Empty Portugal is Stunning…Why Did So Many People Leave?
The villages and towns in empty Portugal are as beautiful as they are mysterious. In this video, we explore the stunning town of Castelo Novo to understand why so many people have left these historic stone streets behind.
From the 12th-century castle ruins to the 18th-century parish church, Castelo Novo is a masterclass in preservation and history. We’ll walk through the winding granite paths—some dating back to Roman times—and look at the mix of beautifully restored rural tourism homes and the many properties currently sitting empty and for sale.
What happens to a town of only 300 residents when the youth move to the cities and the older generations pass on? Is tourism the “second chance” these villages need, or is the high cost of maintenance making these heritage homes impossible to keep?
In this video:
A walk through the historic village of Castelo Novo, Portugal.
Exploring the 1202 castle ruins and the 1732 Church of Our Lady of Grace.
Checking out properties for sale and the cost of restoration.
A look at the local “river beach” and the surrounding Gardunha mountains.
The impact of rural tourism on Portugal’s “Empty Interior.”
I want to hear from you: Would you ever invest in a property like the ones we saw today? Do you think tourism is enough to save these historic villages? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
If you enjoyed this walk through Portugal, please give the video a thumbs up and subscribe for more deep dives into the hidden corners of the Iberian Peninsula.
#Portugal #Travel #AbandonedPlaces #CasteloNovo #History #RuralTourism #PortugalTravel
Become a member to get access to perks and help me make more content:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE5hoPfKusdD0md1fYjp3zw/join
🛒Spanish Products I recommend and use;
https://www.amazon.es/shop/spainspeaks
Great mobile plans for English speakers: https://www.lobster.es/referral/?referralCode=SPAINSPEA
Support: ► Patreon https://www.patreon.com/spainspeaks
Support: ► Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/spainspeaks
Support: ► Merchandise: https://spain-speaks.creator-spring.com
Support: ► PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=QTKDXH7PA3M26&source=url
Please comment and subscribe to this channel.
I film my videos on #lumix and GoPro cameras and lenses and sometimes on an iPhone.
#spain
47 Comments
Portugal has the great concept of temporarily blocking a water way to make a swimming area!
The Camino that goes through there is the Caminho Nascente, that leads from the Mediterranean through Eastern Portugal, crossing into Spain near Chaves. I've walked near there, but not there exacly, and apart from that castle, it's quite typical of the smaller villages, though it's quite a bit more lively than most. One sign that the place is being cared for are the fairly recently set down cobblestones, a definite sign of general renovation work being done, as in the more remote and less inhabited villages no such thing can be found. A Spanish influence can be seen in the very oldest buildings though they are still Portuguese, but the newer and "newer" ones 17th Century and later are of course all typical of Portugal.
In England we'd call that a swimming pool.
Hi Stu.. beautiful little village, but how far away are stores, banks, doctors etc .. what was the industry in this small town… Thanks for the tours
Before I became a pensioner I was a stone mason, so I see a lot of "pornography" in videos like this one — meaning that I can fantasise about all things that are possible but surely not realise any of it. However, as I keep on saying, there are many tremendous possibilities in – let's call it "Iberia" – for building solid equity if you are a resonably fit person who's not afraid to put in the work. (Obviously there are many such themed videos on YouTube as well.)
Looks like you’re about 15 minutes from the town of Fundão. So then the remoteness is more manageable. Lovely video to enjoy on a lazy Sunday – thank you Stu.
Not sure why I see this videos, maybe I'm not as smart as I thought
Love your videos Steven. Thanks and God Bless
Britain looks like that.
Dis town is comin' like a ghost town. All the place shut down.
The dog is so cute
Lovely town.
I don’t know Portugal, but my husband is French & we’ve spent time going through tiny villages there.
My take is that people abandon villages where there is no proximity to just bs & a lack of infrastructure to raise kids.
They need indoor sports venues, swimming pools, tennis courts, soccer pitches, etc. They can’t be populated if there’s no possibility of jobs.
What are the dining & grocery shopping options?
Love these little villages. One only gets to experience them if walking a Camino or specially going to them. So much history in the walls. Thanks for sharing this little village with us.
They are staying out of the sun
Há algo com Portugal, que a mera menção deste nome é suficiente para comprometer o sucesso ou a audiência de um projeto. Estou convicto que é um lugar que por algum motivo foi amaldiçoado. O sistema judicial português defende o Direito em detrimento da Justiça quando ambos encontram-se em conflito, o que resulta em notória impunidade. Os polícias são iguais a comissários de bordo, completamente inúteis, nem equipados com um taser quanto mais uma arma. Os cidadãos com apetências criminosas adoram este faroeste condenado à negligência. Temos um governo de má-fé que não tem os melhores interesses dos eleitores nas suas prioridades. É assustador viver num país assim.
😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔
awesome episode
I didn't see a bar.
Finally, something that is not about eating. Good job.
Not empty! People are coming back, leaving Lisbon and big city centers, so nice video, but bad info, it seems to me a sales video, and we the Portuguese are a bit tired off this SALES videos. There are less people than before but are slowly coming back, besides, many of this closed homes are future projects for retirement for those living abroad.
So not empty not abandoned.
Gorgeous little 'Vila' (between a city and a village size-wise). The reason why so many people leave is always the same, for economic reasons. Every Portuguese would prefer to live in Portugal, but often, economic reasons put them on the road (somehow imprinted in the Portuguese collective mind), but always with the hope that one day, they'll come back 'home' .
What a gorgous place, unfortunately I could not live rhere, firstly, there's probably no svhools for my grsnchildren who live with us, but, my biggest problem would be my fear of wildfires, there's so many trees and dry shrubbery, I'd never sleep! My brotjer lived there for years, his kids still do It is a very special place I'd have to build a concrete house to protect us but that goes agsinst my eco-friendly efforts!
The signage was so nice to see. Rural Spain could take note. I’d love to know more about the places I’m walking around! Even virtual signage and QR codes would be cool.
Most young people leave because they have to go to schools, university or have to find a job in the big cities. Older people eventually die and these places becomes abandoned.
Thank you for sharing
No jobs, no shops, no school, no hospital. Not everything can run on B&B's. It's the same thing in the countryside all over Europe.
average salary in Portugal 850€ after taxes and people wounder why people leave? 🤣
Wow! What a stunning little village! So glad you got to visit & share it with us. I do hope that it is revived at some point! 😊
Beautiful & serene. Thank you Stewart
First thing I noticed is how clean the streets and alleys are.
Great video!
Praia fluvial is simply translated as a river beach. Most little places in central Portugal have them or a piscina, which is a public pool.
Why is the cost to maintain to much? What are the costs? Taxes, maintenance or ?
It not difficult to see videos and pictures of Portugal and not fall in love with it. The fact remains that even the Portuguese are looking for better places to live. So what are we not being told? Most people enjoy similar things. Good climate, beautiful views, dependable services and a safe environment. Of course employment is also important for those still working and raising families but not everyone is concerned about that provides other services are available like food stores, markets, medical services and other essential services are still available. You stated the cost of maintaining a home as a reason for people selling. What costs would that be? Gardeners, taxes, perhaps utilities?
That is a beautiful, well maintained town. Wonder how the electric service is there? And where to get fresh produce.
immigrants from Africa simple.
Beautiful little town, thanks for sharing!
Beautiful but private transport and income is essential, subsistence farming is the main industry in the region,having said that this location is only 30 minutes in either direction to two main cities Castelo Branco or Fundão….with all amenities. Beautiful country and more importantly beautiful,friendly people with a strong culture and very family oriented.
Robber Baron ecclesiastical state is the answer
Many old houses in Portugal belongued to people that died. Many cannot be sold because to be sold all the heirs have to agree do that decision, sometimes that does no happens.
Socialism, communist coups…..destroyed Portugal
ugh jobs?
Watching from portugal 🇵🇹
At 26.08 you was at our cottage we rent out
It is an English gentleman renting off us at the moment ,looking to buy a farm here
Socialism destroyed rural Portugal, just like Spain.
thanks for this
It's interesting to see this little village in Portugal… it is all stone and no color though. When I think of Spain and the Village of Mijas Pueblo where I used to live, with all the colorful pots of flowers on the walls and the community spaces always full of color… this town does look pretty much dreary in comparison… If I was the mayor there I would see what I could do to promote some kind of colorful flowers around the public spaces. At minute 13.04 you see a structure of a pole with hooks at the top, I presume for hanging flower pots… but none there… it would add so much to the atmosphere of this little town that has such amazing stone streets and buildings. There were no people on the streets… no visible stores or restaurants or outside places to sit and eat as we see in Spain and possibly other parts of Portugal. I expect there is nothing to do there so no wonder there are places for sale… That town needs some dynamic people with ideas to create some natural beauty in the streets of stone.