On the French Mediterranean coast, very close to the Spanish border, the small fishing port of Collioure has the privilege of hosting the cemetery where Antonio Machado is buried. The poet took refuge in the village on his escape from Franco’s dictatorship. He died on 22 February 1939, a month after leaving Barcelona. His mother, who had accompanied him, died a few days later, on 25 February 1939.
Antonio Machado, the emblematic Spanish poet and committed Republican under Franco’s regime, found refuge in Collioure, where he spent the last days of his life.
Today, Collioure has become a place of pilgrimage for the Spanish, who come to see his grave and also the Casa Quintana, where he lived and died.
Who was Antonio Machado?
A great Spanish poet and humanist, Antonio Machado was born in Seville on 26 July 1875. He was a committed Republican and fled Franco’s dictatorship. On 22 January 1939, surrounded by his family and a few friends, he left Barcelona and chose France as his place of exile. He was taken in at the Casa Quintana, exhausted and ill, and the poet died in Collioure on 22 February 1939.
He was buried in Collioure’s old cemetery and his grave has become a place of pilgrimage.
Itinerary of Machadian towns
Seville, Soria, Baeza, Segovia, Rocafort and Collioure all have in common the fact that they were home and part of the life of Antonio Machado, the Republican poet. – Seville: 1875 – 1883 – Soria: 1907 – 1912 – Baeza: 1912 – 1919 – Segovia: 1919 – 1932 – Rocafort: 1936 – 1938 – Collioure: 1939.
An itinerary of Machadian towns has been set up to retrace his towns of residence, and a passport accompanies this itinerary.
The story of Casa Quintana, the birthplace of the Machado memorial!
Casa Quintana, Collioure’s emblematic guesthouse, welcomed and accommodated the Machado family on their arrival in Collioure. Since 1946, a marble plaque in memory of the poet has been visible from the outside.
This guesthouse has now become the Espace Machado, a venue dedicated to the Spanish poet. The Espace Machado embodies the modest ambition to revive the memory of the poet, to retrace his exile, to pay tribute to the symbol and, ultimately, to keep poetry alive. You can take part in guided tours to find out more about the life of this poet!
| Pricing | Min. | Max. |
|---|---|---|
| Adult full rate |
2 € | – |
| Reduced rate |
1 € | – |
Antonio Machado’s grave
In the old village cemetery, the poet’s grave does not go unnoticed. It is often decorated with flowers and many poems and cards from all over the world. One night, two women came to attach a ceramic featuring of the last lines of the poem Retrato.
The grave is in the old Collioure cemetery at the following address: 1, impasse du Jardin Baretge. It is open from 9am to 5pm
“The special Collioure camp” at the Château Royal during the Retirada
During Franco’s regime, the Château Royal became a refugee camp for exiled Spanish Republicans known as the “Collioure Special Camp”, a camp characterised by fairly inhumane treatment.
There is a permanent exhibition on the Retirada at the Château Royal, entitled “From Exodus to Exile (1936-1945)”.
From the Spanish Civil War to the exodus. The unexpected establishment of the Republic in April 1931 paved the way for ambitious reforms – separation of Church and State, secularism, agrarian reform initiatives – which had a profound effect on the lives of the Spanish people.
| Pricing | Min. | Max. |
|---|---|---|
| Adult full rate |
7 € | – |
| Reduced rate |
6 € | – |
| Group rate/adult |
3,50 € | – |
| Students rates |
0 € | – |
Browse books on Antonio Machado at the multimedia library!
You can find a space dedicated to the poet in the library: books and works are available to learn more about the life of this poet.
| Opening hours from 01 January to 31 December 2024 | |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | Open from 02:00 pm to 06:00 pm |
| Wednesday | Open from 09:00 am to 02:00 pm |
| Friday | Open from 09:00 am to 02:00 pm |
| Saturday | Open from 02:00 pm to 06:00 pm |
Key information before coming to Collioure
What website lists the cities of Machadia?
Find out more about the Machadian towns
Where can I find the Machadian towns passport?
You can download it here
Where is Antonio Machado’s grave?
Antonio Machado’s grave is at 1, impasse du Jardin Baretge, open from 9am to 5pm.
Where is the Casa Quintana where Antonio Machado stayed during the last days of his life?
It is located at 2, rue Antonio Machado. The Casa Quintana has now become the Espace Machado, a venue dedicated to the Spanish poet
How to contact the Machado Foundation
The Machado Foundation can be found at the Antonio Machado Media Library – 1 rue Jules Michelet 66190 COLLIOURE or by calling +33 (0)4 68 82 05 66
How to get to Collioure ?
Here you’ll find all the information you need to get to Collioure and around Collioure
What’s the weather like in Collioure ?
Click here to see the weather forecast for Collioure
What are the market days in Collioure?
The Collioure market takes place on Wednesday mornings and Sunday mornings at the Place du Maréchal Leclerc. Find out more about the markets
Is there a page with all the frequently asked questions?
Click here for a list of frequently asked questions.
Can I download the Collioure brochures?
Find all our brochures here
Can I download a map of Collioure?
Find the map of Collioure here
Is there a cultural application for Collioure?
For more information on the Collioure application, click here
