Catalonia youth heritage camps restore Civil War sites

Youth groups from across Catalonia are taking part in government‑funded work camps that combine archaeological excavation with heritage restoration. At the Pinell de Brai, Caseres and Ascó sites, participants dig near the Battle of the Ebro trenches, uncovering 90‑year‑old bullets and shells. Archaeologist Pere Rams said, “We are excavating archaeological remains from 90 years ago, and bullets and cans are coming up.” The camps are organized by the Fundació Escolta Josep Carner in partnership with the Consorci Memorial d’Espais de la Batalla de l’Ebre (COMEBE) and financed by the Catalan Department of Youth.

Separate camps in Tàrrega and Agramunt focus on restoring historic structures. In Tàrrega, volunteers repaired barrels and furniture from the former Cal Valeri cellar under the guidance of restorateur Natalia Guardia, while coordinator Toni Domingo explained, “We want to preserve the items stored at Cal Valeri because they add symbolism to the space.” In Agramunt, youngsters cleared vegetation and cleaned a Civil‑War bunker, an effort praised by local youth councillor Roger Brils, who said the aim was “to begin recovering and dignifying this space for public visitation.” All camps include educational activities on democratic memory and provide supervised leisure for the participants.