Restoration of the Valdezarza Fountains in Chinchón
Works included in the Historic Gardens and Fountains Plan of the Community of Madrid.
El set of the Valdezarza Fountains It is located in the Recreational Area of the same name, on the outskirts of the town of Chinchón, historically linked to the Vereda de Valdezarza livestock route and its resting place. It is made up of two historical sources of Valdezarza, from 1829 and 1862, and a modern fountain-watering hole. About 200 meters away is another group formed by the historical fountain of the Pocilla de Valdezarza from 1878 and a laundry room.
The Valdezarza fountains They are located at the beginning of the valley. Although they were not made at the same time, they correspond to the same type of fountain-retaining wall, and are very similar to each other. The oldest is formed by two retaining walls that define an angle according to the slope of the land. A metal fountain sprouts from the longest wall and pours its water into a rectangular trough formed by thick blocks of limestone, held together with metal staples. Above the pipe, there is a piece with the inscription: «This pylon was made. Year of 1829». The wall has approximate dimensions of 30m in length and a maximum height of 4m.
The other fountain, the one from 1862, is located on the other side of the valley, in front of the first. It is made up of a retaining wall made of masonry, with two low basins joined by a canal, into which a stone and metal pipe pours its waters, presided over by the inscription "Year of 1862." All of this is supplied by natural springs, with basins and troughs for the use of people and livestock respectively.
It is one of the most complete and interesting sets of the typology of water architecture in the Community of Madrid, declared an Asset of Heritage Interest. They stand out in local memory as a place for pilgrimages and the Easter Hornazo festival. The nearby complex, called Pocilla de Valdezarza, adds landscape and environmental interest to its surroundings.
restoration project
The General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and the Spanish Office, through the Historic Gardens and Fountains Plan, has carried out specific restoration interventions in this complex and other nearby ones in 2016 and 2018. Despite this, the abundant vegetation of the natural environment in that is located caused landslides in the retaining wall and other damage to the fountain dating back to 1862, threatening its stability. For this reason, it has been seen necessary to undertake the works in the source itself and its immediate surroundings to avoid its degradation and prevent further damage.
With the intervention carried out in 2023, the wall of the 1862 fountain has been partially rebuilt with the original stone and anti-root elements have been implemented to prevent the repetition of its pathologies. Likewise, the stone factories of the complex have been cleaned, its hydraulic system has been repaired to ensure supply and its basins, basins and water troughs have been restored and waterproofed, with stone restoration of the missing pieces.
Finally, the front of the 1862 fountain has been paved, a recreation area has been created with gravel and stone benches recovered from the environment, with a basin that collects water from runoff from the land, and it has been cleaned and profiled. the natural environment to facilitate the natural flow of water.
