On the defence of patrimony: enhancing the value of fortified cities and their landscapes by creating a transborder smart tourism destination

Cultural patrimony plays a primordial role in catalysing a rural world immersed in a bitter struggle to survive. Depopulation and a lack of incentives are just two of the most severe problems in this regard. La Raya, as the study area on the Spanish-Portuguese border is known, offers a clear case of this situation. Setting out from the transborder area between the western region of the province of Salamanca (Spain) and the eastern part of Beira (Portugal), an experimental laboratory was created to elaborate and implement specific solutions to the challenges threatening a space marked by certain particularities. The longstanding need to defend this zone now centres on a series of fortified cities whose historical and biocultural patrimony requires novel ideas to enhance their value and conservation efforts. To a great degree, achieving this goal entails integrating the elements and resources of their landscapes and including them in a process in which citizen participation is reflected in the territory's destiny. Combining these aspects has spurred the development of the proposal presented herein, one that addresses several key challenges: normalising the reality of two nations; enhancing the value of intangible patrimony as an additional component; conserving, above all, unpopulated spaces; and developing inclusive initiatives that respect the landscapes of the main population nuclei. The project culminates with the elaboration of geotechnological tools and solutions that offer valuable experiences while simultaneously capturing data on the most important aspects for residents and visitors. This arduous process is conducted by a multidisciplinary team linked to diverse local agents.