The Spanish ghost town that's been abandoned for 85 years now a haven for dark tourism

Just 25 miles south of , a stunning Spanish city in northwest Spain, lies a a tiny village that is just as impressive - but for a completely different reason. For 85 years, the tiny village of Belchite has stood frozen in time as a fragile reminder of one of most troubled periods of history.

Settlements have been found here since 75 AD, but with the outbreak of the Guerra Civil (civil war) in 1936, it was left in ruins and now stands as a living museum. In fact, Belichite has been included in the , heralded as a "critical opportunity" to understand the impact the tragic war had on the Spain that exists today. Located on what was the border between the republican state and fascist forces, Belchite became the centre of one of the bloodiest and most important battles of the whole war.

During a 15-day siege in 1937, the village was all but destroyed. Eventually, the village fell to General Franco's forces in 1939, who left its razed remains to stand as a reminder of his power and a warning to any future rebels.

Today, is frequented only by visitors wishing to walk its bullet-riddled streets and learn more about this troubled period of Spanish history, which in total saw around half a million deaths, both from combat, executions and mob violence, but also malnutrition and disease, according to estimates.

At Belchite specifically, houses were bombed, churches were razed and the townspeople were slaughtered, ending life in the village as residents knew it.

While the 20th century is Belchite's most famous period of history, the village actually boasts a history that dates back thousands of years. In 1122, Alfonso the Battler (the King of Aragon and Navarre, 1104-1134) founded the Confraternity of Belchite to defend the frontier between the kingdoms and al-Andalus - the Muslim-ruled area of the Iberian Peninsula. It stood as an experimental community of knights who vowed to devote their lives to fighting pagans.

Over the centuries, it was built up with some breathtaking medieval churches and monuments, including the arc of San Roque.

Then, in June 1809, during the Peninsular War, and Spanish forces also fought in the Battle of Maria near Belchite.

One of the most vivid descriptions of the 1937 Battle of Belchite was written by historian Cecil Eby: "[The journalist] found a town so totally ruined that often people could not tell where the streets had been. People were digging under piles of mortar, bricks, and beams pulling out corpses."

"Belchite was less a town than a nasty smell."

Since then, Belchite has also been used as the setting for several period films, including The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988) and Pan's Labyrinth (2006).

Some parts of the village have since been rebuilt and a population of around 1,600 remains, though many parts remain in the state they were left in during the war.

Belchite is easily accessible by car via the A-222 and is just a 45-minute drive from the provincial capital, Zaragoza, making it the perfect day trip. There are two tours of Belchite available - one during the day, and another at night. You can get tickets for a guided tour of Belchite from the tourist information office or buy tickets , costing €8 per person with children under 14 free. Groups of more than 20 people can visit for €4 each.