Civil War shelter discovery has stunned archaeologists during construction work at Barcelona’s Sagrera station.
Workers unearthed a previously unknown refuge from the 1936-1939 conflict, which was not listed in the official catalogue of over 1,300 such structures documented in the city.
The shelter served the old Sagrera goods station, a historic building erected between 1918 and 1922.
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Furthermore, its existence remained hidden until excavation for the new transport hub began. The Barcelona Institute of Culture (ICUB) confirmed the find, stating documentation is currently underway.
Civil War Shelter Features Exceptional Preservation
Remarkably, the council highlights the shelter’s “exceptional” state of preservation. Consequently, this makes it a unique case due to its specific typology and construction characteristics. The structure features two main galleries, each 2.5 metres high and 1.2 metres wide, stretching approximately 90 metres in total length.
Additionally, archaeologists have identified four large rooms, four latrines, and a space potentially used for storage or as an infirmary. Built to withstand 100kg bombs, the shelter is a robust “bunker-type” construction made of reinforced concrete with a two-metre-thick roof slab.
Located four metres underground, it retains original electrical installations, ceramic lamp holders, and benches in one room. Moreover, graffiti featuring the initials CNT and FAI, anarchist trade unions active during the war, suggests the period of use. The shelter’s discovery adds to a growing list of historical finds during city works, similar to a recent survey highlighting the layered history of Barcelona’s oldest districts.
The old goods station was a key logistical hub and a strategic target, suffering two bombings in 1937. The CNT, which had collectivised the railway sector, reportedly oversaw the shelter’s construction with workers. This Civil War shelter discovery follows a pattern; another refuge was found unexpectedly in 2014 during renovations of the Torre de la Sagrera, which now operates as a civic centre.
That earlier find is one of the few in the city open to the public. Meanwhile, this latest underground network reveals how wartime infrastructure remains woven into the modern urban fabric, often uncovered during essential upgrades like the ongoing expansion of Barcelona’s metro system.
The future of the newly found Civil War shelter remains uncertain, as the historic goods station building it served is not protected and faces demolition. Therefore, heritage officials must now decide whether to preserve this poignant fragment of the city’s defensive history.
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