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The Satanic Haunted House of Cortijo Jurado

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A string of mysterious murders of young women made the suspicion land on the people residing in the House of Cortijo Jurado. It is now believed to be haunted as it was a place for gruesome satanic rituals. 

In the Campanillas neighborhood in the outskirts of Malaga there is an old mansion from the 19th century that used to belong to the wealthy Heradia family from La Rioja. They built the house with 365 windows, one for each day.  

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In later years the mansion has been called Casa Encantada (House of the Enchanted), but it is more sinister than fairy tale-like and mostly known as a satanic murder house for those interested in the paranormal. 

The Missing Women Victims of Satanic Rituals

This bourgeois 19th century English Gothic styled mansion was the location of suspected kidnappings of the local girls. In the span of over 30 years from 1890 to 1920 at least 5 young girls went missing in the area, and some of them showed up dead near a river close to the house covered in strange wounds. People thought that the wounds had to be from the satanic ritual and torture the girls went through in their final moments.  

The Unsolved Murders: There was a string of mysterious murders that happened to the women in the nearby villages. The mansion was soon tied to the crimes and people started to speculate about satanic rituals going on inside of the house. // Source: Tyk/ wikimedia

Rumours spread that those in the mansion together with the other rich families in the area had something to do with the disappeared and dead girls and that there were tunnels built under the house and chambers underneath it used for torture. Legend has it that the missing women were used for satanic rituals. 

Whether it is true or not that the family in the mansion had anything to do with it, it is actually true that many young girls disappeared in this period, they could never prove anything. Although local lore claims that the rich family used their wealth to escape justice. 

The Ghosts of Cortijo Jurado

After this, many claim to have heard strange noises coming from the Cortijo Jurado and seeing ghostly figures in the darkened windows of the first floors and in the courtyard. It was believed to be the ghosts of the missing girls and that they are still calling for help and trying to prove and show what really happened to them.  

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories set in Haunted Houses from around the world.

In the basement there is according to the legends the torture instruments used on the girls who are allegedly buried under the house. 

They have actually found the hidden tunnels, although they are now blocked off. The testimony we have of this comes from Manuel Martin who did a dare in front of his friends to go into the tunnels in 1942 the workers of the property had found. 

He came back out white as a sheet and told about the torture machines and bones he had seen. The man kept to his words for years according to both his neighbors as well as those that have done research on it. Who really knows where they lead?

Prison During the Spanish Civil War

The house was also used as a hospital as well as a prison during the civil war were torture and executions were also a part of the every day occurrences in the building, further staining the walls with death and blood. 

The urban explorers that uncovered the hidden tunnels underneath the house then uncovered what looked like a torture room as well. Perhaps it even predated the war one may wonder. 

Plans of Renovations

The house is today abandoned and mostly in ruins, although not completely forgotten. In 2000 they tried to make a movie with the haunted mansion as a location and a backdrop, but because of weird accidents and failure of the battery and electric equipment that bothered the production, they had to give up and the movie was never completed. 

Abandoned Building: There is a long time since anyone lived in the mansion. There have been several attempts of fix the place up and turn it into a resort, although it still hasn’t happened. //Source: Nicky69es/wikimedia

In 2004 they approved plans to renovate the place into a 4 star hotel, but the plans fell through in 2015 as the economic crisis hit. 

Today you can spot the haunted mansion on the nearby motorway,  a dark spot on Costa del Sol’s bright days. 

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References:

Cortijo Jurado, haunted house in Malaga with mystery and disappearances
Cortijo Jurado – Wikipedia
The 5 most Haunted Places in Spain
The 10 most famous haunted houses in Spain — idealista
Ten paranormal places that you can actually visit in Spain

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The Haunted Sabatini’s Customs Office

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In the Sabatini’s Customs Office in Madrid the people working there think it is haunted by the victims of the Spanish Civil War that died in the basement. Loud noises, banging and strange noises have made the guards making their rounds filled with fear. 

Just around the corner of the crowded square of Puerta del Sol you will find Alcala Street in Madrid where the Architect Francisco de Sabatini designed a building on the behest of King Charles III.

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories from Spain

Sabatini’s Customs Office, also known as Real Casa de la Aduana, is a historic building located in Madrid. Constructed by the renowned architect Francisco de Sabatini under the orders of King Charles III, this monumental structure holds immense historical significance. Originally serving as a customs office, the building played a vital role in the city’s trade and commerce during the 18th and 19th centuries. Today, it is utilized by the Ministry of Finance, but it’s eerie past continues to intrigue visitors and locals alike.

Haunted Basement: The Dark Secrets Unveiled

One of the most chilling aspects of Sabatini’s Customs Office lies beneath its grand facade – the haunted basement. This subterranean level was once home to prison cells and even served as a mass grave for those who lost their lives during the Spanish Civil War. The residual energy of the traumatic events that took place within these walls is said to linger, creating an atmosphere of unease and fear.

Visitors and employees have reported experiencing inexplicable phenomena while venturing into the basement. The air grows heavy, and an overwhelming sense of foreboding fills the space. It is not uncommon to hear ghostly whispers or witness shadowy figures lurking in the shadows. Some have even claimed to feel icy fingers brush against their skin or the sensation of being watched by unseen eyes. The haunting of the basement is an undeniable testament to the building’s dark past and the restless spirits that still roam its halls.

Haunting the Guards: A Terrifying Encounter

The guards tasked with protecting and patrolling Sabatini’s Customs Office have had their fair share of spine-chilling encounters. Many have reported strange occurrences while walking their rounds, leaving them shaken and questioning their own sanity. One common experience is a loud banging on doors and windows, seemingly coming from nowhere. As the guards rush to investigate, they are greeted with an eerie silence, as if the source of the noise has vanished into thin air.

These unexplained phenomena are often accompanied by a sudden drop in temperature, sending a chill down the guards’ spines. It is as if an otherworldly presence is passing by, leaving behind an icy reminder of its presence. On one occasion, a guard even heard a disembodied voice speaking loudly and clearly, asking, “Why are you following me?” The guard turned around, only to find no one there – no one they were intentionally following or anyone visible to the naked eye. Such encounters leave the guards bewildered and questioning the nature of reality within these haunted walls.

Visited by a Medium: Conversations with the Departed

In recent years, the paranormal reputation of Sabatini’s Customs Office attracted the attention of a renowned medium. Eager to explore the building’s haunted mysteries, the medium claimed to have made contact with a spirit who had been murdered within the premises in 1847. According to the medium, this tormented soul revealed that it was not alone in the building. Numerous other spirits, victims of violence and tragedy, wandered the basement, trapped between the realms of the living and the dead.

The medium’s encounter shed light on the lingering energy and restless souls that inhabit Sabatini’s Customs Office. The spirits, unable to find peace, continue to wander the halls, their presence felt by those attuned to the supernatural. The medium’s visit added another layer of complexity to the building’s haunted reputation, leaving us with even more questions about the mysteries that lie within its walls.

The Mystery of Sabatini’s Customs Office

Sabatini’s Customs Office stands as a testament to the duality of history – a place that once bustled with the activities of trade and commerce now echoes with the whispers of the departed. The haunting tales, experienced by guards and visitors alike, add an air of mystery and intrigue to this architectural marvel. 

Whether you believe in the paranormal or not, the stories surrounding Sabatini’s Customs Office cannot be easily dismissed. The ghostly encounters, the chilling voices, and the eerie atmosphere continue to captivate those who dare to explore its haunted past.

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Haunted Madrid – CaramelTrail

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The Ghosts of the White Plague Haunting the Alfaguara Sanatorium

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In the ruins of Alfaguara Sanatorium, also known as The Berta Hospital in Spain they tried as many sanatoriums did, to cure tuberculosis. It is said the victims of the white plague are still haunting the ground as well as the founder of the hospital.  

One of the smallest haunted hospitals in Spain is known for its long history of ghost sightings and paranormal activity. This hospital has been abandoned for many years and has become a popular destination for ghost hunters and thrill-seekers alike.

In Granada there was a sanatorium that was built in 1923 to help with the rising problem of tuberculosis in wartime at the beginning of the 20th century and operated as a hospital until it closed in 1940. 

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories from Spain

At the hospital’s inauguration the archbishop, the military governor and representatives of the city council of Granada with a large audience helped open the hospital. The furniture was even donated by Queen Victoria Eugenia who served as the president of the Red Cross for Ladies. Later the hospital was abandoned and forgotten except for the ghosts said to roam in the ruins. 

The Old Alfaguara Sanatorium

A sanatorium is an old name for specialized hospitals that were made for specific ailments. They were often built in the countryside with plenty of fresh air in a healthy climate isolated from the outside world. Sanatoriums across Europe and America were very popular to treat tuberculosis until the discovery of antibiotics. 

Tuberculosis was one of the deadliest illnesses in Europe at the turn of the century and was often known as the white plague and is one of the oldest diseases we have proof of.

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories from old hospitals like Hauntingly Beelitz-Heilstätten Hospital, Gonjiam Psychiatric Hospital or Hauntings at the Weston State Hospital or the Trans-Allegheny Asylum

It could however also be a place for people to heal from things like alcoholism, nervous diseases like hysteria or emotional exhaustions. After medical advances the use of sanatoriums declined and many were abandoned in the mid 1900s often and has since gained a haunted reputation. 

Trying to Cure Tuberculosis

The Alfaguara Sanatorium was built with the money of a German Lady, Berta Wilhelmi, a philanthropist and was also known as the Berta Hospital. It was built in the area of what is now known as the heart of the Sierra de Huetor Natural Park in the mountain range, surrounded by Mediterranean and pine forest and fresh air in the mountains, something that was especially good for tuberculosis patients. 

Berta Wilhelmi was a businesswoman and philanthropist who had settled in Granada in 1870 when she was a child after moving from Heilbronn, Germany after the family mill had burnt to the ground and they went to Spain to start again. 

She had a brother who was named Luis who passed away from tuberculosis when he was only 12 years old and to cure people from it was close to her heart. 

This is why she invested a huge amount of her personal fortune into building a hospital that could help prevent further death from this disease. 

The Berta Hospital

Together with some doctors they built a new hospital to help with the rise of tuberculosis in the region. Tuberculosis was a dangerous illness at this time and spread fast in the overcrowded time of the early industrialization of the world and the approaching civil war that turned it into an epidemic. 

Most patients didn’t pay for their stay as it was first and foremost a philanthropic project for Berta and those who did pay paid three pesetas for their board at the hospital. 

The small hospital of Alfaguara Sanatorium was made to house 24 patients, and they also made a preventorium to house children in addition later. They stayed in their own pavilion named after Berta’s own son that passed away in 1925. 

She was well known for this type of work, and had also founded schools and was the director for the hospital until her death in 1934. And for the believers of the paranormal, some claim that her ghost is still roaming the place and looking out for it. 

The Ruins of the Hospital

The ruins of the building of Alfaguara Sanatorium are pretty hidden away and are today mostly rubbles and ruins you have to reach by foot up the mountain. 

The rumors say the sanatorium closed down for unknown reasons. What we do know is that the Spanish Civil War was raging at the time and the hospital was very close to one of the fronts and trenches by the Toriles fort near the town of Cogollos.

At one point in 1939 the hospital had more than 60 armed soldiers inside the compound and the scars of the Civil War in Spain are still felt by the nation where thousands of people died for their ideologies.

In the postwar times it was completely abandoned, but has been protected as a part of the forest conservation program of the Natural Park where it is in. 

The Ghosts of the Alfaguara Sanatorium

Today Alfaguara Sanatorium is known as a haunted place that draws hiking ghost hunters to see the ruins for themselves and do an investigation of the place. People that have visited claim to have seen ghostly silhouettes in the ruins and heard voices of the people that used to live there. 

Who are the ghosts that are said to haunt the place? A fact is that many of the tuberculosis patients didn’t make it, and some claim that it is the spirits of the patients taken by the white plague that is haunting the place. 

Considering Alfaguara Sanatorium role in the Spanish Civil War as well, some speculate that there were victims of war that ended their days inside of the hospital.  

Could it be Berta herself who is haunting her old hospital she poured her passion and love into just to see it crumble just a couple of decades after she built it?  

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References:

Se cumplen cien años del sanatorio de la Alfaguara

SANATORIO ANTITUBERCULOSO DE ALFAGUARA – GRANADA

Sanatorio y Dispensario de la Alfaguara – Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre

Road trip through the gloomiest haunted houses in Spain

Berta Wilhelmi y el sanatorio antituberculoso de la Alfaguara | Gomeres

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The Ghosts from El Fuerte de San Cristóbal, the Biggest Prison Escape

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In 1938 almost 800 prisoners escaped from El Fuerte de San Cristóbal that was used as a political prison during Franco’s regime. It didn’t go well for most and many died trying and are said to be haunting the place, still trying to escape. 

They say that the dead never truly rest, and nowhere is that more true than in the haunted castles of Spain. These ancient fortresses are home to restless spirits, vengeful ghosts, and malevolent entities that lurk in the shadows, waiting to strike. 
Nestled amidst the rugged landscapes of Navarra, Spain you will find the old fortress called El Fuerte de San Cristóbal, an old political prison among other things. This formidable fortress stands as a silent witness to centuries of captivating history, its old walls whispering tales of conquerors and conquered, of battles fought and secrets hidden. 

Historical Background of El Fuerte de San Cristóbal

El Fuerte de San Cristóbal has a rich and diverse history that dates back centuries. The official name for the fortress is Fort of Alfonso XII as it was built during his reign at the end of the 19th century to protect the city. 

Over the years the use of the place as a fortress became obsolete because of the military advances and turned into a military prison in 1929. 

During the Franco regime, the fortress took on a new and chilling role as a prison for political prisoners opposing the regime. Its imposing walls became a place of confinement for thousands of political prisoners, who were subjected to unimaginable hardships and suffering. 

The conditions within the prison were notoriously harsh, with prisoners enduring overcrowding, lack of basic amenities, and brutal treatment. The fortress became a symbol of oppression and fear, a place where the voices of dissent were silenced.

The Prison Great Escape

But the story of El Fuerte de San Cristóbal doesn’t end with its role as a prison. It also witnessed one of the largest prison breaks in history. On May 22, 1938 at the height of the Spanish Civil War, 795 Republican prisoners managed to escape the fortress, in what is now known as the “Great Escape.” This daring feat of bravery and determination captured the attention of the world and became a symbol of hope for those fighting against the Franco regime.

At the time there were 2 487 prisoners in the prison. The 795 inmates broke free and ran towards the French border. Although they had secured weapons, almost none of them knew how to handle them, and the place and terrain was unknown for them. 
They managed to kill over 200 of the fled prisoners and detained the rest. 14 of those who were seen as the leaders of the prison break were shot. There were only three people that managed to reach the French border and get to safety. 

The Ghosts of the Dead Prisoners

It is said that the souls of the prisoners who perished within the walls of El Fuerte de San Cristóbal still linger, trapped in a state of eternal unrest. Visitors and staff members have reported eerie encounters and unexplained phenomena within the fortress. Ghostly apparitions have been sighted, and chilling whispers can be heard echoing through the corridors. Many believe that the tortured spirits of the past continue to haunt the fortress, unable to find peace even in death.

One particular area of the fortress, known as the “Bottle Cemetery,” holds a dark and mysterious reputation. During its time as a prison hospital, this section was used to store the remains of prisoners who died within the fortress. 

As it was also used as a military hospital for those suffering from tuberculosis, the number of dead was insane. In the bottle cemetery they found 131 republican prisoners. They were each buried with a bottle that had their name, profession, cause of death and where they were from. 

It is said that the spirits of these forgotten souls still roam the area, their presence felt by those who dare to venture into the depths of the fortress.

The Enduring Legacy of El Fuerte de San Cristóbal

El Fuerte de San Cristóbal stands as a testament to the resilience and spirit of the people of Navarra. From its origins as a bastion of power to its dark days as a prison, the fortress has witnessed the ebb and flow of history. Its haunting stories and legends add an air of mystery and intrigue, drawing visitors from far and wide to uncover its secrets. 

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References:

Fuerte de Alfonso XII (Navarra) – Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre

Visiting Spain’s Most Haunted Locations | Right Casa Estates

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Victims from the Spanish Civil War Haunting the Arteaga Castle

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The former Arteaga Castle now turned hotel is said to be haunted by the ghosts from the Spanish Civil War that were imprisoned in the fortress and executed. It is said that they are still haunting the fairytale castle that was their prison. 

These ancient castles are known to be some of the most beautiful and impressive buildings in the world, with a rich history that spans centuries. However, beyond their beauty lies a darker side. Many of these castles are said to be haunted, with ghosts and spirits roaming the halls at night. 

Close to Bilbao in the Basque Country in Spain, this captivating fortress stands as a testament to a bygone era, shrouded in mystery and haunting legends from the not so far past. 

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories from Spain

The Haunted History of Arteaga Castle

Arteaga Castle, despite its romantic French chateau-like appearance, holds a dark and mysterious past. The fortress is closely linked to Eugenia de Montijo, wife of Emperor Napoleon III and unlike Spanish castles built for defense, it was built for its beauty on a plain meadow surrounded by trees like a setting for a fairy tale.

Arteaga Castle: The castle is supposedly haunted by the victims of the Spanish Civil War that died there when it was used as a prison.//Source: Wikimedia

Arteaga Castle’s Neo-Gothic architecture is a sight to behold. With its intricate stone carvings, towering spires, and pointed arches, the castle exudes an air of both elegance and foreboding. The design was heavily influenced by the Gothic Revival movement that swept across Europe in the 19th century. This architectural style aimed to revive the medieval aesthetics of the past, creating a sense of grandeur and romanticism.

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories set in Haunted Castles and Fortresses

Originally constructed in the 8th century as a manor house, Arteaga Castle was built, destroyed and rebuilt many times. By the 19th century it was rebuilt from a farmhouse and the castle’s Neo-Gothic architecture adds to its haunting allure.

As the years went by, the castle underwent several transformations, some more harrowing than others. 

The Ghosts of the Victims from the Spanish Civil War

Arteaga Castle served as a prison and scaffold during the Spanish Civil War, where countless prisoners met their demise through torture, execution of diseases. The souls of these unfortunate victims are said to linger in the castle, trapped between the realms of the living and the dead. 

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories from  Haunted Prisons

Visitors have reported eerie whispers, cold drafts, and inexplicable feelings of dread as they explore the castle’s dimly lit corridors. The spirits of the prisoners seem to be eternally bound to the castle, unable to find peace.

Now a Hotel to Stay in with a Haunted Rumor

Today, Arteaga Castle has been transformed into a hotel, offering brave souls the opportunity to spend a night in its haunted halls. Those who dare to stay have reported encounters with shadowy figures, unexplained footsteps, and even physical interactions with unseen forces. 

Read More: Check out all of our stories about Haunted Hotels

Guests have reported a range of paranormal experiences during their stay. Some have witnessed shadowy figures lurking in the corners of their rooms, while others have heard disembodied voices whispering in their ears. Objects have been known to move on their own, and temperature fluctuations have left guests with an eerie sense of being watched. These encounters, though unsettling, have only fueled the curiosity of those seeking a thrill.

Arteaga Castle as a Haunted Landmark

Arteaga Castle’s haunting history and architectural splendor make it a captivating destination for those seeking an unforgettable adventure into the supernatural. From its tragic beginnings to the restless spirits that still reside within its walls, the castle offers a glimpse into a world beyond our own.

The stories of the prisoners’ suffering and the inexplicable phenomena experienced by visitors serve as a chilling reminder of the atrocities committed during the Spanish Civil War. Arteaga Castle stands as a silent witness to the dark chapters of history, reminding us of the enduring power of the supernatural and the importance of acknowledging the past.

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References:

Castillo de la Emperatriz Eugenia de Montijo – Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre

The 10 haunted castles in Spain you must visit – Tourtravel & More

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The Haunted Town and Tragedy of Belchite

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One of the most famous haunted towns in Spain is definitely Belchite. During the Spanish Civil War the prospering town got caught up in the battles and were left in ruins and as a warning from Franco what happened to those opposed to his regime. Today, it is said that the villagers still haunt the ruins they once called home. 

Spain is home to many haunted places, including the abandoned town of Belchite. Located in the province of Zaragoza in Aragon, Belchite is a ghost town that has been left in ruins since the Spanish Civil War in 1937.

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories from Spain

South of Zaragoza in Aragón is the former town of Belchite, a town that was destroyed during the Spanish Civil War in 1937 in a big battle and all the 3000 people living in the village over a couple of weeks. After this, it was never rebuilt and no one returned to it. 

There is a huge metal cross on the main square in the old village that is a memorial to those who died in the civil war between the Spanish Republicans and General Franco’s fascist rebel forces, as no one wanted to move back to it after the war. 
Because of Belchite’s tragic past, the ghost town has left a dark reputation as one of Spain’s most haunted places. 

Franco’s Warning to Those who Opposed him

Belchite was once a prosperous town with a history dating back to the 12th century.It was built as a fortress commune for knights that were going to the holy crusades and saw its fair share of battles in the Peninsula War between Spain and France in 1809. But it was a civil war that would be the bloodiest. 

At the time there were around 4000 people living in the village, and those who were lucky managed to flee the place before all hell broke loose. 

The Giant Cross: There is not much left of the Belchite town today, and for memorial they have put up a giant iron cross to remember the souls that lost their lives.

But was destroyed and the ruins of the town were left as is by Franco because he wanted to use them as a warning of what would happen to the people if they didn’t do as he said. The Republicans were actually making their way to Zaragoza to hinder the nationalists progress in the north.

One stop on the Republicans’ way to Zaragoza was Belchite, which was caught in between the two forces. At the time the little town was under Nationalist control. 

The water supply was cut off and those trapped inside were starved to death in the scorching heat or killed in the battles that were going on in the hills. 

Eventually the battle came into the village as the bombs had layd most of it to ruins and the republican forces came in with tanks and the warfare turned into street fights. They went from house to house and in the final week of August and first week of September. 

Dozens of women and children tried to take refuge in the clock tower during the battles, but they lit the building on fire and smoked them all out. 

The bodies were so many and thrown into a pile in the town square. At one point during those two weeks, the pile of dead bodies was a storey high before they burnt them in a gasoline fueled fire day and night. 

The Town Left in Ruins: Only rubbles, ruins and ghosts are left in the town of Belchite after the battles during the Spanish Civil War.

The smell of the dead was so strong people had to wear gas masks, even if the heat was brutal.  Some of the villagers also ended up entombed as they were thrown down a trujal, which is an underground olive oil press. Their bodies are still there today, it is said. 

We don’t have an exact death toll over those who were killed during these two weeks as no one recorded it officially. However, eyewitnesses tell that as many as 5000, including the civilians, died. 

The battle led nowhere really, and the republicans goal to stop the nationalists progress in the north failed and only a trail of ruins and dead was to show for the plans. In 1938 the Nationalist retook the ruins of Belchite. The Village of Belchite is Left in Ruins

After the Civil War ended in victory for Franco and his fascist and nationalist followers in 1939, Franco then ordered the construction of a new town nearby instead to let Belchite sit in its ruins. He wanted it to remain as a monument of the war for propaganda reasons and to show the world what his opponents did to the country. 

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories from Haunted Towns and Cities all around the world.

The new village wasn’t completed until 1954 and was built mainly by Republican prisoners from the war. Those left in Belchite had to roam in the ruins under the bricks and beams were corpses of their loved ones and their homes completely destroyed. The Clock Tower is barely standing upright and the cathedral is littered in bullet holes. 

After the war Franco established a dictatorship that lasted until his death in 1975. Perhaps the village is today remembered more brutally under the fascist regime than what Franco intended. 

Ghost of the Civil War

The town is said to be haunted by the ghosts of those who died during the war and those who were forced to flee their homes. Now they wander among the ruins that are never going to be rebuilt.

Both the farmers that live close to the abandoned city as well as those brave enough to visit this eerie place have reported hearing strange noises and seeing mysterious figures lurking in its shadows.

There is not just one ghost haunting this place, but rather a cluster of them. People claim to have heard many calls in the empty streets, among other things they claim to have heard a call from a small child to its mother at dusk echoing faintly in the abandoned streets. 

The Haunted Church and Bell Tower

The church of San Agustin is badly damaged after those fateful days, but the ruins of it are still towering in the old village with its belltower. Before the civil war it was a gathering place for all in town, today it looms over the ruins with no one attending the church. Still, there are strange sounds coming from the belltower.

The Ringing Bell Tower: Belchite around 1900 before the battles when the town was whole, alive and untouched by the destructive civil war.

In the following years the town got a haunted reputation, especially the former church and school was said to be haunted by something paranormal. People claim to have heard the church bells ringing from the empty bell tower. Today the town is a memorial of the tragic past and is only accessible with a local guide. 

Ghost Hunters Seeking the Paranormal of Belchite

Until 2014, the ruins of Belchite were free for everyone to wander as they liked, but now the town is restricted to guided tours and is fenced off to try to keep the ruins as they were. 

People come to Belchite as tourists to try to learn about the history and what happened here, as well as people who used to live there and their relatives. The village also gets a couple of more odd visitors seeking something else. The abandoned town gets a lot of ghost hunters coming in with their equipment to try to get some of the supposed hauntings on tape. 

Belchite Today: Franco wanted the ruins of the town to be a warning, today it is used to show the destructive forces of war. Closed off by a fence, the town will continue to be abandoned and the only thing living there are its ghosts.

The place has even become a popular movie set for movies and commercials and parts of Pan’s Labyrinth were filmed there.
Today the Civil War is still a sensitive issue in Spain, where there are still people alive from the time. Politics is often still divided into left and right as it was then, although perhaps not so polar opposites, but the shadows and ghosts of Belchite remains as a reminder of just how destructive it can be. 

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References:

Visiting Spain’s Most Haunted Locations | Right Casa Estates

https://www.news.com.au/world/europe/inside-the-most-haunted-town-in-the-world-which-saw-tragedy-on-an-unimaginable-scale/news-story/5d5a768652d2d5526e7b1be33b178da3

Belchite – Wikipedia