Palm grove in Elche and interesting facts about palm trees

Palm Grove of Elche largest palm grove in Europe.

The city of Elche, known as Elx by the locals in Valencia, is situated between Murcia (referred to as the Orchard of Europe) and the sunny Alicante. Elche boasts numerous attractions and reasons to visit, including landmarks such as the Mystery Play in honour of the Virgin Mary, beautiful murals created by artists from around the world along the Vinalopo River, and the Altamira Palace.

However, it’s not the places of worship, historical sites, or even the decent football team from Elche that draw tourists. What sets this city apart from the many similar locations scattered across this part of Spain is the famous Palm Grove of Elche.

Palm grove in Elche Palmeral de Elche

I had never seen so many palm trees in one place before, and I’ve travelled quite a bit. In guidebooks and on the official city websites, it’s mentioned that there are over half a million palm trees in Elche, and I can believe it.

In fact, strolling through the well-maintained and green streets of the city, you get the impression that the city grew right in the middle of a palm forest, rather than the other way around.

History of the Palm Grove in Elche

The origins of the Palmeral de Elche date back to the distant past, reaching as far as the 5th century AD. The Carthaginian inhabitants of these lands at the time thought that planting palm trees in this area was a good idea, and it seems they were right, as the Romans who arrived later continued the cultivation. The Arabs, after the conquest of the Iberian Peninsula, also planted palms in Elche. Moreover, it was the Arab settlers who contributed to the development of the vast palm grove.

They constructed a dense and extensive network of irrigation channels and established a settlement that became the nucleus of present-day Elche. Thanks to the work of Arab farmers and engineers, the city can now boast the largest concentration of palm trees in all of Europe.

After the expulsion of the Arabs from the territories of present-day Spain, Christians took great care of the beautiful palm gardens. During that time, many laws were implemented to protect the Palm Grove. Interestingly, many of those decrees, in more or less modified forms, remain in effect to this day. This has ensured that the Palm Grove in Elche has been under strict protection for centuries.

Visiting the Palm Grove in Elche

I suggest starting your adventure in Elche where you’ll find expansive, beautifully maintained gardens with the oldest and most fascinating palm trees in the city. There are so many palm trees that one could call it a forest. However, each palm has been planted deliberately and meticulously planned. All these trees are designated for agricultural purposes, hence specific sections of the grove are referred to as gardens or orchards.

The tradition of planting palms along streets and in almost every available space has a centuries-old history. Therefore, when viewed from above, Elche resembles a grid of streets, charming alleys, and pathways, all interwoven with palm trees.

While strolling among the palms, you shouldn’t miss the Jardín Huerto del Cura National Artistic Garden, established in 1943, located in the heart of the city. This place is exceptionally beautiful and well-maintained. Nearly three thousand palms of various species and many other exotic plants, including cacti towering even above the palms, thrive here.

A particularly interesting and well-known palm in the botanical garden is the Imperial Palm. This extraordinary plant grows seven palms from a single boot. In 1894, the Palm Grove in Elche was visited by Empress Elisabeth of Bavaria, and this palm made a tremendous impression on her. Since that day, the tree has been named Sissi (a diminutive term for the empress).

Entrance to the botanical garden costs a few euros per person.

Museum of Palms and the history of the city of Elche Museo del Palmeral

On the premises of the Palm Grove, you will find the Palm and Elche City Museum. It is not large, tiny actually, but it’s worth entering, especially since the ticket costs only 1 Euro.

In the museum, you can trace the process of planting palms, learn about their species, and discover a lot about the trees themselves and their applications. I was personally surprised by the significant benefits of palm cultivation. It turns out that sweet dates are just a fraction of the profits obtained by the local farmers. Palm leaves, among other things, are very valuable, with a wide range of applications.

Additionally, in the museum, you’ll get to know the history of the Palm Grove from its very beginning. A noteworthy exhibit is the timeline that allows you to track the growth of the famous Imperial Palm, known as Sissi.

The museum is located at Calle Porta de la Morera 12, 03203.

Elche is a beautiful city, very green and well-maintained. I am sure I will be visiting here as often as possible, and I wish the same for you.

Palm grove in Elche interesting facts and information

• The Palmeral de Elche is an enormous palm grove located in the province of Alicante on the Costa Blanca coast.
• The city of Elche is situated just under 30 kilometres from Alicante and approximately 40 kilometres from La Mata.
• The grove covers an area of over 300 square kilometres.
• Within the Palmeral de Elche, there are over half a million palm trees. It is the largest concentration of palm trees in all of Europe, surpassed in size only by a few similar groves in Arab countries.
• The grove consists of numerous parks and gardens. Additional attractions include numerous sculptures and fountains.
• The origins of the Palmeral de Elche date back to ancient times.
• Palms in this part of the Iberian Peninsula have been growing for thousands of years, as evidenced by archaeological excavations. However, during the ice age, all palm trees became extinct. Palms returned to the present-day Spain through the efforts of the Carthaginians.
• The predominant palm species in the grove are date palms, which bear sweet and highly prized fruits.
• In 2002, the entire area of the palm grove was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
• The most famous palm in the grove is the Imperial Palm, named after the Austrian Empress, Elisabeth of Bavaria.
• The tradition of giving names to palms after famous people is ancient. The process takes place in the grove in the presence of a chosen VIP. They pour wine on the chosen palm and give it a name. The bond between a person and a tree is only broken after the death of one of them.
• In the city of Elche, there is a museum dedicated to palms and the city itself.
• In Elche, besides palms, many other species of Mediterranean plants grow. These include orange, lemon, and grapefruit trees (one of the fruits we came across turned out to be delicious).
• In the botanical garden, located in the heart of the palm grove, there is an impressive collection of cacti, reminiscent of the one created by César Manrique on the island of Lanzarote.

Ciekawostki o mieście Elche i palmach

• Palms encompass nearly 3,000 species that can vary significantly from one another.
• The tallest palms, known as wax palms, can reach heights of up to 60 meters. The leaves of these palms can extend up to almost 6 meters in length.
• There are cold-resistant palm species that can be easily cultivated in our rather temperamental climate.
• Not all palms take the form of trees; some species are shrubs and climbers.
• The world’s smallest palm reaches a height of 30 centimetres.
• In Asian and African countries, palm sap is used to produce strong and flavourful wine called kallu (I had the opportunity to try it).
• People have learned to utilize every part of the palm. An example is the coconut palm, highly valuable for its coconuts. These yield coconut meat, known to us as coconut flakes. Additionally, coconut milk, rich in vitamins and minerals, and coconut husk all have important uses.
• In the Philippines, coconut milk is used to make a tasty wine called tuba (I have also had the pleasure of trying it).
• The palm known as the traveller’s tree in Madagascar is called the tree of travellers. It stores large amounts of water in its leaves, and to quench thirst, one only needs to cut the leaf at its base.
• Rattan, the material used to make popular furniture, comes from climbing palm species cultivated in tropical countries in Asia.
• The fan palm from India is a very versatile plant. An Indian poem lists as many as 800 different uses for it.
• The largest concentration of palms in Europe is the Palm Grove in Elche, Spain.
• The only palm with European origin is the dwarf fan palm. It occurs in Spain and Italy.
• Palms can live for up to 300 years.

Polish version