This Abandoned Village Near Madrid Goes Up for Sale for €260,000

Of all the world’s easiest countries to migrate to, Spain ranks pretty high on the list. Top cities like Barcelona and Madrid have attracted many expats for many reasons, including gastronomy, affordable living costs, and warm climates. But what if I told you that you could find your forever home in an abandoned village at the borders near Portugal?

After 30 years of being uninhabited, the northwestern village of Salto de Castro is up for sale for a price of €260,000 (~S$368,306). It’s a three-hour drive from Madrid and comes with enough buildings you’d find in any town in Spain.

Also read: The Sardinia Government Is Offering €15,000 for People to Move There

A brief history of Salto de Castro

The region of Zamora, where the village is located | Image credit: abaloo72 via Canva Pro

Salto de Castro was initially built in the early 1950s to house the families of those who built the nearby reservoir for an electricity generation company. It officially became abandoned in the 1980s when the inhabitants left the village. 

During the early 2000s, the owner of the village purchased the whole area. At the time, he had plans to turn the village into a tourist spot, but the 2006 economic crisis had caused delays. Earlier in 2022, Salto de Castro was listed for a price of €2.5 million (~S$3,541,339) as the owner revealed he was an “urban dweller” and couldn’t maintain the village anymore. Without any potential buyers, the price plummeted to the current listing price today.  

The official listing of Salto de Castro

According to the official listing on Idealista (a Spanish property site), the village includes 44 apartments and houses, a bar, a church, a school, police barracks, a swimming pool, and a sports area. 

As of writing, the listing garnered over 50,000 views and 300 enquiries from interested buyers in numerous locations — Russia, France, the United Kingdom, and Belgium. One buyer has even put down money to reserve the listing. 

Image credit: Balles2601

On the other hand, if the buyer were to keep up the maintenance of the entire property, a total of €2 million(~S$2,833,119) would be needed. Buyers would also be able to access subsidies from the state as well as the Junta de Castilla y León government. 

Also read: Spain Will Plant Half a Million Trees Around Madrid to Lower Heat Levels

While buying a whole village may be a little over our budget, you know what isn’t? An amazing trip to Spain’s most famous cities. If that’s the case, we hope to see you in La Piel de Toro soon. ¡Hasta entonces!

Featured image credit: Balles2601 | Wikimedia Commons