Valley of the Fallen facts for kids
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The Valley of Cuelgamuros (Spanish: Valle de Cuelgamuros) is a huge monument near Madrid, Spain. It used to be called the Valley of the Fallen (Spanish: Valle de los Caídos). This special place has a large Catholic basilica (a type of church) and a memorial. It is located in the Sierra de Guadarrama mountains, close to the town of San Lorenzo de El Escorial.
A leader named Francisco Franco ordered the monument to be built in 1940. It took many years to finish, opening in 1959. Franco said it was meant to be a "national act of atonement" and a way to bring people together.
Franco was buried here after he died in 1975. However, he was moved out in 2019. This happened after a long process to remove public honors for his time as a dictator. The monument is owned by the Patrimonio Nacional, which is Spain's heritage agency. It is one of the most visited monuments in Spain.
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What is the Valley of Cuelgamuros?
The monument covers a huge area of over 3,360 acres (13.6 km2). It is in the Sierra de Guadarrama hills, more than 900 meters (3,000 ft) above sea level. The site includes a basilica, a Benedictine abbey, and a guest house. There are also four old stone pillars called Juanelos from the 1500s.
The most famous part of the monument is a giant Christian cross. It is 150 meters (500 ft) tall, making it the tallest cross in the world. This cross stands on a granite rock, 150 meters above the basilica's main area. You can see it from over 30 kilometers (19 mi) away!
Building the monument started in 1940 and took more than 18 years. It officially opened on April 1, 1959. The construction cost a lot of money, which came from national lottery games and donations. Some of the workers were prisoners. They worked on the monument to get their prison sentences reduced.
In late 2009, the Spanish government closed the monument to visitors. They said it was for safety reasons because of repairs. This decision caused some debate. Some people thought it was linked to a law about historical memory. The monument reopened to the public in 2012.
Basilica, Cross, and Abbey
One of the world's largest basilicas is found here, along with the tallest memorial cross. The Basílica de la Santa Cruz del Valle de los Caídos (Basilica of the Holy Cross of the Valley of the Fallen) is carved right into a granite mountain. The 150-meter-tall (500 feet) cross is also made of stone.
In 1960, Pope John XXIII declared the underground church a basilica. This underground basilica is even bigger than St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. To avoid competing with the famous church in the Vatican City, a wall was built inside the entrance. A large part of the entry area was left unconsecrated.
The large sculptures above the main gate and at the base of the cross were made by Juan de Ávalos. The monument has a wide explanada (open area) with views of the valley. You can even see the outskirts of Madrid in the distance. A long, arched crypt (underground chamber) was dug out of the solid granite. It goes through the mountain to a huge central area right below the cross.
On the iron gates, you can see Franco's double-headed eagle symbol. When you enter the basilica, you will see two large metal statues of art deco angels holding swords.
There is a funicular (a type of cable railway) that connects the basilica to the base of the cross. Inside the cross, there is a spiral staircase and a lift. These go from the top of the basilica dome to a hidden door at the very top of the cross. However, only maintenance staff can use them.
The Benedictine Abbey of the Holy Cross of the Valley of the Fallen is on the other side of the mountain. Priests live here and hold Masses for those who died in the Spanish Civil War. They also pray for those who died in later wars and peacekeeping missions by the Spanish Army. This abbey is considered a Royal Monastery.
The Valley as a Burial Site
The valley around the monument is a national park. It is about 10 kilometers (6 mi) northeast of the royal site of El Escorial. Underneath the valley floor, there are the remains of about 40,000 people. Their names are listed in the monument's records.
The valley holds graves of both Nationalist and Republican soldiers from the Civil War. However, the words carved in stone say Caídos por Dios y por España (Fallen for God and for Spain). This was a motto of Franco's government. Many symbols of Franco's time are also present.
Many Republicans were buried here without their families' permission or even their knowledge. Some estimates say there are 33,800 victims of Franco's rule buried here. Their families have faced legal challenges trying to get their loved ones' remains back. Franco himself was moved from the church in 2019. This was part of an effort to reduce public honor for the site.
- The Evangelists
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St John
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St Luke
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St Mark
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St Matthew
- The Cardinal Virtues
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Courage and Justice
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Prudence and Temperance
Franco's Burial and Removal
After Franco died in 1975, the government decided to bury him at the Valley of the Fallen. His family said they had no strong opinion on where he should be buried. The decision was likely made by the king at the time. Franco's family agreed to this request.
Before his death, no one expected Franco to be buried there. His grave had to be dug very quickly, causing last-minute changes to the basilica's pipes. Unlike the Civil War victims, who were buried behind chapels, Franco was buried behind the main altar. His tombstone only had his first and last name.
Franco was the only person buried in the Valley who did not die in the Civil War. Supporters of his burial argued that a person who helped build a church can be buried in it. So, they said Franco was there as the person who started the basilica's construction.
Franco was the second person buried in the basilica. He had earlier buried José Antonio Primo de Rivera there. Primo de Rivera founded the Falange movement. He was executed in 1936 by the Republican government. Franco's government buried him under a simple gravestone near the altar. Primo de Rivera died on November 20, 1936, exactly 39 years before Franco. Many Franco supporters gather at the monument on November 20 each year.
Franco's Remains Are Moved
On November 29, 2011, a group of experts suggested moving Franco's remains from the Valley. They wanted the Valley to become a place that honored all victims of the Civil War. They said Franco did not die in the Civil War. They also suggested that Primo de Rivera's remains should stay but be moved to be equal with other Civil War victims.
On March 15, 2019, the government announced that Franco would be moved. He would be reburied at Mingorrubio Cemetery in El Pardo with his wife, Carmen Polo.
On September 24, 2019, the Supreme Court agreed that Franco should be moved. They rejected the arguments from his family.
Finally, on October 24, 2019, Franco's coffin was removed from the basilica. His family carried the coffin out to the plaza. They shouted "Long live Spain! Long live Franco!" as it was put into a hearse. A helicopter then took the coffin to the Mingorrubio-El Pardo municipal cemetery. Franco was reburied there next to his wife.
Monument Closure and Reopening
In November 2009, the Patrimonio Nacional closed the basilica for a long time. They said it was for repairs to the Cross and some sculptures. However, some experts and the Benedictine monks living there disagreed. Some groups saw it as a way to bother the monument.
In 2010, the Pietà sculpture at the entrance began to be taken apart. This was done with hammers and heavy machines. Some people worried this would damage the sculpture forever. Lawsuits were filed against the Spanish government. Some people even compared this to the destruction of the Buddhas of Bamyan by the Taliban.
After a new government was elected in 2011, the monument reopened to the public on June 1, 2012. Only the base of the cross remained closed. This was because the sculptures there needed repair. Before the official reopening, people could already visit the basilica in 2011.
The entry fee for the monument was 5 euros when it reopened. This was expected to bring in about 2 million euros a year. Before it closed in 2009, about 500,000 people visited each year. On May 2, 2013, the entry fee went up to 9 euros.
Before its closure in 2009, the Valley of the Fallen was the third most visited site of the Patrimonio Nacional. Only the Royal Palace of Madrid and El Escorial had more visitors. A cafeteria and restaurant also reopened for visitors. The number of visitors has been steady, with 378,875 visitors in 2018 and 318,248 in 2019.
See also
In Spanish: Valle de los Caídos para niños
- Burial of Ferdinand Marcos
- Imperial Route of the Community of Madrid
