Pyrenees villages experience resurgence after periods of abandonment

Small villages in the Spanish Pyrenees are experiencing different forms of resurgence following periods of abandonment and depopulation.

In Lanuza, located in the Valle de Tena, Huesca, the community underwent a transformation after the construction of the Lanuza reservoir in the 1970s. While the dam forced many residents to leave, a portion of the settlement remained on the shore. Through local resistance and reconstruction efforts, the village has evolved into a destination for rural tourism, characterized by its stone and slate architecture and its location within the Ordesa-Viñamala Biosphere Reserve.

In Solanell, a small nucleus in the Catalan Pyrenees, residents are finding new ways to live amidst the ruins of previously abandoned settlements. Tomás Valleste García, 64, moved to the village over a decade ago to restore houses and rebuild local history. He notes that while the area lacks urban amenities, the simplicity of rural life allows for a manageable existence on a limited monthly subsidy.