Careneros Reales, Royal Manufactory in Puerto Real, Spain
Careneros Reales is a royal shipyard in Puerto Real with stone structures built over several centuries for maintaining and constructing naval vessels. The site includes basins, workshops, and storage areas that show the workflow from hauling ships out of the water to completing repairs.
The shipyard began in the 15th century as a key facility for maintaining Spain's naval power during the age of exploration. Over the following centuries, it was expanded and adapted as shipbuilding techniques evolved and the needs of the navy changed.
The name comes from the Spanish word for ship careening, a technique for cleaning and repairing hulls that defined work here for centuries. Walking through the site, you can still sense the daily labor of craftspeople who gathered to maintain the royal fleet.
The site sits along the coast and is best reached on foot from Puerto Real center via paths that follow the waterfront. Wear comfortable shoes since exploring the grounds involves walking and the terrain can be uneven in places.
Some of the stone basins still date from the original 15th century construction and show how durable these structures were. The way these basins were built into the ground allowed workers to move and maintain heavy ships using simple tools and water flow.
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