Aranjuez Cultural Landscape

World Heritage Research

Discover scientific research and academic studies that deepen our understanding of Aranjuez Cultural Landscape from its history and significance to its conservation, management, and contemporary challenges.

• Informe a Favor de la Protección del Paisaje Cultural de Aranjuez

  A comprehensive assessment by the Commission of Monuments and Historical Heritage strongly advocates for the protection of Aranjuez's Cultural Landscape, emphasizing its unique historical significance and ecological value. The report, published in 2026, highlights the site's role as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and underscores the need for robust conservation measures to preserve its cultural integrity amid modern challenges. The study employs a multidisciplinary approach, integrating historical analysis, architectural documentation, and environmental assessments to support its recommendations. This proactive stance aims to safeguard Aranjuez's legacy for future generations while balancing development with preservation.

  Moleón Gavilanes, P., Almagro Gorbea, A., & Nieto Yusta, O. (2026). INFORME A FAVOR DE LA PROTECCIÓN DEL PAISAJE CULTURAL DE ARANJUEZ. Real Academia De Bellas Artes De San Fernando. https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.20428595

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• The “Third Landscape” and the Rural–Urban Spaces in the South of the Community of Madrid, in the Field of Sustainability: A Case Study

  Aranjuez, Spain's UNESCO-listed cultural landscape, faces significant challenges from urban expansion and rurbanization, leading to the proliferation of marginal spaces like vacant lots and roadside ditches. This study introduces a novel methodology using 'Third Landscape' concepts and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to analyze these residual areas, revealing their potential for ecological design, urban regeneration, and socioeconomic enhancement. By examining formal, socioeconomic, functional, and environmental paradigms, the research identifies 'Lost Spaces,' 'Garbage Spaces,' and 'Shadow Places'—formless, unused anti-spaces—that dominate Aranjuez's rural-urban interface. The findings underscore the need for adaptive territorial planning to transform these marginal areas into sustainable development models, offering a blueprint for balancing urban growth with ecological and social resilience in expanding cities.

  Sotelo Pérez, I., Sotelo Pérez, M., & Sotelo Navalpotro, J. A. (2025). The “Third Landscape” and the Rural–Urban Spaces in the South of the Community of Madrid, in the Field of Sustainability: A Case Study. Land, 14(11), 2281. https://doi.org/10.3390/land14112281

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• Difusión del patrimonio arquitectónico a través del videojuego: levantamiento del Real Sitio de Aranjuez en Minecraft

  Research demonstrates that digital reconstruction of historical sites, such as the Real Sitio de Aranjuez, using video games like Minecraft can effectively promote public awareness and appreciation of architectural heritage. The study highlights how precise 3D modeling in gaming platforms facilitates natural and engaging learning about cultural landmarks. It adapts traditional surveying techniques—documentation, data collection, 3D modeling, and dissemination—to the constraints of Minecraft, offering a novel approach to heritage education. This method bridges the gap between academic documentation and public engagement, making complex historical sites accessible in an interactive format.

  Prieto, P. R., & Walliser, L. (2024). Difusión del patrimonio arquitectónico a través del videojuego: levantamiento del Real Sitio de Aranjuez en Minecraft. EGA Revista de Expresión Gráfica Arquitectónica, 29(51), 216–229. https://doi.org/10.4995/ega.2024.20188

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• Unveiling Agricultural Heritage: Mapping Historical Features in Farming Landscapes

  Agricultural heritage, though often overshadowed by more prominent landscapes, holds significant cultural and environmental value. This study introduces a novel methodology to assess the historical depth of agricultural features—such as roads, livestock routes, plots, buildings, and land use—in non-outstanding farming areas using historical cartography. The approach aims to recognize and preserve traditional techniques and processes that sustain cultural landscapes and gastronomic identities, even in regions lacking exceptional heritage status. Applied to Spain’s floodplains and irrigation areas near Aranjuez (Community of Madrid), the method demonstrates potential for integrating agricultural heritage into spatial decision-making, ensuring its long-term conservation.

  Sánchez, M. L. (2024). Unveiling Agricultural Heritage: Mapping Historical Features in Farming Landscapes. The Historic Environment: Policy & Practice, 16(1), 122–142. https://doi.org/10.1080/17567505.2024.2419143

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• La real vacada de Aranjuez: una aproximación a las reses del monarca a finales del Antiguo Régimen

  The Aranjuez Cultural Landscape's royal cattle farm (real vacada) played a pivotal role in the economic transformation of Spain's Royal Sites during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Originally established to supply butter and milk to the royal court, it evolved into a hub for agricultural and livestock innovation under Carlos III's reign. This study highlights how the real vacada became a model for exploiting the economic potential of these sites, showcasing the integration of royal patronage with progressive farming practices. By analyzing archival records and historical documentation, the research underscores the significance of the Aranjuez landscape in shaping Spain's agricultural heritage and its enduring legacy as part of UNESCO World Heritage.

  Galisteo Chico, A. (2024). La real vacada de Aranjuez: una aproximación a las reses del monarca a finales del Antiguo Régimen. Librosdelacorte.es, (29), 127–155. https://doi.org/10.15366/ldc2024.16.29.005

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• Narrativas de itinerarios culturales desde la perspectiva socio-jurídica

  Aranjuez Cultural Landscape's itineraries, often promoted for their economic and touristic potential, face significant gaps in legal protection. This study highlights the urgent need to establish effective juridical frameworks for managing these routes, ensuring proper preservation of historical, cultural, or natural heritage along them. By adopting a socio-legal perspective, it provides new insights into how entities governing these itineraries can be legally safeguarded, offering a novel approach that transcends traditional economic and promotional strategies.

  Barraca de Ramos, P. (2024). Narrativas de itinerarios culturales desde la perspectiva socio-jurídica. Erph_ Revista Electrónica de Patrimonio Histórico, (35), 1–60. https://doi.org/10.30827/erph.35.2024.31678

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• Paisajes culturales agrarios. Una reflexión desde sus consideraciones por la UNESCO y la FAO en sus concreciones españolas

  Aranjuez Cultural Landscape faces significant challenges in preserving its agricultural heritage, with both UNESCO and FAO frameworks struggling to counteract the process of 'deagrarization' that threatens the authenticity of these sites. The study compares the approaches of UNESCO's World Heritage Convention and FAO's SIPAM program, identifying key differences and synergies in their management strategies for Spanish agropatrimonial landscapes. Through a detailed analysis of available documentation, the research characterizes these landscapes and proposes potential avenues to strengthen collaboration between the two organizations, aiming to safeguard their cultural and agricultural legacy.

  Silva Pérez, M. R. (2022). Paisajes culturales agrarios. Una reflexión desde sus consideraciones por la UNESCO y la FAO en sus concreciones españolas. Erph_ Revista Electrónica de Patrimonio Histórico, (30), 48–75. https://doi.org/10.30827/erph.vi30.24111

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