Experience has shown that there is something fascinating about historical water uses from the time before the great industrialisation. Well-known witnesses are mills and hammer mills or historic wells, which are often backed by mythical springs, as well as old irrigation systems. One characteristic of these historical water uses is their interconnectedness. For example, the same water was often used to operate hydropower plants and then for irrigation. While the technical elements such as historical hydropower plants are well documented, until 2012 there was a lack of comprehensive, synthetic and comparative documentation for historical European irrigation. The rapid disintegration of traditional irrigation systems in the second half of the last century left only a few intact or rehabilitable historical irrigation landscapes. From around 2012, efforts therefore began to preserve the core of these still existing irrigation systems, which may include other water uses, as a cultural heritage for Europe.
The cultural heritage of ‘traditional irrigation’ in Europe
Traditional irrigation refers to irrigation in terms of technology and organisation as it was practised in Europe before the introduction of modern technologies such as sprinklers or drip irrigation and the abandonment of the old organisational structures (cooperatives, communes). Traditional irrigation as an old form of agricultural utilisation has largely become obsolete from an economic point of view. On the other hand, the last irrigation systems represent a valuable cultural legacy of a fading form of agricultural utilisation that was widespread throughout Europe. They must now be protected as part of cultural heritage (national to world cultural heritage) and preserved in whole or in part.
Holistic preservation thanks to intangible cultural heritage
At the same time, in the interests of the holistic preservation of these cultural landscape monuments, the associated tradition - the ‘old knowledge’ associated with them - should also be protected as intangible cultural heritage. This is best done within the framework of a European network of active irrigation areas or communities around traditional irrigation (see International Advisory Council). What is important is the process of recognising the endangerment of the remaining elements of traditional irrigation, inventorying and documenting them in order to preserve and partially re-commission the water systems.
Book volumes Traditional Irrigation - Volumes 1 and 2 (in German)
In 2016, the two comprehensive book volumes ‘Traditional Irrigation - a Cultural Heritage of Europe’ were published in German, Volume 1 with the basics and Volume 2 with the regional documentation. Very impressive and well worth reading!
Traditional irrigation – a cultural heritage of Europe. Christian Leibundgut and Ingeborg Vonderstrass (in German).
Traditionelle Bewässerung – ein Kulturerbe Europas
Volume 1: ISBN 978-3-905817-74-4
Volume 2: ISBN: 978-3-905817-75-1
shop.merkurdruck.ch
21 objects of special conservation value
In Europe, more than 60 potential areas or objects of traditional irrigation systems worthy of protection are currently known and documented in the following countries: Portugal, Spain, Italy, France, Belgium, England, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Romania, Germany, Sweden and Norway (see map below). The diversity of European irrigation systems is thus well covered. Of these potential sites, 21 are of particular conservation value. Rehabilitation projects are already being planned or realised in these areas. Some are already under regional protection. These areas form the core of the network and are being worked on accordingly. Here you will find an overview of the local organisations (1st season serie).
Overview map of traditional irrigation in Europe according to Leibundgut and Vonderstrass 2016*,
to the list of the individual numbered irrigation occurrences/areas