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The Iberian Peninsula is full of picturesque towns set at the base of the hills, hidden in the heart of ancient mountains or set on the seafront. However, for all their beauty, many of them lack one important thing - a population. The INE’s survey of Spain’s abandoned towns and villages shows a high percentage of these are located in regions like Galicia, with 903, or Asturias, with 529. Some newcomers from abroad are all too happy to take advantage of this fact and have settled in remote spots, whose former inhabitants were forced to leave in search of a better life.

Examples can be found in the numerous deserted towns located in the Aragonese Pyrenees, such as Suelves. This town now belongs to a just one man, who has sold several houses to Belgian families since he first bought it. The first act of these new arrivals was to build a magnificent housing estate near the old town, with cottages, swimming pool and tennis courts. Many families have now chosen Suelves as their holiday residence and have also taken on the task of restoring the houses in the town which remain in a reparable state.

Not far away is another neglected area, Sarsa de Surta. Until recently, its sole year-round inhabitant was a young German man who decided to settle down in the otherwise deserted hamlet. Some months back, a Swiss couple also arrived with the intention of opening a hostel, and the area now sees regular visits from foreigners interested in buying a house there.

The town of Rodalquilar in Almeria first began to host English settlers during a brief goldrush at the end of 19th century. The gold was extracted initially by Germans, and later by English miners, who remained until the mines were nationalised in the fifties. However, their presence left its mark, and inscriptions in Shakespeare’s tongue can still be seen around the ghost town which it has become today.

At the other end of the country, Galicia has seen an influx of Scandinavians attracted by the natural landscapes. Locals in the rural area of A Rúa in La Coruña say several Swedes have put down roots in abandoned houses in the nearby hills. The houses are practically in the middle of nowhere, so if peace and quiet is what they are seeking, they couldn’t have picked a better spot.

Story from Spanish Promotions