At the doors of the Carnival those responsible for the San Marcos Paradora monumental building of León, had an idea: suggest their visitors who disguise themselves in a wink to the history of the enclosure. “Located in an old monastery, it offers you a ‘cell’ cell”, explained with a humor point The website. The problem is that over the centuries The building has been more than a hostel or convent. For a long time the Association for the Recovery of Historical Memory (ARMH) demands that another of its uses, less pleasant: that of concentration camp For the reprisals of Franco.
And that has made the animals of the hostel to disguise themselves in prisoners have generated a Huge stir.
In search of original costumes. A few days ago Paradores published on its official website An article in which he encouraged his users to disguise themselves with costumes related to the history of their accommodations, usually located in buildings or historical places, such as Antequera’s.
For him Zafra hostellocated in the old palace of the Dukes of Fair, proposed costumes of medieval knights. In that of Mérida They suggested dresses inspired by the Roman Empire. To those who visit that of Alarcóna castle, encourages them to be part of “a story of princesses or princes.” Each proposal was accompanied by a short text and a photo of possible costumes: pirates, kings, cavernícolas … in the case of the Parador de León the image was another, that of a prisoner with the iconic striped uniform.
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“A ‘comfort cell'”. The review From the chain on his lion accommodation, he was also accompanied by a brief message: “If your prisoner has been held, the Lion’s hostel will be your luxury prison. Located in an old monastery, this hostel offers you a ‘cell’ cell ‘cell, with an impressive architecture and a story that will make you feel like a real prison.” Just below you could see the image of a man dressed in a suit and hat of black and black stripes, his arms in jug and anger face.
If you access today to Post You can see the references to its buildings in Zafra, Mérida, Antequera, Alarcón, Costa da Morte and Ciudad Rodrigo, but not that of the former San Marcos hostel. There is no trace of Your text nor of the photo of the inmate. Paradores has eliminated them after recognizing that it was a “Unfortunate mistake” and “regret” what happened. The reason is simple: That publication unleashed a huge controversy and criticism of SHER, which soon put the cry in the sky for the initiative.
Why’s that? Because throughout your ancient history San Marcos has been much more than a cloister or a hostel in which to enjoy a comfortable and pleasant vacation. The building was conceived in the twelfth century As a convent and pilgrim hospital, but it has served as a mission house, teaching center and was even used as a prison in which He was imprisoned Francisco de Quevedo. During the last years ARMH and researchers have claimed that another use does not fall into oblivion: that of concentration camp Francoist
Hence Arch has made clear his anger at the decision of Paradores to invite his guests from León to disguise themselves as prisoners of these carnivals. “It is a clear banalization of the pain of the victims who were arrested and tortured in their facilities and a call of bad taste that threatens the memory of those victims,” SHER claimsand warn: if something similar happened in Germany or Austria “the person in charge would end up sitting before a judge.”
A controversy with history. It is not the first time that Arch talks about San Marcos. Nor has this been the first touch between the association and those responsible for the hostel, which reopened its doors to late 2020 with 51 rooms and a five -star category after an investment of 15 million euros. Not long ago arm He claimed the government to declare the Parador of San Marcos de León “place of memory” and be reported in his access of his recent past.
ARMH asks in particular to explain to visitors that “it was a concentration camp in which the fascists who gave the coup of July 1936 illegally arrested thousands of men and women”, a requirement that is not really new and is better understood if the context is known.
Right now Arch It already exists A plaque with that reference in the hostel, one installed years ago; But the association denounces that it remains at a point where it is difficult for visitors to see it, which for those responsible supposes “A way to hide” The story. The collective also regrets that the website of the hostel “says nothing.”
History … and news. The inmate’s costume is not even the first controversy that shakes San Marcos so far from 2025. National Geographic decided recently Remove the Best hotel awards with history in Spain. The magazine changed the reference to the León building for Paradores, in general, after receiving complaints from relatives from reprisals. “We were surprised that having been one of the largest and most hard concentration camps included it,” Recognize a Eldiario The granddaughter of a victim.
An enclosure with history. The key is in the recent past of San Marcos, which before becoming a hostel in The 60s or from his reopening to late 2020served as Franco’s prison. The relatives of the reprisals point out that since 1936 they passed through San Marcos thousands of people and that hundreds of them died from the conditions that suffered there, the abuse or the Walks. In 2021 it was organized A tribute To the last survivor of the San Marcos prison, an act attended by the former socialist president José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero.
Image | Tourism Castilla y León