Spain's most beautiful abandoned village is in Extremadura – CSN News

Covering an area of more than 500,000 km², Spain offers all kinds of holiday destinations to the millions of tourists who visit the country every year. While some tourists come for the sun, beach and relaxation that Spain offers, others are in search of its mountains and countryside. Spain is not only known for its well-known spots. It also has some hidden gems that are only discovered by the most curious.

Many tourists are attracted to the abandoned villages of Spain in recent years. Imagine walking down the streets of an area where no one lived for more than 60 years. This is the reality of many Spanish villages that, following the construction of reservoirs in the Franco years, saw their residents leave to seek a better life and left their homes at mercy of the water.

Many of them were submerged during the 1950s and 60s, but some never were, even after residents had left. What happened to what is considered the most beautiful village in Spain? But where is it located and how can you get there, if it’s not already submerged in water?

What is the most beautiful village in Spain?

One of the most beautiful abandoned villages in Spain is Granadilla in the province of Cáceres in Extramadura. The village has a rich and beautiful history. Its inhabitants left the area more than 70 years ago after the construction of the nearby Gabriel y Galán reservoir.

Tourists flock to the village today, attracted by the 15th-century castle that was built atop the ruins of an Arab citadel. It has a central tower, four semicircular ones and also a moat.

Granadilla’s other great attraction is its impressive city wall, in fact it is one of the best preserved in the country along with those of Lugo and Ávila and it surrounds the whole village. It was built during the Islamic period of the ninth century and used as a defensive bastion for more than 500 year.

The 16th century is a must-see for visitors La Asunción church, which has become one of the most important buildings in the village. The Bishop of Coria refused to expropriate the building, making it the only one in Granadilla. The church has its main chapel, a three-sided aisle and an apse in spite of the damage it sustained after the village was abandoned.

Granadilla’s history: its origin, and why it was abandoned

Granadilla was founded in the ninth century when Muslims settled in the area as they considered it a strategic military and defensive bastion thanks to its location: it was on the border with the kingdoms of Castile, León and Portugal. Granada, not Granadilla, was the original name for the town.

During the Reconquista, under the rule of King Ferdinand II of León, the Christians managed to defeat the Muslims who lived there, repopulating it and giving it the walls that characterise it. Granadilla became the official name of the village in 18th century after the Catholic Monarchs conquest Granada.

On 24 June 1955 Franco’s government decreed the expropriation of Granadilla as a result of the construction of the Gabriel y Galán reservoir. Five years later, after the payment of compensation to the residents, the village was declared state property. The inhabitants were told that they had no rights. Finally, in 1964, with the exponential growth of the reservoir and the flooding of the lands of the Vega Baja and part of the roads, the last inhabitants left the village because they had no means of subsistence and moved to Alagón del Río.

The situation changed at the end of the Franco era when, under the government of Adolfo Suárez, Granadilla was declared a historic-artistic site in 1980. In 1980, the village was declared a historic-artistic site. Its monuments, such as the castle, were in a poor state due to rain and the passing of time. The village was included in 1984 in the interministerial program for abandoned villages. This led to the restoration of the village, and in recent years it has been a tourist attraction.

Granadilla’s timetables and directions to the most beautiful abandoned Spanish village

Granadilla is located in the province of Cáceres, just 1 hour and 20 minutes from the city. According to their website, you can get there “on the Autovía de la Plata E-803, which links Cáceres with Salamanca” and, from there, “take exit 442 towards Zarza de Granadilla”. You can park your car for free in Granadilla once you arrive at the village.

Granadilla’s website says that it is open Tuesday to Sunday, but the hours of opening vary depending on when you visit. The doors are open between April and October from 10am until 1.30pm. From 4pm until 8pm. And from November to February, they’re open from 10.30am until 1.30pm.

It is important to note that the word “you” means “you”. Visiting Granadilla The website states that pets are permitted but must be leashed. The town has put up safety fences and construction zones should be avoided. On the website, it is also explained that accessing the houses of the village which are used exclusively for the educational program, is forbidden.