In 1939 over 200000 Spanish republicans fled their country to escape the Franco regime. Many arrived in France and were interned in Perpignan and some 10000 at Septfonds. It is thought that over the next couple of years around 25000 asylum seekers passed through the camp at Septfonds. The last president of the Spanish Republic, Manuel Azana is buried in the cemetery at Montauban and the current Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sanchez paid hommage there last weekend.
Many of the refugees remained in the area despite the difficulties they faced with the French authorities under the Vichy regime.
