- Aranjuez
Aranjuez is a town in the southern part of the Autonomous Community of Madrid in central
Spain and lies 48 km south of the city ofMadrid . It is located at the confluence of theTagus andJarama rivers. The municipality of Aranjuez has a population of 48,139 (February 2005), 23,545 are males and 24,594 are females. It is located 48 km from Toledo.Aranjuez is known for the
Palacio Real de Aranjuez , one of theSpanish royal sites , and its vast gardens.The Tagus valley has been intensively farmed since medieval times and the strawberries of Aranjuez are famous throughout Spain. Internationally, Aranjuez has become known through the "Concierto de Aranjuez " byJoaquin Rodrigo . Upon his death he was buried in the town's cemetery.Population
*2002: 40,928
*2004: 46,891
*2005: 48,139
*May 2007: 52,873Government and administration
The city of Aranjuez is divided into the following districts: Centro, Vergel, Olivas, Las Aves, Nuevo Aranjuez, Foso, Moreras and La Montaña. Since 2003, Aranjuez has been governed by Mayor
Jesús Miguel Dionisio Ballesteros , of the Socialist Party.Economy
The main pillars of the local economy are
hotel s andtourism . Aranjuez has always been an attractive city fortourists due to, among other reasons, to the Royal Palace, thegardens , theTagus river and the landscapes. In 2001 this city was designated as a World HeritageCultural landscape byUNESCO , and since then, tourism has kept on increasing. Much money was spent in order to beautify Aranjuez and many pubs and restaurants were opened (from 2001 to 2004 their number increased 22%). In 2005 a largecasino was opened in the city and in March 2008 theTagus Hospital was opened.Agriculture
Aranjuez is located on the fertile plain of the
Tagus river, and its soil is suitable for growingwheat and othercereals . There are alsohorticulture plantations (asparagus and strawberries), both irrigated and dry products,vines andmelons , which are also typical of the neighbouring region ofCastilla-La Mancha .Industry
The proximity to
Madrid and the good communications by road and rail made Aranjuez a suitable location forindustry :detergents ,mechanical construction ,computer andelectrical material, photographic materials, pharmaceutical products,paint s andvarnish es,sugar refineries, andoil mills.In recent decades, the sugar refinery and the Agfa photographic factory have closed.
Cortefiel , agarment company, plans to build a factory in Aranjuez in the next few years.The majority of the industries are located to the west of the railway station or in the "Gonzalo Chacón"
industrial park , in the south. The main existing industries are:*
Lever Brothers (detergents).
*Indra (computer systems).
*Carburos Metálicos (chemicals).
*Fyse (pharmaceuticals).
*Bosch (electrical components for automobiles).
*Slaughterhouse .Transportation
* Important roads:
** Dual carriageway A4 (old N-IV) (Madrid -Cadiz ).
** Toll motorway R4, (Madrid -Ocaña).
**N400, (Toledo-Cuenca).* Railways (
Renfe ):
** Aranjuez is served bycommuter train s toAtocha and Chamartín stations inMadrid .
** Long Distance trains to theEast andSouth ofSpain .Local media
Print media
* "Heraldo de Aranjuez".
* "Tablón de Anuncios".
* [http://www.consumodigital.com "Consumo Digital"] .
* [http://www.4esquinas.com/ "Cuatro Esquinas"] .
* [http://www.divergente.net/ "Divergente"] .
* "El Espejo".Radio stations
* Onda Aranjuez, 107.8
FM .
* Cadena Ser Aranjuez, 89.3FM .
* Onda Cero Aranjuez, 90.7FM .
* Radio Fuga, 92.1FM .Sports facilities
* The city has always been connected to the
Tagus river, with the result that there is a long tradition ofwater sports , such ascanoeing or rowing. In the Olympic candidature ofMadrid for the 2012 Olympics, which will be held finally inLondon , Aranjuez was the selected site for these sports. Anyhow, there are plans to continue the construction of the necessary sport facilities, which should be finished by 2010.
* Aranjuez has a football team, "Real Aranjuez C.F.", which plays in the Local Stadium, called "El Deleite".
* Nearby Ocaña has askydiving andgliding centre at theAerodrome , and most of the skydivers there base themselves in Aranjuez.History
* There are several theories about the origin of the name. The most accepted one states that it comes from the
Basque language . It is derived from Arantza ("hawthorn" in English), Aran (meaningvalley orplum in English). The old name of the city was Aranz. During theMiddle Ages , the city was known as Aranzueque or Arançuex until it became Aranjuez. Other theories say that it comes fromLatin Ara Jovis or Ara Iovia, which means Jupiter's Altar, but currently the Pre-Roman name is preferred.
*Middle Ages : incorporation into Saint James' Order.
* Ferdinand and Isabella, the "Catholic kings ", converted Aranjuez into a Royal Site. It has been the spring residence of thekings of Spain since the late 19th century.
*Philip II of Spain : Construction of the Royal Palace (Juan Bautista de Toledo andJuan de Herrera ).
* 1752: During the kingdom ofFerdinand VI , the city of Aranjuez was born, as only people related to the monarch could live there up to that time.
* 1808:Mutiny of Aranjuez , by whichCharles IV of Spain was forced to abdicate in favour of his sonFerdinand VII of Spain .
* 1851: Opening of therailway line betweenMadrid and Aranjuez, the so-calledStrawberry Train . This was the second railway line inSpain , after that ofBarcelona -Mataró (1848).
* 1939:Joaquín Rodrigo composes theConcierto de Aranjuez , which would make Aranjuez famous all over the world.
* 1983: Aranjuez is declaredConjunto Histórico Artístico , literally Historic Artistic Junction.
* 2001:UNESCO lists the Aranjuez Cultural Landscape as a World Heritage Site.Notable people connected with Aranjuez
*
Francisco de Asís of Bourbon , husband of queenIsabella II of Spain .
*Francisco Agustín Silvela , Minister of Gobernación and Gracia y Justicia. Vice-President of the Congress of Deputies and Magistrate of the Supreme Court.
*Santiago Rusiñol , painter.
*Joaquín Rodrigo ,musician .
*Alicia Hermida , Spanishactress .
*Jose Luis Sampedro ,writer .
*Juan Luis Mora Palacios , football player.
*Javier García Portillo , football player.
*Iván Sánchez-Rico Soto alias Riki, football player.
*Pato Clavet , tennis player.
*Ángel Parra (judo) ,judo ka.
*Jesús Hernández , hockey player.Monuments and places of interest
* Royal Palace.
* Isle Garden.
* Parterre Garden.
* Prince's Garden.
* Isabella II's Garden.
* House of Trades and Knights.
* House of Infantes and Atarfe.
* Pleasure craft Museum.
* Farmhand's House.
* Saint Anthony Square and Royal Chapel.
* House of Employees (currentlyTown Hall ).
* Alpajes Church.
* Saint Pascual's RoyalConvent .
* Old Saint Charles' Hospital (to be restored).
* Charles III's RoyalTheatre (to be restored, currently in ruins).
* Supply Market.
* Plaza de Toros andBullfighting Museum "Una Gran Fiesta".
* Medinaceli Palace.
* Governor's House (currently University of High Studies Centre Phillip II).
* Mother Queen's old garage, today cultural centre "Isabel de Farnesio".
* Typical corralas.
* Godoy and Osuna's Palaces.
* Silvela's Palace (also known as Bavaria's Palace).
* Centre of Interpretation of the Natural Reserve "El Regajal-Mar de Ontígola".
* Historical sotos.
* Royal Country Estate of Saint Isidro.Culture
Traditions
* In summer it is traditional to have dinner in the picnic areas next to the
Tagus river. These places are called gangos, a Spanish word used only in Aranjuez.Gastronomy
* Products of the Garden: strawberries and
asparagus .
* It is also very typical to eatpheasant .Twin cities
*
Écija (Seville),Spain .
*Le Pecq-sur-Seine (Yvelines ),France .ee also
*
List of municipalities in Madrid External links
*Spanish
** [http://www.aranjuez.es Official homepage of Aranjuez]
**http://www.forosaranjuez.info
**http://www.aranjuez.ws
**http://www.aranjuez.com
**http://www.aranjuez.tv
**http://www.aranjuez.org
**http://www.portalaranjuez.com
** [http://www.museodelferrocarril.org/tren_fresa/aranjuez.html The "Strawberry train"]
** [http://fotoaranjuez.com Pictures of Aranjuez]
**http://www.4esquinas.com
**http://www.consumodigital.com
**http://www.divergente.net
**http://www.deportesenaranjuez.com*English
** [http://photoaranjuez.com Photos of Aranjuez] include pictures and images of its typical and pintoresque architecture, historical monuments of Aranjuez, parks and gardens of Royal Seat and Village of Aranjuez and their neighbourhood
** [http://www.arannet.com/english/aranjuez/ Aranjuez @ AranNet]
** [http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Aranjuez,+Spain&spn=0.027784,0.058464&t=k&hl=en Aranjuez in Google Maps]
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