Inside the deserted ghost town that’s been frozen in time for more than 80 years
- Our Hidden Earth
- 10 hours ago
- 2 min read
More and more tourists are now visiting Europe’s many ghost towns as they look for unique and adventurous experiences.
These abandoned places are like snapshots of history, left behind by time but still standing, preserved by nature and the elements.
The strange beauty of decay and the thrill of stepping into a forgotten world continue to draw visitors to these once-bustling communities.
Many of these ghost towns offer a haunting glimpse into Europe’s dramatic and often tragic past. One of the most famous examples is Belchite, a ghost town in Spain that has captured the imagination of travellers for decades.
Found around 25 miles south of Zaragoza in Spain’s Aragon region, Belchite’s crumbling ruins have remained frozen in time for more than 80 years. The town serves as a powerful reminder of the devastation caused by the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s.
During the war, Belchite was attacked and destroyed, leaving much of it in ruins. The surviving residents were later moved to a new settlement built right next to the remains of the old town.
Before its destruction, Belchite was known for its striking architecture, which included synagogues and homes designed in Renaissance, Baroque and traditional Spanish styles.
It was especially famous for its Mudéjar architecture, a unique design style born from the blending of Christian and Islamic cultures over many centuries.
After the war, Spanish authorities chose to keep the ruins as they were, turning the town into a lasting memorial to those who lived and died there. Today, visitors can still wander through its deserted streets and imagine what life was once like.
One of the main landmarks is the Church of San MartÃn de Tours, which was built during the early 14th century in a Gothic-Mudéjar style.
The influence of the Mudéjar design can be seen in its polygon-shaped apse and in the Almohad-style minaret tower that still stands tall.
At the entrance to the church, visitors can find the engraved lyrics of a poem written by one of Belchite’s final residents, Natalio Baquero, whose words keep the memory of the lost town alive.
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