Nuevo Baztán, Industrial heritage town in Madrid region, Spain
Nuevo Baztán is an industrial town in the Madrid region built on elevated terrain with a planned grid of streets radiating from a central plaza. Baroque buildings frame the main spaces, creating distinct zones for religious, civic, and residential functions.
Juan de Goyeneche founded this settlement in 1709 to develop glass, textile, and hat manufacturing in the Madrid countryside. The combination of industrial operations with residential and civic structures represented an experimental approach to town planning for its era.
The Church of San Francisco Javier stands at the heart of the community as a focal point for gathering and spiritual life. Its baroque style shows how religious and civic spaces were designed to work together in this planned settlement.
The town sits roughly 40 kilometers from Madrid and connects by regular bus service from the city. Visitors benefit from walking through the planned layout to understand how all the different buildings and functions were organized together.
The settlement was designed according to a French architect's plan, evident in the precise geometric arrangement of streets and buildings that survives today. This type of organized industrial community was unusual for Spain at that moment in time.
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