Abstract
Introduction: Cultural heritage consists of a set of tangible, intangible, and natural assets that express the historical traces of the relationship between human societies and their environment. These assets acquire social and symbolic values that are transmitted and reinterpreted over time, becoming fundamental references for the construction of collective identities and the strengthening of the social fabric. Development: The research aims to demonstrate how cultural heritage can influence social development, highlighting the role of local history as a key instrument in this process. From this perspective, knowledge, appreciation, and preservation of heritage are recognized as essential elements for promoting historical and cultural awareness in communities. The case study is the Viñales Valley, declared a World Heritage Site in 1999, which is presented as a significant reference point for heritage education. The analysis highlights that cultural heritage, when approached from the perspective of local history, allows the past to be linked to the present, promoting educational processes that strengthen the sense of belonging and social participation. It also reflects on the need to integrate the study of heritage into educational processes as a means of recognizing, safeguarding, and socially utilizing it. Conclusions: The results show that the relationship between cultural heritage and local history is manifested in the use of heritage sites as sources of historical knowledge. In this sense, heritage can be incorporated as relevant content in the teaching and learning process of local history, contributing both to heritage education and to the sustainable social development of communities.
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