Spanish authorities have selected the winner of the international competition to reimagine the Valle de Cuelgamuros, formerly known as the Valley of the Fallen (Valle de los Caídos). The project, titled “The Base and the Cross” (“La base y la cruz”), was unanimously chosen by the jury from among ten finalists. The main goal is to change the public’s perception of this historic site, which is closely linked to the memory of the Civil War and the Franco dictatorship.
As part of the new project, the massive staircase leading to the basilica will be completely removed. In its place, a modern horizontal portal reminiscent of a rift will stretch across the entire square in front of the church. Under this canopy, visitors will enter a circular vestibule with an open ceiling, which will serve as the entryway both to the basilica and to a new interpretation center that will be located on either side.
The creation of the interpretation center is a key element of the renewal. The aim is to tell the complex history of the memorial, the stories of thousands of people whose remains still rest in Cuelgamuros, and the significance of the site for Spain today. The exterior of the complex will also change: the architects plan to emphasize the natural surroundings rather than the monumentality of the structures. This is intended to foster a more open and democratic perception of the space.
The cross will remain, with minimal changes inside.
Despite the sweeping changes, the 150-meter stone cross rising above the valley will remain in place. Its removal was never considered, as it is regarded as a key part of the memorial’s historical context. The basilica will continue to be used for religious services, with informational panels added inside to help visitors see the past from new perspectives.
Project timeline and implementation
Work on the project will not begin before 2027 and is scheduled to take four years to complete. The government will allocate 26 million euros for the construction, with an additional 4 million euros going to the project team as a fee. Authorities emphasize that the transformation of Cuelgamuros should serve as a model for other memorial sites associated with the country’s painful history.
Today, the Valley of Cuelgamuros, located in the municipality of San Lorenzo de El Escorial near Madrid, holds the remains of more than 33,000 people who died on both sides of the conflict. It is the largest mass grave in the country. The new project aims to turn the memorial into a space for dialogue, remembrance, and reconciliation, rather than merely a symbol of the past.
