Survivors Honour Parents’ Struggle in Montjuïc Shanty Town

More than 2,000 people once lived without water, electricity or roads in a shanty settlement on Montjuïc hill in Girona, built by hundreds of families during the post-war period. The last shack disappeared on 24 December 1971, but the memory of that community remains vivid for those who grew up there. Trini Molina, president of the Associació d'Amics del Castell de Montjuïc, and Ramon Llorente, its founder, both spent their childhoods in the barracks. They recall it not as a place of hardship but as their world: "We were happy. It was our community."

A Legacy of Solidarity and Resilience

Despite lacking basic services, residents developed a strong sense of solidarity. When a roof needed repair or a family faced difficulty, neighbours stepped in to help. "No light, no water, but we had each other," they said. Llorente described the story of Montjuïc as "small and brief, but socially very important," placing it above even the military and police presence at the castle. "We contributed greatly to the progress and improvement of Girona," he stated. Many families originated from Andalusia and Extremadura. This weekend’s gathering will include residents from Cabra del Santo Cristo in Jaén, reflecting the association’s effort to reconnect with ancestral towns.

"We recognise ourselves as Gironans. Our origins are part of Girona’s collective memory.", Survivors of the Montjuïc barracks community

20th Anniversary Event Opens to Wider Public

The association, founded in 2005, holds its 20th annual reunion this weekend. Traditionally held on a Sunday, this year’s event expands to both Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 September. On Saturday, a guided tour of the castle area begins at 10:00 with historian Gerard Serrat. Later, Rock per Xics performs at 12:00, followed by children’s workshops and a family show at 16:00. Sunday features a karaoke session at 10:00, dance performances at 11:30 and 15:15, live music at 16:15, and a raffle. The highlight remains the communal lunch, a moment for long-separated neighbours to reunite. Molina stressed the event is open to all: "We don’t want people to think this is closed to former residents only. It’s a gathering for the whole city."

  • Guided tour: Saturday, 10:00, led by historian Gerard Serrat
  • Rock per Xics concert: Saturday, 12:00
  • Children’s workshops: throughout Saturday
  • Family show: Saturday, 16:00
  • Communal lunch: Sunday, time unconfirmed but central to the event

The event aims to honour the effort of parents and grandparents who survived difficult conditions while reinforcing the community’s contribution to Girona’s development.

Reported by elperiodico.com, Diari de Girona, diaridegirona.cat, elpuntavui.cat, girona | meritxell comas, El Periódico (CA).