Portal de Turismo de Castilla y León

Dates

12 June to 30 September 2025

When?

Currently

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International Archives Week 2025 (IAW2025) is being celebrated from June 9 to 13. The chosen theme , #AccessibleArchives: Archives for All, aims to highlight the essential role of accessibility in the digital transformation of archives and their ability to reach a global audience.

As archives evolve in the digital age, the ability to provide greater access to archival content becomes more crucial than ever. This year's theme will celebrate the ways in which archives around the world are embracing new technologies to open up their collections, facilitating access to history, culture, and knowledge for all. From improved digital platforms and user interfaces to innovative preservation techniques, the goal is to ensure that archives are accessible to everyone, regardless of their geographical location or physical limitations.

On the occasion of this celebration, the Provincial Historical Archive of Zamora has organized the exhibition " The bridges that unite us. One hundred years of Civil Engineering in Zamora (1849-1939) ", which will open on Thursday, June 12 and can be visited until September 30, 2025 , from Monday to Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

The recent addition to the Provincial Historical Archive of Zamora of a series of bridge construction projects from the 19th and 20th centuries, some still in service, others that ended up ruined or flooded by water, and the minority that did not go beyond mere studies, presents an unbeatable opportunity to bring the visitor closer to this type of engineering that once embodied the spirit of avant-garde and progress in the desire to articulate the territory and communicate the towns of the province. Today, many of these bridges have become inseparable elements of our landscape, also remaining very present in our experiences and memories. All the documentation exhibited comes from the collection of the Provincial Headquarters of Public Works of Zamora (1845-1989) , which has been transferred by the Territorial Development Service of the Junta de Castilla y León .

Public Works are understood to be works of general interest intended for public use and in whose creation the State intervenes directly or indirectly. The greater or lesser scope of this concept varied from the mid-19th century onward, in line with technological innovations (electricity lines, railways, telephone lines, etc.) and the progressive clarification of responsibilities between the State, Provincial Councils, City Councils, and, more recently, the Autonomous Communities. One of the defining characteristics of the body responsible for executing the State's Public Works during the 19th and 20th centuries was its change in name. Initially conceived as the body responsible for the General Development of the Kingdom, along with other matters (commerce, agriculture, public education, etc.), it eventually specialized exclusively in Public Works. Two events were crucial in this transformation: the creation of the School of Civil Engineers and the publication of major laws that allowed the Ministry to specify its activity.