MATAVENERO
Long-established self-governed off-grid anarchist, hippie and ecological village in the Spanish mountains.
One of the six villages in my project Rutopia, on the repopulation of abandoned ruin-villages in northern Spain, supported by the National Geographic Society.
AGUINALÃU -
This village in the desolate Huesca region has never been completely abandoned, though has been on the brink of depopulation. In the past decade, several newcomers have started a new life in the village. The upper part of the village was in ruins, but saw 14 new residents in search for a rural lifestyle and giving new life to the village.
C'AL AMAT-
Anarchist Didac Costa the abandoned hamlet C'al Amat, and a 70 hectare property within national parque la Garrotxa. His dream is to create an eco-community, but so far he lives alone in a community with 45 animals.
SOLANELL
Solanell is a ruin village in the northern Pyrenees, near the border of Andorra. It consists of 43 ruins, of which 6 have been converted into houses. Currently, there are 4 permanent residents in the village.
BARCHEL
A group of young friends created an eco-community in the hills near Valencia. Self-governance, sustainability and community are core-values. Their little utopy is threatened by a legal process. Several of the owners of the more than forty year abandoned ruins are now reclaiming their properties, after having given a verbal consent for the group to create their future-proof village.
PRADA DE LA SIERRA
Traditional Spanish village that was abandoned in the seventies. Many of the original inhabitants migrated to Madrid, but kept their houses as second residencies. In the past year new people came to repopulate the village. Though all of them have their reasons to live in a desolated village, most of them want the village back on the map, in order to receive basic services.