La Garganta (finca)

La Garganta (

Duke of Bavaria.^[3]^[4]

La Garganta is the largest privately owned hunting estate in Europe,[5] and occupies a surface area larger than the entire city of Barcelona.^[6]

History

The property was formerly owned by the British mining company

Rio Tinto, which mined the hills for a variety of minerals. Since the early 20th century it was converted to a hunting ground by a consortium

of European landowners. They managed it through the company Villamagna SA, before the mostly aristocratic German owners started leasing it to Gerald Grosvenor.

Infrastructure

In 2007 it was reported that the private accommodation consists of six large villas, some in the process of renovation, besides accommodation for nearly 100 staff. A converted railway station allows for rail access, while the headquarters is supplied with its own petrol station to service a fleet of over 20 jeeps. Economic activity includes production of olives, cereal and cork.

Strict security was reported, while all but one of the former public entrance roads have been closed. This recent move towards higher exclusivity and privacy proved controversial with some members of the public and local

environmentalists.^[2]

Wildlife

The hilly and extensively forested property, has a perimeter of about 40 miles and ranges from 585 to 1,266 meters in altitude. Its wildlife is described as diverse by European standards. Despite low and erratic rainfall, significant woodlands occur, which include

olives and exotic eucalypts

.

The estate is stocked with

griffon and Egyptian vultures, and the golden eagle are resident species.^[7] The estate manager as of 2007 was José María Tercero.^[2] Prior to the 1990s, the Iberian wolf

was also a species of the estate.

References

^ Real, La Tribuna de Ciudad (2014-11-21). "La Garganta estudia cómo controlar la garrapata desde el punto de vista ecológico". La Tribuna de Ciudad Real (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-03-17.
^ ^a ^b ^c The princes’ secret Spanish playground, December 7, 2007, Cordoba, The Olive Press, Jon Clarke
^ Vanity Fair: De La Mancha a Extremadura: Estas son las fincas donde monarcas, nobles y empresarios van de caza
^ Biblioteca Virtual de Castilla-La Mancha. Bisagra. N.o 113, 28/1-4/2/1990, p. 15
^ Cadena SER: El Valle de Alcudia recuerda al duque de Westminster (In Spanish)
^ Voz Populi: El último gran latifundio español, en la herencia del Duque de Westminster
^ Grosvenor Estate web page

38°28′44″N 04°27′10″W / 38.47889°N 4.45278°W / 38.47889; -4.45278

[1] Real, La Tribuna de Ciudad (2014-11-21). "La Garganta estudia cómo controlar la garrapata desde el punto de vista ecológico". La Tribuna de Ciudad Real (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-03-17.

[olive-2] The princes’ secret Spanish playground, December 7, 2007, Cordoba, The Olive Press, Jon Clarke

[3] Vanity Fair: De La Mancha a Extremadura: Estas son las fincas donde monarcas, nobles y empresarios van de caza

[4] Biblioteca Virtual de Castilla-La Mancha. Bisagra. N.o 113, 28/1-4/2/1990, p. 15

[5] Cadena SER: El Valle de Alcudia recuerda al duque de Westminster (In Spanish)

[6] Voz Populi: El último gran latifundio español, en la herencia del Duque de Westminster

[7] Grosvenor Estate web page

[3]

[4]

[6]

[2]

[7]

History

Infrastructure

Wildlife

See also

References