	50130
Dialing code	976
Climate	BSk

In 1122 Alfonso the Battler founded the Confraternity of Belchite to defend the frontier.

On June 15, 1809, French and Spanish forces in the Peninsular War fought the Battle of María near Belchite.

Between August 24 and September 7, 1937, loyalist Spanish Republican and rebel General Franco's forces in the Spanish Civil War fought the Battle of Belchite in and around the town. After 1939 a new village of Belchite was built adjacent to the ruins of the old, which remain a ghost town as a memorial to the war.

The remains of the old village have been used as filming locations in films including Terry Gilliam's 1988 film The Adventures of Baron Munchausen and Guillermo del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth. The ruins of the town were also used in the opening scene of the 1983 ITV documentary The Spanish Civil War.

Places of interest

• The ruined village east of the rebuilt town
• Santuario de Nuestra Señora del Pueyo, located a few kilometres west of Belchite new town

References

1. Municipal Register of Spain 2018. National Statistics Institute.

External links

• Belchite visitor and historical information (in English)