The Heritagization of a Mediterranean Vernacular Mountain Landscape: Concepts, Problems and Processes

ABSTRACT The concepts of heritage and landscape have always changed or been developed based on the social context of the time. For decades, attempts have been made to find a pragmatic definition for a changing setting where values, evolve or disappear in step with the changing ways and styles of life of each society. Heritage and landscape have inherent values such as identity, culture, authenticity, or integrity, that is to say, landscape character. Current heritagization processes that lead to an understanding of the palimpsest of landscape and heritage layers need to be participatory and inclusive as their importance and sustainability depend on this. This article shows how the early stages of a heritagization process unfold in a small region of the western Mediterranean, Penyagolosa (Castellón). The current problems of the region – depopulation, abandonment, and loss of culture and identity – are assessed in search of an understanding and appreciation of a heritage landscape. The research uses techniques such as photo elicitation in workshops, GIS analysis, and evaluates the different options to characterize the landscape offered by different researchers. The analysis explains the different phases of the research to establish the basis of the heritagization of this setting. The study also established a parallel perspective for valorization between researchers and local population – objective and subjective visions – thus encouraging the interest of the social majority linked to the landscape.