Menu
The palm tree forest in and around Elche is much more than a natural phenomenon unparalleled in Europe. The approximately 200,000 date palms, which together form El Palmeral, are part of an ingenious plan that was devised about a thousand years ago. Today, the 'sea of palm trees', as the locals affectionately call the forest, is a major draw for tourists. At the time, however, the palms were mainly an expression of agricultural ingenuity, which the Muslim rulers introduced. In fact, El Palmeral is an oasis, created to allow the fragile ecosystem around Elche to thrive.
It is not easy to have healthy harvests in an ultra-dry area with a lot of sun. Certainly not at a time when modern irrigation techniques did not yet exist. With their experience in the Arab world, the Muslims came up with a network of irrigation ditches. The palm trees were planted along the ditches to provide shade and protection from the wind. In addition, the evaporation of water was kept within limits.
The agricultural success of the area over the centuries is therefore largely due to the date palms. Partly for this reason, El Palmeral has been included on the UNESCO list of protected heritage. Fortunately, the politicians of Elche have almost always been careful with the unique legacy of the past.
We see this in the beautiful city park where the many date palms determine the relaxed atmosphere. In addition, a new, flourishing industry has emerged. Elche is a major producer of 'white' palms, which are used worldwide in Palm Sunday processions.
