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From the 1950s onwards, millions of Spaniards began an exodus that led them away from the villages, the countryside and an agricultural way of life to the emerging industrialised cities. Their reasons were many and varied, but among the most significant were the development of cities and industry, the lack of infrastructure and essential services such as health and education or the construction of large hydraulic works. This led to hundreds of villages being completely abandoned or else left with an ageing population that disappeared as the years went by. The following piece of information proves the point: between 1940 and 1974 the Spanish rural population halved from 52% to 23%. There are currently estimated to be some 2,000 uninhabited villages in Spain, mostly in the provinces of Leon, Soria, Guadalajara, L�rida and, above all, Huesca, where there are some 400 abandoned villages.

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In order to reduce these alarming figures, since the early 1980s public institutions, ecological associations, former inhabitants or anonymous individuals escaping from the noise and pollution of the big city have began to slowly rehabilitate these villages for tourism purposes or simply to live in them. One of the most significant projects was begun in 1984 by different ministries in the areas of B�bal (Hue rehabilitarlos sca), Umbralejo (Guadalajara) and Granadilla (C�ceres). The aim was to rehabilitate the villages through ecological programs that still continue to this day via the summer holiday work camps attended by hundreds of school-age children in Spain. The Generalitat of Catalonia is currently running several of these work camps in different villages located in the Catalan Pyrenees, such as Aramunt Vell, Font-Calda, Ogassa or Torreblanca.

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These projects enable a twin goal to be reached: totally or partially allowing a rural dwelling to be reborn and helping to develop a new economic activity for the new inhabitants to make a living. These initiatives are varied and include rural tourism, ecological routes, agricultural development and cattle rearing, craft-making and even organic production of honey, dried fruits, liquors, jams and wine to be sold in specialised stores.

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However, in spite of these valiant efforts, the situation continues to be very serious. The abandonment of villages, especially the absence of means to rejuvenate the population and give the youngsters employment opportunities has meant the remaining inhabitants continue to emigrate. New measures are needed not only to recover these abandoned villages but also to prevent many inhabited villages from suffering the same fate. If you need more information, get in contact with the associations and bodies promoting these types of projects. Some of them are:

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Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport: Alongside the Communities of Arag�n, Castilla la Mancha and Extremadura are developing the project known as Pueblos Abandonados (Abandoned Villages).
C/ Alcal� 36
28071 Madrid
Tel. 902 2185 00

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Navapalos Foundation: Founded by the non-governmental association Inter-acci�n, it has contributed in a decisive way to the rehabilitation of Navapalos (Soria).
�C/ Infantas 23 1� Ext. Dcha

28004 Madrid�

Tel. 91 5312155

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CCOO of Arag�n: Promoted the rehabilitation of Morillo de Tou (Huesca), and member of the� Association of Friends of Morillo de Tou.
Paseo de la Constituci�n, n� 12

�50008� Zaragoza

Tel. 976 23 91 85

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Generalitat de Catalu�a (Department of Agriculture, Cattle and Fisheries): Develops rehabilitation programs for villages within the Leridan Pyrenees.
Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 612-614

�08007� Barcelona

Tel. 93 304 67 00