Mas de Bernis (L’Aldea), located on the left bank of the river Ebro, has played a very important role in the configuration of the current agricultural delta.
In 1840 the ‘Sociedad Prados de la Aldea’ was created, which laid out the first irrigation channel to convert meadows and marshes into farmland. José Bernis Mayor was a decisive figure in this first step in the configuration of the new agricultural landscape. Hence the original name of the Mas: ‘Colonia Agrícola San José ((San José Agricultural Colony).
At the beginning of the 20th century, the layout of canals brought about a profound transformation of the Ebro Delta with the introduction of rice cultivation. The utensils that were used for this crop are still preserved in the Mas, such as the rice grain dryer with all its complete machinery, the first to be used in the Ebro Delta.
During the Spanish Civil War, the Mas de Bernis was the headquarters of the 53rd Battalion, known as the ‘Paris Commune’, made up of French and Belgians, which formed part of the 14th International Brigade, part of the 45th Division of the 5th Corps of the Army of the Spanish Republic, under the command of Líster.
The history and conservation of its spaces make Mas de Bernis an outstanding place in the modern configuration of the Ebro Delta.