World Heritage Identification Number: 781
World Heritage since: 1996
Category: Cultural Heritage
Transboundary Heritage: No
Endangered Heritage: No
Country: 🇪🇸 Spain
Continent: Europe
UNESCO World Region: Europe and North America
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The Historic Walled Town of Cuenca: A Medieval Gem in Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
The Historic Walled Town of Cuenca, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996, stands as a testament to the rich history and architectural prowess of medieval Spain. Nestled within the autonomous community of Castilla-La Mancha, this remarkable city serves as the capital of the province of Cuenca, offering visitors a unique blend of ancient charm and breathtaking natural beauty.
More to come…UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site
Built by the Moors in a defensive position at the heart of the Caliphate of Cordoba, Cuenca is an unusually well-preserved medieval fortified city. Conquered by the Castilians in the 12th century, it became a royal town and bishopric endowed with important buildings, such as Spain's first Gothic cathedral, and the famous casas colgadas (hanging houses), suspended from sheer cliffs overlooking the Huécar river. Taking full advantage of its location, the city towers above the magnificent countryside.
UNESCO Justification of the World Heritage Site
The Committee decided to inscribe the nominated property on the basis of cultural criteria (ii) and (v) considering that the site is of outstanding universal value as it is an exceptional example of the medieval fortress town that has preserved its original townscape remarkably intact along with many excellent examples of religious and secular architecture from the 12th to the 18th centuries. It is also exceptional because the walled town blends into and enhances the fine rural and natural landscape within which it is situated.
Encyclopedia Record: Cuenca, Spain
Cuenca is a city and municipality of Spain located in the autonomous community of Castilla–La Mancha and the capital of the province of Cuenca.Additional Site Details
Area: 22.79 hectares
(v) — Outstanding example of traditional human settlement
Coordinates: 40.07662 , -2.13174
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© Tomás Fano, CC BY-SA 2.0 Resized from original. (This derivative is under the same CC BY-SA license.)
