Banyoles is asking for one million euros to fix the Neolithic park of La Draga to the Next Generation

2024-01-01 10:13:34

L’City Council of bathrooms has presented a project ofone million euros to fix the Neolithic Park of the Draga in the call for Next Generation funds. The mayor of Banyoles, Michael Noguer, has detailed that they are awaiting the resolution of the Ministry of Culture, which has delayed the announcement of the selected projects due to the “avalanche of requests” they have received, according to the mayor’s words. At the moment the municipality ja has received 3.5 million of European funds and most of this aid will be applied this year in improvements to promote sustainable tourism. Specifically, 2.3 million will be allocated in this area, where the renovation of the watchtowers of the lake, the construction of new cycle paths or a water park.

La Draga is one of the oldest sites in the Iberian Peninsula and one of the first inhabited in Europe (5,400 – 4,900 BC). It is located on one of the sides of the lake of Banyoles and since it is partially flooded by the water of the lake, it has favored the conservation of some plant elements of the time, becoming a point of reference for studying the towns of the time in Europe.

Due to this importance, the Draga Neolithic Park was created in 2000, a space that recreates some of the cabins that was there at that time. The space is open to the public so that visitors can put themselves in the place of the Neolithic people to learn how they lived. In the park they recreate the crops of cereals and legumes that were there and the public can see the tools they used to hunt, make fire and grow food.

Now, the Banyoles City Council vol update this equipment. That is why he has presented a project to the Next Generation funds of almost one million euros. The mayor of Banyoles, Miquel Noguer, has detailed that they are waiting for the Ministry of Culture resolve the aid as they have received an “avalanche of requests” and has not yet detailed which projects will receive public funding and which will not.

Cyclists riding along the edge of Banyoles lake ACN

3.5 million in European aid

In the event that the Ministry resolves favorably, this million euros will be added to the 3.5 that the council has already received from European funds. Most of the money is included in the tourism sustainability project (2.35 million) that the Banyoles City Council received in 2023. This year they plan to start executing part of the project that focuses on bicycles and water as main driving axes.

It is a project with seventeen performances where is the connection of the cycling network of the municipality to connect the lake and the old town of the municipality. In fact, this is one of the main challenges in terms of tourism that the municipality has because on many occasions people go around the lake but the council works so that visitors can reach the old town and discover the cultural heritage that is there and consume in the shops and restaurants of the capital of Pla de l’Estany.

On the other hand, Banyoles City Council plans to reform the lookout towers on the lake and create a large water park to enhance the lake and the town’s irrigation systems. It is also planned instal·lar videomàppings andin various parts of the Old Quarter. The aim is to deploy the entire tourism plan within a maximum period of three years.