Palmeral of Elche

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The Palmeral of Elche: An Oasis of Arab Agricultural Practices in Europe

The Palmeral of Elche, located in the Spanish city of Elche, is a remarkable testament to the rich history of agricultural practices that have been cultivated across the Iberian Peninsula. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000, this palm grove stands as a unique example of Arab agricultural techniques on the European continent.

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UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site

The Palmeral of Elche, a landscape of groves of date palms, was formally laid out, with elaborate irrigation systems, at the time the Muslim city of Elche was erected, towards the end of the tenth century A.C., when much of the Iberian peninsula was Arab. The Palmeral is an oasis, a system for agrarian production in arid areas. It is also a unique example of Arab agricultural practices on the European continent. Cultivation of date palms in Elche is known at least since the Iberian times, dating around the fifth century B.C.

UNESCO Justification of the World Heritage Site

Criterion (ii): The Palmeral (palm groves) of Elche represent a remarkable example of the transference of a characteristic landscape from one culture and continent to another, in this case from North Africa to Europe.

Criterion (v): The palm grove or garden is a typical feature of the North African landscape which was brought to Europe during the Islamic occupation of much of the Iberian peninsula and has survived to the present day. The ancient irrigation system, which is still functioning, is of special interest.

Encyclopedia Record: Palmeral of Elche

The Palmeral or Palm Grove of Elche is the generic name for a system of date palm orchards in the city of Elche, Spain.

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