Nomination to the World Heritage List

Ribeira Sacra Waterscape

Ribeira Sacra is the living story of the relationship between water and mankind, whose ingenuity has sculpted a waterscape over more than 1,500 years of continuous occupation

Location

Provinces of Lugo Lugo and Ourense.
Galicia, Spain.
Coordinates of Os Peares,
where the rivers Sil and Miño meet.
(WGS 84) N 42° 27’ 14’’ / W 7° 43’ 50’’
(ETRS 89) Zone UTM 29N: 604352 / 4700981

The property’s boundary

Runs along the upper edges of the valleys of the rivers Sil and Miño in the sections close to the junction of the two rivers. Its boundary is defined on the ground in what is locally known as bocarribeira, which is the place where the slope changes abruptly, going from values above 30% (ribeiras) to values below 10% (chairas)

PDF Map

Property’s boundary
16,471 ha

The river canyons of the rivers Sil and Miño between Santa María de Pesqueiras, to the west, and San Clodio de Ribas de Sil, to the east.

Buffer zone
31,979 ha

The layout of the 72 parishes configured since the Middle Ages and that still survive as identity references in the area.

Criteria

According to UNESCO criteria, it is presented under criterion (v)

To be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change.

Outstanding Universal Value (OUV)

The nominated property shows an exceptional cultural waterscape embedded between the spectacular river canyons located at the confluence of the rivers Sil and Miño (Galicia, Spain), on the Atlantic coast of rainy Iberia, popularly known as Ribeira Sacra.

Attributes

Inscription form

This document presents the candidacy of the Ribeira Sacra Waterscape to the World Heritage List

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Heritage of Cultural Interest (BIC)

Ribeira Sacra has been declared a Heritage of Cultural Interest in the Cultural Landscape category since 2018

Web

Waterscapes

The international meeting of experts held on 6-8 November 2023 in Ribeira Sacra concluded with the declaration on Cultural Waterscapes

Web

PDF

Fontes

FONTES, the title of the international meeting held between 27 and 29 October 2024, refers to the more than 900 water springs that flow throughout the Ribeira Sacra territory and that contribute to shaping this extraordinary landscape, and also to the sources of knowledge, an essential factor when dealing with a heritage property.

The following conclusions were reached:

The paradigm shift in the concept of cultural heritage, goes from being exclusively linked to the material, to being understood today as a living, dynamic element in constant interaction with that which is human. New typologies are incorporated, reflecting the new elements to which society attributes value, and the boundary between what is natural, cultural and intangible is blurred. Cultural landscapes have the capacity to integrate and bring together all these elements.
The need to find appropriate, sustainable solutions to safeguard cultural landscapes in view of their specificities, based on knowledge that incorporates interdisciplinarity and transdisciplinarity. To understand the different strata that make up the landscape, to reflect on conservation goals and, especially, on the needs of local communities.
World Heritage candidacies and their necessary link with Academia and other research centres, due to the indispensable role of scientific knowledge in defining the basis of a nomination for registration on the World Heritage List.
The complexity of the process to achieve inclusion on the World Heritage List, both in defining and identifying the values, significance and character of the property as well as from the point of view of the requirements, which must comply with exceptionality, authenticity integrity and the existence of an appropriate management system and management plan. On the other hand, the achievements that the process itself generates, favouring the exchange of experiences, the development of joint strategies, new tools and strengthening of the sense of pride and belonging.
The growing importance of developing management plans in the management of World Heritage sites. Knowledge of the elements that structure the landscape, as well as the involvement of administrations and local communities, are key to promoting initiatives that allow present and future generations to continue to inhabit the territory, from a sustainable development perspective.
Local people must be at the centre of the design, implementation and monitoring of cultural heritage planning and management strategies. The knowledge and participation of those who live and coexist with the cultural landscape is indispensable in order to draw up efficient public policies.
The benefits of new technologies as a tool for research, documentation and conservation of cultural heritage; but also for the design of dissemination and communication strategies, adapted to the needs of different audiences. Likewise, the opportunity that social networks represent for raising awareness among the new generations, through the creation of quality content, aligned with sustainable development goals.
The benefits of networking and exchanging experiences with other cultural landscapes and World Heritage sites for the identification of shared needs, the development of joint projects and the design of dissemination, communication and promotion actions.
The importance of involving local tourist guides in the process, training them and providing them with all the knowledge available on cultural heritage, given their important role in the visitors' understanding of the meaning of the place they visit, favouring an attitude of respect, care and appreciation.
The necessary management of visitor flows through the management of mobility, carrying capacity and reception capacity, in order to avoid the negative effects that tourism can have on the authenticity and conservation of cultural landscapes.
The administrative complexity of cultural landscape nominations, which is a challenge for the competent bodies at different scales (local, regional and national) and in different fields (culture, agriculture, tourism, mobility, environment, etc.)
The value of cultural landscapes as resources in the face of some future challenges, such as the fight against climate change, the depopulation of rural areas and sustainable development.