Arbeca is proposing the ancient Iberian fortress of Els Vilars, located in the Lleida region, as a new site for the Archaeology Museum of Catalonia. The museum currently has six locations, mostly in Barcelona and Girona provinces, linked to important archaeological sites. Arbeca's local council intends to host the first branch in the Lleida area, according to Mayor Francesc Roset of ERC.
This proposal follows years of work led by the University of Lleida (UdL) to uncover, consolidate, and make the remains of the ancient fortress accessible. Built 2,800 years ago, Els Vilars is unique in Catalonia. The latest intervention, which completed the enclosure of the walls and removed a ramp used for excavations, is set to be inaugurated at the end of May.
The council plans to formally present its request to join the Archaeology Museum at this inauguration event. The Minister of Culture, Sònia Hernández, and the President of the Provincial Council, Joan Talarn, are expected to attend.
New Visitor Centre Underway
Beyond the archaeological work already completed and planned for the future, the council has taken a significant step to equip the site with a visitor reception centre. It has opened a tender for the first phase of construction: a building that will include a reception area, classrooms, toilets, and a leisure space.
This initial phase is part of a larger, more ambitious project, but it will be functional on its own. The council expects to open this first stage between late this year and early next year, with the remaining planned buildings to be constructed in the future. "We will do it based on the availability of funds we have at any given time," the mayor stated.
The tendered works have a budget of €331,371. Of this, €200,000 comes from the Generalitat, €100,000 from the Provincial Council, and the rest from municipal funds. This investment represents about half the total cost of the visitor centre project. Once complete, the centre will include facilities such as a room for immersive exhibitions and virtual reality. Currently, there is only a small hut, which is insufficient for the growing number of visitors.
