The Valley of the Fallen (Valle de Cuelgamuros) in Spain is a highly controversial monument, commissioned by dictator Francisco Franco after the Spanish Civil War, intended as a place of reconciliation but built with political prisoner labor, housing thousands of war dead from both sides, including Franco himself until his 2019 exhumation, making it a potent symbol of Francoist legacy and Spain's ongoing struggle with its past. Its imposing basilica and world's largest cross, carved into a mountain near Madrid, serve as a stark reminder of the conflict and regime, sparking debate over historical memory, forced labor, and national identity.
