Cuelgamuros Abbey filming dispute and forensic work

A dispute has emerged between the Benedictine community of Cuelgamuros Abbey and the public broadcaster RTVE regarding the filming of the basilica’s crypts. The monks issued a formal complaint, alleging that RTVE filmed the crypts and ossuaries without permission for the documentary ‘Cuelgamuros, entre lo difícil y lo imposible’. The community stated that while they authorized recordings of religious services, they did not grant access to the sacred sites housing the remains of tens of thousands of Spanish Civil War victims, asserting that these remains “are not museum material or an audiovisual resource.”

The documentary in question provides visual documentation of the crypts, which contain the remains of more than 33,800 victims, including approximately 12,000 unidentified individuals. The film details the forensic efforts led by Paco Etxeberria, who utilizes DNA testing and anthropological studies to identify victims. These efforts face significant technical challenges due to high humidity, lack of light, and the deteriorating condition of the storage boxes within the chapel walls. The project addresses the complex administrative landscape of exhumation requests from both families linked to the Franco regime and Republican victims.