Pilot site #2: Baltanás

Popular beliefs say that the renowned artist Gaudí took inspiration from its chimneys to design the famous La pedrera building in Barcelona. Believe it or not, Baltanás is home to one of the country’s most remarkable yet lesser-known cultural treasures—a vast underground cellar town. This extraordinary site, comprising 374 cellars carved into the earth, is not just a testament to Spain’s winemaking heritage but also a living reminder of the region’s deep-rooted traditions.

ARGUS partners met in Madrid for their periodical meeting on 21 and 22 of January 2025 and took the opportunity to visit one of the pilot sites of the project, the cellar town of Baltanás. 

Hosted by CSIC, the meeting brought together partners from various work packages (WPs) to align efforts and ensure project milestones remain on track. 

On February 27, researchers from the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) met with the mayor of Baltanás, María José de la Fuente, to present the European ARGUS project.

The Bodegas del Barrio de Baltanás is one of the pilots of the ARGUS project, financed by the European Union. The Barrio de Bodegas de Baltanás is made up of 375 excavated cellars on five levels, a unique example of cultural heritage associated with wine production systems.