Huerto del Cura - botanical garden in Elche - palm trees, plants, statues and birds - and Palmera Imperial
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Close to the historic centre of the city of Elche in the province of Alicante lies a green oasis that in 1943 was granted the status of Jardín Artístico Nacional and is now the city's botanical garden. It is only 13 hectares in size, but has been given space for around 1000 palm trees, numerous Mediterranean plants and some ponds with tame, exotic birds. Here you can also find the famous Palmera Imperial, which is a date plant with 7 arms, the only one of its kind.
The story began in 1876 when the farmer Andrés Castaño Peral managed to buy part of the land he had lived on as a tenant for many years. After his death, his son José Castaño Sánchez took over. He was a chaplain, which is why people first called the place capellán Castaño and later Huerto del Cura (the priest's garden), as it is known today. But what probably contributed most to making the garden so popular started as early as 1873 when a date palm tree began to grow a series of branches at a height of about 1.5 meters. This was an unusual phenomenon. Some of the branches later fell off, but seven survived, making it the only one of its kind in the world.
In 1894, Empress Elizabeth of Wittelsbach visited Spain. When she arrived in Elche with her entourage, she was shown the garden of Chaplain José Castaño Sánchez. She was immediately fascinated by the special palm tree, and told the owner that the palm had a power and strength worthy of an empire, and that he should therefore give it a name.
After the visit, the chaplain began to call it the Imperial Palmera to honor the Empress. This is how the tradition of naming palm trees after famous people who visited the garden began. The garden also has its own patron - James I of Aragon, also known as James the Conqueror (Jaime El conquistador) - who liberated Elche from the Moors in 1265 and thus prevented the palm trees in the garden from being cut down, as was common around cities ruled by the Moors.
From 1940 to 1958, the garden was owned by Juan Orts Román. He was a learned, intellectual man with great political influence who was interested in both palm trees and palm groves. Thanks to his efforts, the garden was granted the status of a national garden - Jardín Artístico Nacional - in 1943.
It feels like you are in a world of your own, far from the noise and exhaust of the city when you walk around the park on the gravel paths. Here you only hear birdsong and the wind, and only smell nature's own scents. When you stop by the plaques on the palm trees that are named after famous artists, actors and heads of state, your thoughts go back to the time when they visited the garden. How did they experience the park, and what was their life like back then?
In one section of the garden there is a collection of cacti in many sizes and shapes. They are gathered by a pond that gives them a frame. The ponds also provide a good habitat for exotic and local birds. Mandarin ducks and wood ducks have been released and seem to be thriving. In addition, peacocks wander around peacefully without caring what we humans are doing. From the treetops you can hear the sounds of songbirds.
More excursions: www.turideer.com
Excursion of the week: Huerto del Cura - Botanical garden in Elche
Suitable for: Everyone. Strollers and wheelchairs are ok.
Price and opening hours: The garden opens at 10:00 every day of the week, but closes at different times during the different months of the year, see: http://jardin.huertodelcura.com, for more information. The entrance fee costs 6.5 Euros for adults, 4.5 Euros for pensioners and students and 3.5 Euros for children.
Getting there: The park is within walking distance of the Centro Historico. Address: Huerto del Cura, Puerto de la Morera, 49.
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