This beautiful abandoned village in Guadalajara will have a new life: they've been hand-reconstructing it for 40 years and it's a must-visit

We have a tendency to think that when we travel, the farther the better. However, Spain is full of beautiful places, and especially of stories to tell. And no, I'm not just referring (only) to the centuries of history that can be appreciated in the streets of each municipality, I'm talking about the human stories present in every corner, which fill us with a little hope in these turbulent times.

A village that is part of those that restore our faith in people is La Vereda, located in the Sierra de Ayllón, in the province of Guadalajara. The area of Castilla la Mancha is sadly not only known for Don Quixote and the authentic Castilian cuisine, but also for being a region severely affected by the phenomenon of Spain Empty. During the rural exodus of the mid-20th century, La Vereda slowly started to lose its residents, and the good living conditions disappeared along with its population. Currently, only three people live in La Vereda.

In 1972, when the village was running out of inhabitants, a forced expropriation took place to turn the area into a forest zone. However, a group of young people from Madrid and Guadalajara decided to save La Vereda from being destroyed.

In 1977, the Cultural Association La Vereda was founded, created by young people interested in black architecture, who dedicated themselves to reconstructing the village using slate, adobe, and wood. One of their goals was to use traditional techniques to carry out the work, and since they do not use machinery, the reconstruction has taken them decades.

Additionally, it is interesting to note that they are not only trying to recover the houses of the village: also all the traditions that make it unique, such as pottery or jam making.

The Church of San Bartolomé is one of the points of interest, along with the old wood-fired ovens that are being restored as part of the village's conservation effort. Surrounded by the mountainous landscapes of the Sierra de Ayllón, La Vereda also offers an ideal setting for hiking. In addition, cultural activities organized by the Cultural Association La Vereda allow visitors to learn more about their traditions and the restoration process of their buildings.

The architecture of La Vereda is part of the group of villages with the black architecture of Guadalajara. This unmistakable style is based on buildings constructed with dark slate extracted from the Sierra de Ayllón, which gives them their characteristic color. In addition, wood, adobe, and lime are used in the structures. Moreover, the gabled roofs, which are typical in many of the houses, allow for drainage of snow and rain. Campillo de Ranas, Valverde de los Arroyos, and Campillo de Dueñas are other villages you shouldn't miss if you want to discover the black architecture of Guadalajara.