Territory and Heritage systems: The Madrid urban region

Abstract

This paper, within the framework of the debate on the dimensions and functions of the
“spatial heritage system” and the “protected spatial heritage” in urban regions, sets forth
arguments to understand the role of the natural, cultural and landscape heritage, as a whole, while
also highlighting how fundamental it is in order to build another development model, as it is the
basis of natural and social life, and stressing the importance of its role in tourism, the environment,
the landscape and local culture.
Second, an assessment is made of the role assigned to heritage in spatial-planning instruments
tested in the autonomous regions of Madrid, Castile and León, and Castile–La Mancha, where
priority has been given to a protectionist sector-based approach and there is a large gap between
theory and practice.
Third, the spatial-heritage system in the urban region of Madrid is mapped and analysed, showing
it strong presence in the territory, with 40% of the area being “protected territory”. The natural
heritage has a strong nature network affecting 34%, four biosphere reserves, 14 parks and 27
reserves and natural monuments. The cultural heritage has 1,177 BICs (assets of cultural interest),
noting the strength of Madrid and the existence of 63 historical complexes, seven of which are on
the World Heritage List, to make up a strong network that incorporates other types of heritage;
there are also 17 festival of national and international interest for tourism. The landscape, which is
weakly protected (only the Aranjuez “cultural landscape”, which is included on the World Heritage
List), is diverse, with almost all the landscape units of inland Spain present, as we see with 16,410
km of cattle tracks. A rich heritage which, because of its value and spatial significance, should be
an asset which, planned according to the logic of complementarity, allows an urban region to be
built that is polycentric, balanced and sustainable.