Portbou to establish Walter Benjamin Memorial Space

The town of Portbou will transform its former town hall and old school buildings into the Walter Benjamin Memorial Space. The project, funded by the Generalitat with a budget of approximately 4.25 to 4.4 million euros, aims to create an international reference center dedicated to the legacy of the German thinker, European exile, borders, and the defense of democratic freedoms.

The three-story facility will include a museum on the ground floor to explore Benjamin’s life and the history of the border, as well as the 'Passages' memorial by artist Dani Karavan. Other planned features include a library, a documentation center, conference rooms, and a 'Memory Hostel' designed to house researchers, artists, and students conducting studies on critical thought regarding persecution and fascism.

Construction is expected to begin in 2026. The initiative seeks to honor the memory of those who crossed the border during the 20th century, including Republican exiles fleeing to France and those entering Francoist Spain to escape Nazi occupation.