This document aims to establish a framework of actions for the preservation of the Poble Vell and its value by explaining its history during the twentieth century -before, during and after the Civil War-, with the population as protagonist.
This project has been commissioned by the City of Corbera de Ebro, although in recent years some rehabilitation interventions have been carried out for the preservation of the Poble Vell.
Can be viewed in PDF here.( In catalan )
In 1936 Corbera d'Ebre had a population of 1901 inhabitants. In the village there were about 600 houses, 25 shops and 15 service buildings. The economic base was agriculture. During the Civil War ( 1936-1939 ), Corbera d'Ebre suffered the worst disaster of its history, as it was in the middle of the scenario where the Battle of the Ebro took place. The soldiers of the XIII International Brigade of the 35th Republican Division entered Corbera d'Ebre on 26 July 1938. In August the village was placed at the outpost of the Republican front, in the heart of the Battle, and many neighbors had already decided to leave their home to flee the front line and look for a safer place. Corbera d'Ebre was bombed by the German Condor Legion on 25, 26, 27 and 28 July 1938. an attack in which one third of the population was destroyed. On September 4 of the same year, the republican front was broken by Corbera and the town was devastated by bombs and artillery.
The remains of hundreds of abandoned homes, disfigured by the passage of time, and the desolation of the landscape have become a material and immaterial heritage of historical and political relevance. This heritage illustrates and recalls events, while making visitors aware of the consequences of war, freedom and peace.Currently, the Poble Vell is formed by material elements ( walls, structures, pavements, buildings, the same vegetation...) and immaterial ( events, memories, stories, sensations...) that contribute to create this place and endow it with spirit. The material heritage of memory is being lost, therefore the intangible heritage is also being erased. The Memorial Itinerary enhances the language of the vestiges and transmits the feelings associated with the war, the Battle of the Ebro, the subsequent abandonment of the area, and keeps alive the Poble Vell in its dimension of material and intangible heritage of memory.
The value of the landscape of memory is the external aspect that the town has today, since it allows to explain the events and subsequent abandonment. And, at the same time, it helps to understand both the consequences of war (fracture, trauma, fragility, tension...) and the need to reinforce the values of the culture of peace. The memory itinerary project consists of several interventions: it identifies the portals of the old houses with marches and doors, consolidates the structures, recovers the traces of the streets, highlights the original elements, works with the topography, dry stone walls and vegetation to determine the enclosure, and turns the Pinar into a space of art and memory. As for the performance to consolidate the structures, tensioners are used, a safe, non-invasive and elegant technology, since they are lightweight elements that do not have a visual impact on the whole. The balance between the fragile-looking structures and the tension and cable-stayed system at the same time recalls the trauma and complexity of war and is an attractive solution in itself. Thus, heritage is preserved, as it looks back to the past, with a future intervention (anchored/tensors) that emphasizes its value and expression preserving its appearance and meaning.
The Executive Council has given the green light to the 253,598.88 euros that the Memorial Consortium of the Battle of the Ebro Spaces (COMEBE) plans to invest in the consolidation of Poble Vell de Corbera d'Ebre (Terra Alta). The works will consist of works to preserve the rubble and prevent its degradation due to wind, rain or temperatures. With this agreement, Poble Vell becomes a new COMEBE space, which makes this investment possible.
COMEBE is the consortium that aims to recover and disseminate the historical memory of the Battle of the Ebro.
Cleaning in the church of St. Peter One of the St. Peter’s inside walls has been cleaned and this space is used to host exhibitions, concerts or any cultural function that needs such an emblematic space. |
Consolidation works During the last months of the year 2007 there have been consolidation works, the stone path of Pinyeres street, and some surrounding areas to the St. Peter church. |
The architects have done various rehabilitation projects of the church of St. Peter are:
- Ferran Vizoso (More information )(More information ) - Núria Bordas - Jordi Garriga - David García ( 1ª fase )
It gave the old church and secure a new multi-functional public space. This consolidation of the enclosure gives the church back to the village people.
Photos - Covered church restoration.
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