Stolperstein dedicated to Teodoro Arranz Saugar

The Stolperstein dedicated to Teodoro Arranz Saugar is a brass memorial plaque set into the pavement at Calle Tarragona 13, in the Arganzuela district of Madrid. It is one of more than ninety such memorials placed across the Spanish capital, each commemorating a Madrid resident deported to a Nazi concentration camp.

What is a Stolperstein?

A Stolperstein, literally a "stumbling stone," is a small, 10-by-10-centimetre paving block topped with a brass plate engraved with a victim's name and the key dates of their life. The project was started by German artist Gunter Demnig, and its core idea is simple: each stone is placed exactly where the person last lived freely, before arrest or forced exile. Across Europe, more than 110,000 of these stones have already been laid, and the number keeps growing. In Madrid, they are concentrated mainly in the Lavapiés and Arganzuela neighbourhoods, home before the Spanish Civil War and the Second World War to many people who were later sent to concentration camps in Germany and Austria.

Who was Teodoro Arranz Saugar?

Teodoro Arranz Saugar was born in 1914. After the Spanish Civil War ended, he went into exile in France, where — like many other Republican refugees — he was interned, in his case at the camp in Moosburg. From there he was placed on a deportation transport and, in 1941, arrived at the Mauthausen concentration camp in Austria. He was later transferred to the Gusen subcamp, notorious for the extremely harsh forced labour in its stone quarries. He died in Gusen on 29 December 1941. The stone at Calle Tarragona 13 marks the address in Madrid that was his home before the war changed the course of his life.

How do you get there?

The stone sits on the pavement in front of the building at Calle Tarragona 13, in a quiet residential stretch of Arganzuela, just south of Atocha station. The easiest way in is by metro to Palos de la Frontera or Delicias station (Line 3), followed by a short walk into the neighbourhood. City buses running along the nearby avenues also serve the area well. It's worth combining the visit with a walk toward Madrid Río and the park that runs along the Manzanares river close by.

What will you see there?

The stone itself is small and easy to miss, so it helps to have the exact address in hand before setting out. The brass plate carries the victim's name, year of birth, a note on the deportation, and the place and date of death. It is a modest but striking form of remembrance — no monument, no plaque on a building facade, just a single element in the pavement that neighbourhood residents walk past every day. Nearby, in Arganzuela and the adjoining Lavapiés, several other similar stones commemorate other Madrid residents with comparable fates.

When is the best time to visit?

The site is accessible year-round and at any hour, since it sits in public space on an ordinary residential pavement. Quieter morning or early-afternoon hours make it easier to spot the detail in the paving without dodging foot traffic. Pairing the visit with a walk through Arganzuela and along Madrid Río makes for a pleasant route in any season.

Frequently asked questions

How is a Stolperstein different from a commemorative plaque? A Stolperstein is embedded in the pavement, exactly at the site of the victim's last freely chosen home, rather than mounted on a building facade — a deliberate choice meant to make passers-by "stumble" over the memory of a specific person.

Are there more stones like this in Madrid? Yes, the city has more than ninety of them, concentrated mainly in the Lavapiés and Arganzuela districts, commemorating residents deported to Nazi camps.

Is there an entrance fee or do you need to book a visit? No, the stone is in public space and can be viewed free of charge at any time.

Is it worth combining the visit with other nearby sights? Yes, Arganzuela borders the Madrid Río park and is close to Atocha station, so a brief, reflective stop at the stone pairs easily with a riverside walk.