The City Council of Aranjuez has begun preliminary work to recover the Mill and the Viewpoint of the Bridge, a historic site on the banks of the Tagus River. The Community of Madrid is funding the project with €350,000.
The City Council of Aranjuez has launched preliminary actions for the rehabilitation of the Mill and the Viewpoint of the Bridge, a space of great heritage value located opposite the Royal Palace and on the banks of the Tagus River. The initial works consist of clearing the surroundings, conducting an archaeological study, and consolidating certain walls.
The mayor of Aranjuez, Miguel Gómez Herrero, visited the start of the works and emphasised that "the recovery of the Mill and the Viewpoint of the Bridge represents a decisive step in returning to the riverside residents a space of enormous historical, landscape, and heritage value." In his opinion, it is about recovering part of the municipality's identity and enhancing a unique site opposite the Royal Palace, so that it can be enjoyed by both locals and visitors.
The rehabilitation project is already tendered and will be developed in four phases, with one phase expected to be completed each year. The funding is provided by the Community of Madrid, which contributes €350,000 for the recovery and enhancement of this historical space.
The first phase will address the drafting of the project, archaeological intervention, and preliminary actions for the demolition of added elements, clearing, and conditioning of the surroundings. These works will lay the groundwork for the subsequent phases of rehabilitation.
The flour mill dates back to the Renaissance, when Juan Bautista de Toledo designed the dam now known as the Palace Dam to facilitate the navigability of the Tagus River. Over the centuries, it underwent various modifications and became the only mill of its kind that remained operational until the 20th century.
Currently, the preserved archaeological remains correspond to two parallel channels built of brick, part of the locks that regulated the water entry and the parapet over the river. These elements constitute an important testimony to the hydraulic heritage of Aranjuez.
The rehabilitation will allow the recovery of this space, improve its conservation, and contribute to enhancing one of the most representative sites of the Cultural Landscape of Aranjuez, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Locals and visitors will be able to enjoy this historic environment again once the works are completed.
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