Stolperstein dedicated to Eugenio Martín Sanz

The Stolperstein for Eugenio Martín Sanz is a memorial stone set into a pavement in Madrid, one of more than a hundred thousand such markers placed across Europe as part of the world's largest decentralized monument.

What is a Stolperstein?

A Stolperstein — German for "stumbling stone" — is a small brass-topped cobblestone embedded in the pavement. The project was started in 1992 by the German artist Gunter Demnig. Each stone is placed outside the last freely chosen home of a person persecuted under the Nazi regime: Jews, Roma, political dissidents, people targeted for their religion or sexual orientation, victims of forced sterilization, or prisoners of concentration camps. The inscription follows a fixed formula, "Hier wohnte" ("here lived"), followed by the victim's name, year of birth, and, where known, the date of deportation and death. More than 100,000 stones have been laid in over 30 European countries, making the project one of the most widely recognized ways of commemorating Nazi victims directly in the streets where they once lived.

Who does this stone in Madrid commemorate?

The stone in Madrid bears the name of Eugenio Martín Sanz. Like other Stolpersteine placed in Spain, it belongs to a wider effort to remember Spaniards — largely former Republican fighters and opponents of the Franco regime — who fled to France after the Civil War and, following the German occupation of the country, were among those later deported to Nazi concentration camps, including Mauthausen. This chapter of history remains comparatively little known in Spain itself, and memorial stones placed in cities such as Madrid are meant to attach a name and a face to what would otherwise remain an anonymous statistic.

How do you find the stone?

The Stolperstein sits in the pavement at coordinates 40.434708, -3.680211. The simplest way to find it is to enter those coordinates into a phone map and walk to the spot as you would to any street address. Because the stone itself is small and flush with the surrounding pavement, look carefully near building entrances, which is the typical placement for this kind of memorial. Central Madrid is well connected by metro and bus, so most such locations are only a short ride from any part of the city centre.

When should you visit?

The stone can be visited year-round, at any time of day, since it sits outdoors in a public street with no admission charge or fixed schedule. A quieter moment, away from heavy foot traffic, makes it easier to stop and read the inscription properly. Many visitors combine a stop here with other memorials in Madrid dedicated to victims of twentieth-century totalitarian regimes.

Frequently asked questions

What does "Stolperstein" mean? It is German for "stumbling stone." The name refers to the small brass-topped cobblestones embedded in pavements, designed to make passers-by pause, look down, and notice the spot where a Nazi victim once lived.

Who started the project? The German artist Gunter Demnig laid the first stones in 1992. The initiative has since grown into a Europe-wide memorial with more than 100,000 stones in over 30 countries.

Is there an entrance fee? No. The stone stands in a public street and can be viewed free of charge at any time.

Are there other Stolpersteine in Madrid? Yes. Madrid and other Spanish cities host additional Stolpersteine honoring people deported by the Nazi regime, so this stone forms part of a wider network of memorials.