Stolperstein dedicated to Melchor Antuñano Montalvo

The Stolperstein for Melchor Antuñano Montalvo is a small brass memorial stone set into the pavement of Plaza de la Constitución in Moralzarzal, a town in the Sierra de Guadarrama north of Madrid. It belongs to the wider Stolperstein ("stumbling stone") project started by German artist Gunter Demnig in the 1990s, which has placed more than 70,000 such plaques across European towns and cities, usually outside the last known home of a Nazi victim.

Who was Melchor Antuñano Montalvo?

Melchor Antuñano Montalvo was born in Moralzarzal in 1907 and grew up in the town. He married Damiana Martín in 1934. When the Spanish Civil War broke out he served in the Carabineros Corps, fighting on the Republican side. After the Republican defeat he went into exile in France, where he was later arrested by German occupying forces, as happened to many Spanish Republican refugees. He was deported to the Mauthausen concentration camp system and died on 19 December 1941 in the Gusen subcamp.

Why is the stone placed here?

The stone was unveiled on 26 April 2019 on the town's main square, as part of a local initiative to recover the memory of Moralzarzal residents who fell victim to the Nazi regime. Placing it in a busy, central spot rather than a secluded corner reflects the project's core idea: passers-by are meant to notice — almost "stumble over" — the name and dates underfoot, prompting a moment of pause rather than a monument set apart from daily life.

What will you see on site?

The stone itself is modest: a 10×10 cm cobblestone set flush with the pavement, topped with a brass plate. The plate is engraved with the essential biographical facts — name, year of birth, and the place and date of deportation and death. Moralzarzal has several more Stolpersteine dedicated to other townspeople murdered in the camps, so it is worth looking around the square for the other plaques as well.

How to get there and when to visit?

Plaza de la Constitución sits in the heart of Moralzarzal, within easy walking distance of the town's main streets and the local bus stops connecting it with Madrid. The stone can be visited at any time, since it is simply part of the pavement with no opening hours. Given the nature of the memorial, it is best seen at a quiet moment, away from market days or larger events on the square, allowing a few minutes for reflection.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Stolperstein? A small brass plaque set into the pavement, engraved with the name and details of a Nazi victim. The project was started by German artist Gunter Demnig and the stones are usually laid at sites connected to the person's life.

Who was Melchor Antuñano Montalvo? A Moralzarzal native born in 1907, a Carabineros Corps soldier who fought for the Republic in the Spanish Civil War, later deported to the Mauthausen-Gusen camp, where he died in December 1941.

Is there an entrance fee? No — the stone sits in a public square, freely accessible at any hour.

Are there other similar stones in Moralzarzal? Yes, the town has several Stolpersteine honoring other local victims of Nazism, making Plaza de la Constitución a small site of local historical memory.