The Museo de la Paz de Guernica (Peace Museum of Guernica) is a significant cultural and educational institution located in Gernika-Lumo, in the Basque Country of Spain. This museum is dedicated to promoting peace, human rights, and reconciliation, using the tragic bombing of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War as a central theme to reflect on the broader consequences of violence and war.
Museo de la Paz de Guernica (Gernika Peace Museum)
March – September
- Tuesday – Saturday 10:00 – 19:00
- Sunday 10:00 – 14:00 (free admission)
- Monday closed
October – February
- Tuesday – Saturday 10:00 – 14:00 / 16:00 – 18:00
- Sunday 10:00 – 14:00 (free admission)
- Monday closed
Closed in January
Admission fee
The Museo de la Paz de Guernica (Gernika Peace Museum) may be considered as a history museum in the sense that it was used as a guide to the history of Gernika-Lumo and, more particularly, to the Civil War and the bombing.
The destruction of Gernika was perpetrated by the German Condor Legion and the Italian air force, acting on the commands of Franco’s rebel army. The military tactics applied were so devastating that Gernika has gone down in history as the first experiment in total war.
On April 26 1937 the planes took off from the aerodrome at Vitoria, flew out over the sea and then performed a half-turn to follow the Oca valley and attack Guernica from North to South. Apparently there were three types of plane: Heinkel 111s and Junker 52s for bombing purposes, and Heinkel 51s for air combat and machine-gunning.
During the bombing no less than 31 tons of ordnance was dropped on the town of Gernika. The town centre, which covers an area of less than 1 km2, was razed to the ground. 85.22% of all buildings (271 in total) were completely destroyed and the others were partially affected.
According to the Basque Government, the attack claimed 1,654 lives.
Photos Rob Vogelaar