World Heritage Sites : Palmeral de Elche (Elche's Palm Forest)

Overview

It is said that the Palmeral de Elche is the biggest and leafiest in Europe! And the people of the Comunidad Valenciana are proud to say it’s in their region – in Elx (Elche). The native date palms of Elche planted in the so called horts (orchards), have been protected since time immemorial. Perhaps since the Arabs brought them here to plant in the city of the most famous Lady of Elche La Dama de Elche – a work of art of Iberian culture dating from the 6th – 3rd century BC and found in Elche on the 4th August1897. This bust of a woman, made of limestone, represents for some a female bishop; others believe her to be a lady of a high social rank because of her jewels, her coiffure and necklaces. The bust is currently on display in the National Archaeological Museum in Madrid, although there’s a reproduction at the site. On account of all this, on the 30th November 2000, the inhabitants of Elche saw one of their most dearly held wishes come true – one of the symbols of their city’s identity was recognised by UNESCO as being a World Heritage Site. Such a distinction puts this urban landscape on the same footing as the Egyptian Pyramids or with the Alhambra in Granada and makes it one of the very few places that actually have two World Heritage Sites ascribed to it – the Mystery of Elche being the other.

UNESCO describes it as follows:
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.

and gives the following reasons for its inscription:
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. 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.
There are 200,000 date palms within the township of Elche and another 250,000 which are growing in the city’s various nurseries. The forest’s most important feature is that – unlike the palm forests of Africa and Asia - it is in complete harmony with the modern town. The urban change that the city has undergone hasn’t put the palm forests in danger; and rather unusually in our modern times the construction of new buildings has always put the palm forests first and worked round them.

Elche’s Palm Forest

History
The palm forest was established as exactly that by the founding fathers of the city, the Arabs. They thought (and quite rightly) that the date palm could have more than a thousand uses: date palm liqueur, brushes, hats etc. They developed an irrigation system that still exists today and which waters some of the city’s orchards. There were more than a million palms at the beginning of the century, but have gradually declined in number as people took them for their own personal use or sold them illegally. Fortunately today the palms are protected by the law.

Today
The 91 orchards in Elche occupy in total some 1,832,822 m2. Some of these orchards have their own name, others are anonymous, but all have a story to tell. The Municipal Park, known as the green lung of the area, is the most representative of all; it unites ancient Muslim orchards and fountains and paths inspired in Arab culture.
• El Huerto de Colomer
• Hort del Real
• Hort de la Mare de Deu
• Hort de Baix
The “Huerto del Cura” (The Priest’s Orchard), open from 9am until 8.30pm, has been a Nacional Artistic Garden since 1943. The 13,000m2 of orchard is in the middle of the Palmeral de Elche and here you can see the famous Imperial Date palm with 8 boughs. Its name comes from the Empress Isabel of Austria, better known as Sissi, who came to see it in 1894. Ever since then a date palm has been named after each famous visitor. www.huertodelcura.com
The “Hort de la Torre” is next to the lookout tower, Vaíllo, from where you can look out over the whole of the Elche oasis accompanied by background music.
In the “Huerto del Xocolater” there’s a beautiful, romantic small palace today used as an art school.
The “Huerto de la Creu” (Orchard of the Cross) takes its name from a curious Renaissance cross planted at the centre of the orchard.
The “Huerto de la Coronela” (Orchard of the Colonel’s wife) is so-called because its owner married the widow of a colonel.
The “Huerto de la Mezquita” (Orchard of the Mosque), owes its name to the painter Antonio López Mezquita, who lived in it.
Other orchards are: “L´Hort del Gat”, “el Parc Jaume Iº”, “el Huerto de Villa Carmen”, “el Huerto de Montenegro” ,”el Huerto del Sol”, “Hort de Sempere”, “Hort de Dins”.
At the moment, Elche’s councils are working on an ambitious project – the Palmera theme park – which will allow the visitor to see in situ the past, present and future of the Palm Forest. There will be a sample orchard where you’ll be able to see the different types of date palm and an area where you can learn about the various IV methods of reproduction used to improve the Palm Forest.
In addition the council has converted some traditional orchards into parks open to the public, such as “Borreguet”, “Montjó” and “Tía Casimira” to create the new “Filet de Fora”.

How to get there
• On the autovía or the A7 motorway from Valencia, Castellón or Alicante
• By train (there’s a good local service from Alicante)
• Alicante airport is in the Elche area – maybe you could schedule a visit to coincide with your arrival or departure?

What and where to eat
Restaurante “Els Capellans” : Opposite the “Huerto del Cura” (haute cuisine, rice dishes and regional specialities)
La Finca: a charming farmhouse serving good, imaginative Mediterranean food (36 euros)
La Masía de Chencho: on the Murcia to Alicante road. An old farm specialising in regional cookery. (30 euros)

What to buy
Dates
Decorations made with white palm in the “Huerto de Sant Plácido”. These are used in the Palm Sunday celebrations (a fiesta declared to be of International Tourist Interest) and which make an appearance in the Mystery of Elche (for more information on this fiesta declared by UNESCO as World Heritage see the Profile topic in the “Don’t go without …” section.

With thanks to Emilio Requena for writing this guide