Stolperstein dedicated to Eugenio Charlán Rey

The Stolperstein dedicated to Eugenio Charlán Rey is a small brass memorial stone set into the pavement at Calle del Ferrocarril 35 in Madrid. It commemorates a former resident of the building who was swept into the Nazi camp system during the Second World War — one of many such stories tied to Spanish Republicans exiled after the Spanish Civil War.

Who was Eugenio Charlán Rey?

Eugenio Charlán Rey was born in 1911. He had to leave Spain during the Spanish Civil War, while the rest of his family stayed behind in Madrid, at Calle del Ferrocarril 35 — the very address where the stone honouring him now lies. After fleeing to France he was interned at the Stalag Fallingbostel prisoner-of-war camp. In 1941 he was deported to Mauthausen-Schwechat, a subcamp of the Mauthausen concentration camp complex in Austria. Available records indicate he survived and lived to see the camp's liberation. The stone in his memory was laid in December 2023 by his relatives — Carmen, Enrique and Fernando, descendants of Eugenio's siblings.

What is a Stolperstein and how do you spot one?

A Stolperstein — literally a "stumbling stone" — is a small brass plaque set into the pavement or cobblestones at the last known address of a person before their deportation or persecution. The project was started by German artist Gunter Demnig, whose work now includes more than 75,000 stones laid across over 20 European countries, making it the largest decentralised memorial in the world. Each plaque carries the person's name, year of birth, and a brief account of what happened to them — where they were interned, deported, and, where known, what became of them afterwards. In Madrid, the Stolpersteine mainly commemorate Spaniards deported to camps after the Republic's defeat and their flight to France, where many were first captured as soldiers of the French army and later, stripped of any diplomatic protection as stateless refugees, sent on to Nazi concentration camps.

How do you get there?

The stone sits on the pavement at Calle del Ferrocarril 35, in the Arganzuela district south of central Madrid, close to Atocha station and the Madrid Río park. The easiest way there is by metro to Palos de la Frontera (line 3) or Legazpi (lines 3 and 6), followed by a short walk. The surrounding area is a quiet residential neighbourhood, so visitors should be considerate of the people who live there. The stone itself is tiny — roughly 10 by 10 centimetres — so it's easy to miss; look down right at the building's threshold.

When should you visit?

The stone can be seen at any time of year and any hour of the day, since it sits on an open public pavement. For photographs, early morning or late afternoon light works best, avoiding the harsh midday sun on the metal surface. It's worth combining a visit with a walk to other Stolpersteine scattered across Madrid — the city maintains an open register of installed stones, making it possible to plan a longer route through this layer of the city's history.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an information panel next to the stone? No — all the information is engraved on the brass plaque itself. Fuller biographies of the people commemorated are usually published by the local associations behind Madrid's Stolpersteine project.

Did Eugenio Charlán Rey die in the camp? According to available records, he survived the deportation and lived to see liberation, unlike many others commemorated by similar stones in Spain.

Is there an entrance fee? No, the stone is in a public space and can be visited free of charge at any time.

Is it worth visiting with a guide? Yes, if you're interested in the history of Spanish Republicans deported to Nazi camps — local associations and city guides run themed walks linking several of Madrid's Stolpersteine into a single, coherent narrative.