VALENCIA WATER TRIBUNAL
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Tribunal still in operation in Europe, declared as an intangible world heritage by Unesco
Declared a UNESCO Intangible World Heritage Site, the Water Tribunal(Tribunal de las Aguas in Spanish) is one of the oldest civil courts in the world. Every Thursday, for more than a thousand years, the eight representatives of the Canals community have been meeting in front of the Apostles' Door in Valencia Cathedral to ensure the proper functioning of Valencia's irrigation networks and to manage conflicts between irrigators. The sessions are held in the Valencian language, in a democratic, public and impartial manner. The vast and complex system of canals that irrigate Valencia's orchards involves more than 6 000 hectares of land and 1 400 farmers. Initiated by the Romans and perfected by the Arabs, this irrigation grid has been managed by the Water Tribunal at least since the reign of the Caliphs of Cordoba in 960. It is therefore the oldest institution of justice still in operation in Europe.
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