The Catalan government has concluded its third archaeological intervention in Llavorsí, Pallars Sobirà, without finding a mass grave linked to Francoist repression. The search aimed to locate the remains of nine civilians executed by Francoist troops in 1938 near the Hostal d'Aidí.
The Directorate General for Democratic Memory, part of the Ministry of Justice and Democratic Quality, confirmed the dig, which ran from 13 to 24 April 2026, did not confirm the grave's location. This excavation ran alongside another effort to find a grave at Prat del Rector in La Guingueta d'Àneu, according to a departmental statement issued on Monday.
Despite new documentary investigations, a review of previous hypotheses, and the delimitation of a new excavation area, human remains linked to the Hostal d'Aidí grave were not found. The Ministry describes the site as "one of the most relevant spaces for democratic memory in Catalonia due to the seriousness of the documented events and the impact it still maintains today."
Francoist Repression in Pallars Sobirà
Historical documents show 67 civilians from the Pallars Sobirà region were executed without trial as retaliation for Republican guerrilla actions. One of the most severe episodes occurred on 23 and 24 May 1938, when nine people were arrested at their homes, moved, tortured, and then murdered near the Hostal d'Aidí.
In April 1938, Francoist troops from the Navarre Army Corps occupied much of Pallars. For nine months, the region was divided and became a front line. During this period, members of the 62nd Francoist Division, led by General Antonio Sagardía Ramos, carried out intense repression against the civilian population.
The victims came from Unarre, Escalarre, and València d'Àneu. They were Celestí Berné i Català, Josep Berné i Català, Maria Barrós i Mauri, Jaume Nat i Canut, Benjamí Eduard Serís i Semino, Josep Palobat i Montané, Martina Ribó i Millà, Nativitat Ginestà i Ribó, and Gertrudis Comenge i Fortet.
Some of these individuals were executed in place of persecuted relatives who had fled. One victim was pregnant, and another was raped before being murdered, according to witness accounts and historical research.
Documented Events and Next Steps
Historian Manuel Gimeno noted in 1987 that the arrested individuals were initially held in a building in Esterri d'Àneu. The following day, 24 May 1938, they were transported by lorry towards Llavorsí, despite official indications they were to be taken to Sort.
The vehicle carried the prisoners, soldiers from La Guingueta d'Àneu, and several Falangists. According to available documents, the lorry broke down, and the detainees were locked inside the Hostal d'Aidí. They were later taken to a nearby spot known as l'Enraiador, where they were reportedly executed and buried.
The Catalan government continues its commitment to locating and identifying victims of the Francoist regime. Future efforts will likely involve further historical research and potentially new archaeological techniques to pinpoint the exact burial site, ensuring these events are not forgotten.
