The Arbeca council is proposing the Iberian fortress of Vilars and its surrounding area as a new site for the Archaeology Museum of Catalonia in Lleida province. The museum currently has around half a dozen locations, mainly in Barcelona and Girona provinces, often linked to significant archaeological sites. Arbeca aims to host the first such site in the Lleida region, 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 accessible the remains of the ancient fortress. Built 2,800 years ago, Vilars is unique in Catalonia. The latest intervention, which completed the enclosure of the walls and removed a ramp used for earlier excavations, is set to be inaugurated later this month.
New Visitor Centre Planned
The council plans to formally present its request to join the Archaeology Museum at this inauguration event. The event is expected to be attended by Culture Minister Sònia Hernández and Provincial Council President Joan Talarn. Beyond the archaeological work already completed and future plans, the council has taken a significant step by tendering for the first phase of a visitor reception centre.
This initial phase involves constructing a building that will include a reception area, classrooms, toilets, and a leisure space. This is part of a larger, more ambitious project, but it will be functional on its own. The council expects to open this first phase between late this year and early next year, with further buildings planned for the future. "We will proceed based on the funds available at each moment," the mayor stated.
Funding and Future Plans
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 remainder from municipal funds. This investment covers 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, only a small hut is available, which is insufficient for the growing number of visitors.
