Many people dream of owning a villa or apartment in Spain, but for the price of a villa, someone could own an entire village in the northwest of the country. While most deserted villages are in a sorry state, this one was only abandoned some 30 years ago and has since had some renovation. Read on to find out if you would like to be the owner of Salto de Castro.

Salto de Castro – village for sale in northwestern Spain

Salto de Castro used to be home to the families of workers who were building a reservoir next to the village. Located close to the Portuguese border, the village was constructed in the 1950s by the electric company, Iberduero (now Iberdrola). However, once the project was complete, the residents started to move away and there was no longer anything to do there. Due to this, by the 1980s, the village was completely deserted.

The property was initially listed on the real estate site, Idealista for €260,000 ($273,263) and was later purchased by Oscar Torres for €300,000 ($315,357). The owner’s dream was to create a tourist haven, but the 2008 crisis put a stop to their ambitions. Meanwhile, after an architectural revamp by Torres and some local red tape hiccups, the village is now back on the market.

However, due to the improvements already made, Portugal News reports that the price is now €580,000 ($609,478). That figure is less than you would pay for a villa on the coast of Spain.

What does the village offer?

Nestling on the reservoir, Salto de Castro features 44 houses, mostly terraced, but with five independent homes. The village also features a church, bar and a school with a number of classrooms. There are also Guardia Civil (civil guard) barracks, sports facilities and a swimming pool.

Meanwhile, the village is on the border with Portugal giving access to more tourist attractions.  Moreover, the village has a hostel with 14 rooms, a cafeteria and a laundry room. Due to its position on the reservoir, there is much opportunity for water sports.

However, the owner has received some interest in the village. Romuald Rodriguez, representing the current owner, shared with Idealista:

For now, we have received offers from Saudi Arabia and the United States (specifically from a group in Miami).

Meantime, Rodriguez said the bids had reached €600,000 ($630,183).

Whether one of the two bidders will end up buying the property is currently unknown. However, anyone who is interested in opening a rural tourist Mecca in a beautiful region of Spain can find out more about the village on Idealista, or make them an offer they can’t refuse.