Caldas de Reis, December 16, 2024.- The subdelegate of the Government in Pontevedra, Abel Losada, visited Caldas de Reis today to add value to the concession to the City Council of 1,452,000 euros by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism for the recovery of the Carballeira and the Botanical Garden, within the framework of the Program to improve the competitiveness and dynamization of the historical heritage with tourist use. It is an aid funded by European Next Generation funds.
Losada visited the carballeira accompanied by the mayor, Juan Manuel Rey, the deputy mayor, Jacobo Pérez, the councilors, Manuel Fariña and Juan Carlos Ortigueira, as well as the agronomist engineer who drafted the project, Pedro Calaza. The subdelegate stressed that “these funds are a clear example of how European aid continues to reach every corner of the province of Pontevedra, allowing the enhancement of cultural tourism, through projects of very important level, that combine the rehabilitation and enhancement of the historical heritage with a clear tourist use”.
The planned actions include the conservation, maintenance and rehabilitation of the Carballeira and the Botanical Garden, declared Ben of Cultural Interest (BIC) since 1962. These works aim not only to preserve the rich natural and historical heritage formed by this complex, designed at the end of the 19th century, but also to increase its attractiveness as a tourist destination. “It is therefore a further demonstration of the commitment of the Government of Pedro Sánchez to sustainable tourism and the protection of cultural and natural assets of our province,” said the deputy delegate.
For Abel Losada, “the combination of actions such as these highlights the importance of European funds, which also come for the tourist and cultural development of Pontevedra. They are investments that reinforce our potential as a destination of quality and sustainability,” said Losada.
The deputy delegate thanked the City of Caldas de Reis and its mayor for their efforts in attracting funds, stressing that this is an aid granted in competitive competition, which demonstrates “the great effort behind this project.” “The joint work between administrations is key to materialize these projects that benefit the whole society,” he said. In Losada’s opinion, it is the European funds that the government allocates directly to the municipalities that contribute to the most effective transformations of the territory and to the most significant improvements in public services.
For his part, the mayor, on the day of his 18th year in office, stressed the importance of this help from the Ministry to promote “an emblem of Caldas such as Carballeira and the Botanical Garden”. In this line, he highlighted the transformative capacity of this action and its uniqueness, “since it is going to work on a protected space and there are very few projects of this type that are carried out on Goods of Cultural Interest and, particularly those linked to parks and gardens”.
During the presentation of the intervention, three examples of oak were planted symbolically.
Performances
The project includes a series of actions to recover the botanical richness, improve the heritage, functionality and aesthetics of the space. The main interventions are:
1. Previous performances: Elimination of invasive species, vegetation in poor condition, deteriorated elements (benches, lampposts, pavements) and #dismantling of obsolete infrastructures such as stands, stage and play area.
2. Archaeological supervision: Presence of an archaeologist to ensure the correct execution in areas with heritage elements.
3. Masonry work: Cleaning, repair of walls, edges, benches, seats and pavements, as well as restoration of structures such as the weight stand.
4. Adaptation of facilities: Improvements in irrigation and sanitation networks, installation of irrigation mouths and homogeneous light points.
5. Paving: Restoration of existing roads and creation of a road with granite mill stone design.
6. Gardening: Contribution of land, edaphological analysis, removal of vegetation in poor condition and relocation of second species corresponds.
The proposal focuses on the restoration of the historical gardens, prioritizing the architecture of the landscape to improve the quality of the environment and its visual integration. Respect the patrimonial context, the link with the Camino de Santiago and the historical elements, following criteria of delicate and respectful intervention.
It does not expose actions with negative impact, but seeks to enrich the area, preserve the Umia River and enhance the sensory perception of space. This intervention will be in harmony with the Letters of Florence and Krakow, consolidating its cultural, patrimonial, natural and social value, becoming a media and cultural appeal.
Castelo de Soutomaior
In addition to the aid to the City of Caldas de Reis, the subdelegate also highlighted another important investment in the province under the same program: the Provincial Council of Pontevedra will receive 2,514,122 euros for the patrimonial improvement of the Castelo de Soutomaior. This project, which was presented by the former provincial government, includes the improvement of lighting, accessibility and the incorporation of virtual reality technologies to enrich the visitors’ experience.