Cementiri de Valls

Cementiri de Valls is a historic municipal cemetery in Valls, a town in the province of Tarragona, Catalonia. It was designed in 1863 by architect Baudili Ribot and ranks among the oldest cemeteries in the Tarragona region. Like many nineteenth-century burial grounds, it was built on the outskirts of the town, following the sanitary regulations of the time that required cemeteries to be located away from densely populated areas.

What does the cemetery in Valls look like?

The layout follows a cloister-like arrangement: a spacious central area is surrounded by pantheons and burial chapels topped with two-pitched roofs. The main entrance is marked by a salmon-colored facade, while the whole enclosure is bordered by whitewashed lime walls and rows of cypress trees typical of Mediterranean cemeteries, lining the avenue that leads from the gate into the grounds. This orderly, symmetrical composition was meant to express the idea of equality in death that guided the cemetery's founders.

Why is this cemetery considered a heritage site?

Together with the cemeteries of Reus and Tarragona, Cementiri de Valls is regarded as one of the best-preserved examples of nineteenth-century funerary heritage in the region. Its grounds include sculptures and decorative elements by Frederic Marès, one of Catalonia's most important twentieth-century sculptors and art collectors, alongside pieces produced by Barcelona workshops. The high quality of the stonework, the well-kept landscaping, and the artistic value of the pantheons have made the site appreciated both by local residents and by visitors interested in the town's history.

What historical significance does the cemetery hold?

Because of its historical and artistic value, Cementiri de Valls is part of the European Route of Cemeteries (ASCE), a network recognizing sites of outstanding funerary heritage across the continent. The cemetery is also one of the few in Catalonia where historical memory initiatives have taken place: it houses a monument dedicated to 424 international republicans who traveled from around the world to defend the Republic during the Spanish Civil War. Known as a monument against forgetting, it stands as an important point of remembrance for anyone interested in twentieth-century Spanish history and the international volunteers who took part in the conflict.

What should visitors know before going?

Although it primarily functions as an active municipal cemetery, Valls' burial ground is well cared for and regularly visited by locals, which is reflected in the tidy state of its paths, greenery, and tombs. For anyone interested in funerary architecture, local history, or traces of the Spanish Civil War, the site is a worthwhile stop when exploring Valls and the wider Tarragona area. It combines an artistic layer — sculpture and pantheon architecture — with a historical one, as one of the region's oldest cemeteries, and a commemorative one, through its memorial to the international republicans. A quiet walk along the main avenue and through the cloistered interior reveals stonework details and the variety of styles found across tombs built over more than a century and a half of the cemetery's existence.

Frequently asked questions

Who designed Cementiri de Valls? The cemetery was designed by architect Baudili Ribot in 1863.

What sets this cemetery apart from others in the region? Its well-preserved nineteenth-century funerary heritage, sculptures by Frederic Marès, and its inclusion in the European Route of Cemeteries.

Are there any historical memory sites within the cemetery? Yes, it contains a monument dedicated to 424 republicans who died defending the Republic during the Spanish Civil War.