While the Republicans did make good advance in the region, Belchite itself was fiercely defended by the Nationalists.
The town eventually fell after two weeks of intense fighting, and by then Belchite was almost totally destroyed.
At least 5,000 people, including civilians, died.
Today, visitors can walk amongst the bullet-ridden, mortar shattered buildings and visit the hollowed out village church.
The 1988 movieThe Adventures of Baron Munchausenand the 2006 Spanish moviePan’s Labyrinthwas shot here.
Photo credit:Christian Lendl/Flickr
Sources:Wikipedia/Unique Spain/www.news.com.au/Dark Tourism
