It’s not just in Portugal that rural areas face depopulation problems with abandoned housing and closed businesses. Across the border, the scenario is the same, with several towns losing population at an alarming rate. To counteract the trend, some municipalities, such as Herreruela de Oropesa, are offering special incentives.
Located two hours from the border with Portugal, this municipality in the province of Toledo has been highlighted in the neighboring country for its measures to attract new inhabitants. From affordable housing and guaranteed employment, not to mention incentives for birth and entrepreneurship, this could be a destination for those looking to change their lives.
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What is Herreruela de Oropesa like?
According to the newspaper “El Español”, with just over 300 inhabitants, the municipality is located in the region of Campo Arañuelo. Amongst small hills and three water reservoirs, the town’s architecture has popular and traditional features, with the 17th century Church of San Ildefonso standing out.
What are the incentives for new residents?
For those wishing to swap the city for the countryside, Herreruela de Oropesa offers a wide range of incentives, such as:
- Houses for sale for 12,000 euros, with a range of up to 40,000 euros – an unusual price even in rural areas
- Rents of between 170 and 250 euros per month
- Agreements with local companies to provide jobs for new arrivals
- Aid for births with the offer of a baby check worth 1,000 euros for each new birth and support for day care
- Active promotion of entrepreneurship and business creation, with the local authority taking over registration and tax administration costs for two years, among other measures.
Making the town more attractive
According to the Spanish newspaper “AS”, in order to make the town more attractive, the local authorities have sought to improve some of its infrastructure and services.
Currently, it has schools, homes for the elderly, home services, health centers, public transport and high-speed internet access,” reads the ‘nuestros hermanos’ publication.
Herreruela de Oropesa in the Holapueblo project
Despite being the subject of news in both Portugal and Spain, the truth is that the case of Herreruela de Oropesa is not unique. In fact, this is one of several rural villages that are part of the Holapueblo project, an Almanatura platform supported by Redeia and IKEA.
Since 2019, the aim of this project has been to repopulate rural areas and reactivate their economy and growth. If you want to find out more, you can consult all the details here.
With this incentive program, Herrueruela de Oropesa can be an alternative for those who want to start from scratch, swapping the city for the countryside and enjoying a quieter and more economical life.