The urban plan for Aranjuez tied the palace and gardens to the surrounding agricultural landscape.

@ Max Pixel

Urban Planning of Aranjuez

Francisco Trujillo is a historian and representative of the DINAMIZA Aranjuez Association. In this video, he brings us closer to another of the important values of Aranjuez's Cultural Landscape: the geometry of territorial planning.

View of the Royal Site of Aranjuez - Anonymous (1636). – © Museo Nacional del Prado

Tree-lined walk on the outskirts of Aranjuez – © Joaquín Álvarez

View from the Royal Palace of Aranjuez to the gardens in the west. – © Anika Giftge

A path in Isla del Jardín adjacent to the Palace. – © Frank Biasi

Territorial planning, which is a contemporary and modern term, began to be practiced in Aranjuez in the 16th century during the reign of Felipe II. According to Franisco, this inspired the urban developmentof major cities such as Washington DC in the 18th century .

View of Aranjuez by Jehan L'Hermitte (1598) – © Royal Library of Brussels

This geometric layout, which was designed around the Royal Site of Aranjuez in the 16th century and which still survives today, defined the structure of city of Aranjuez and greatly impacted its economic and social development. The geometric design of the streets of the groves and tree-lined walks built in Aranjuez supported an agricultural production system that lasted well into the 20th century—and is the hallmark and differentiating element of this Royal Site.

The presence of the Royalty in Aranjuez led to the construction of magnificent buildings and idyllic gardens—it also provided the Royal Site of Aranjuez and its inhabitants distinctive features linked to the agricultural activity carried out in the territory in the 16th century, which can still be seen today.