2 Feb, 2024 @ 16:31
1 min read

Expat couple buy an entire abandoned ‘pueblo’ in Spain: These are the plans for their new village

AN expat couple have bought an entire abandoned ‘pueblo’ in Spain and these are their plans for their new home. 

La Bureba has been abandoned for over fifty years. Photo: Idealista

Have you ever dreamed of owning an entire village? 

If so, Spain might just be the country for you. 

According to recent estimates, there could be thousands of abandoned villages in the sun-kissed country. 

A Dutch couple have just become the latest property hunters to take the plunge, buying an entire pueblo in the north of the country. 

The village, some 40km from Burgos, is in the heart of ‘abandoned Spain’. 

Composed of 64 ‘mostly ruined’ houses, Barcena de Bureba has been empty for over 50 years. 

The town offers beautiful country and tranquil living. Photo: Idealista

READ MORE: EXCLUSIVE: Meet the British expats set to appear on A New Life in The Sun from TONIGHT as they launch their glamping business in Portugal

Now, the couple hope to revive the village, making it an ‘eco-town’ with both residential and touristic lodgings. 

They also want to implement sustainable farming initiatives. 

The sale was closed last summer by Aldeas Abandonadas Real Estate. 

La Bureba was put up for sale at €525,000 but eventually sold for €339,000. 

The town occupies some six hectares of land and the couple are already seeking planning permission to start their first projects. 

Aldeas Abandonadas will be by their side every step of the way to support them as they begin the reforms. 

Nonetheless, the real estate agency warned that anyone looking to undertake this kind of project must come prepared. 

Although La Bureba is not yet on tourist’s radar, it has a good strategic position as part of the Camino de Santiago. 

La Bureba is full of history, including a roman church. Photo: Idealista

The surrounding countryside also has much to offer tourists, as well as the village roman church. 

The Dutch couple have reportedly taken all of this into consideration and developed a full plan for the village. 

If you fancy living the rural dream, Aldeas Abandonadas has many properties available including houses, palaces, stately homes, monasteries, vineyards and fincas. 

In Castilla y Leon, a village is up for sale for €1.2 million, while in Leon you could grab a town for a bargain €240,000. 

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Yzabelle Bostyn

Yzabelle Bostyn is an NCTJ trained journalist who started her journalistic career at the Olive Press in 2023.
Before moving to Spain, she studied for a BA in English Literature and Hispanic Studies at the University of Sheffield.
After graduating she moved to the university’s journalism department, one of the best in the UK.
Throughout the past few years, she has taken on many roles including social media marketing, copywriting and radio presenting.
She then took a year out to travel Latin America, scaling volcanoes in Guatemala and swimming with sharks in Belize.
Then, she came to the Olive Press last year where she has honed her travel writing skills and reported on many fantastic experiences such as the Al Andalus luxury train.
She has also undertaken many investigations, looking into complex issues like Spain’s rental crisis and rising cancer rates.
Always willing to help, she has exposed many frauds and scams, working alongside victims to achieve justice.
She is most proud of her work on Nolotil, a drug linked to the deaths of many Brits in Spain.
A campaign launched by Yzabelle has received considerable support and her coverage has been by the UK and Spanish media alike.
Her writing has featured on many UK news outlets from the Sun to the Mail Online, who contracted her to report for them in Tenerife on growing tourism issues.
Recently, she has appeared on Times Radio covering deadly flooding in Valencia.

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