Museum of the Civil Guard

Established in 1844, the Civil Guard is a security force created for citizen protection. Its main roles were to keep public order and provide security against road banditry. Today, it is a comprehensive, public-security body specializing in a variety of tasks, including citizen and road security, arms control, investigations, counter-terrorist operations, economic-assets protection, defense against gender-based violence, and environmental protection. They operate both nationally and internationally on missions for the UN and NATO, working in a variety of situations—underground, on the streets, in the mountains, at sea, and in the air.

The Civil Guard celebrated its 175th anniversary in 2019. During all this time, it has maintained an unshakable identity. Its name, for example, has never been changed. Throughout its history, the Guard has stuck vehemently to the first article of the Cartilla (Code of Practice) written up by the 2nd Duke of Ahumada, in which he says that honor is the leading motto of the Civil Guard.

This history has been compiled, conserved, and shared by the Museum of the Civil Guard (Museo de la Guardia Civil). Since it was established October 12, 1982, all efforts have been focused on guarding and protecting objects that pay tribute to the Civil Guard’s 175 years hand-in-hand with the people they protect.