Enchanting Village Resembling a Fairytale in Spain

Scattered ancient houses on the mountain slopes in Spain create a picturesque scene reminiscent of a fairytale, now facing the risk of disappearing in the future.

Enchanting Village Resembling a Fairytale in Spain

Located deep within the mountainous alleys of Northern Spain, these centuries-old houses have appeared over the centuries, scattered on the slopes of Ancares. These houses come together to form small villages, coexisting and breathing life into the harsh, rugged landscape of the Galicia and Castile-León regions of Spain.

With a unique and ancient design, the houses here carry a beauty that cannot be found in any other land. Locals refer to them as palloza, constructed to withstand the harsh high-altitude climate of Ancares.

Palloza features a circular design, and the roof is covered with black barley straw. Additionally, the walls and columns of the houses are made from granite, limestone, or slate indigenous to the area. With a round shape, few windows, and made from large stone blocks, pallozas serve as both wind barriers and maintain a comfortable temperature inside.

The palloza's roof, also known as teitor, is predominantly crafted from black barley straw. However, in recent years, a decline in population, coupled with the scarcity of black barley straw, has led to the rapid deterioration of the roof. This has caused headaches for the locals, especially as roof repair craftsmen become scarce, and the trade faces decline due to low demand. Consequently, the costs of repairing and renovating the roof have surged significantly.

Faced with exorbitant repair costs, some nearby homeowners have proposed an alternative solution, replacing the black barley straw with metal roofing sheets. It's not a preferable choice, but at the current juncture, it stands as the most optimal and only option they can consider.

Additionally, in the face of global climate change, the Ancares mountain region is not an exception. The annual heavy rainfall and the already harsh climate have become even more severe, making the maintenance and renovation of palloza even more challenging.

Therefore, in recent times, residents no longer inhabit palloza but utilize them for various commercial purposes such as museums, restaurants, hotels, etc. Natural materials are gradually being replaced with cost-effective metal to minimize the overall renovation costs.

Commercialization entails the installation of lighting systems, heating, ventilation, and essential services. In a hilly region like Ancares, modernizing without adversely affecting the surrounding ecosystem poses a challenging conundrum.

In the future, these ancient villages will gradually transform into entertainment hubs, concluding the fairytale narrative. At that point, preserving the cultural essence and conserving nature becomes even more challenging in Spain.

As per Monster

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Reference: Travel Guide by Mytour