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In the remote mountain village of Beratón, high in the province of Soria in north-central Spain, the local bar has been sitting empty for months. Now, in a bid to bring life back to the town and tackle loneliness among its eight year-round residents, the council is offering a house - rent-free! - to anyone who agrees to reopen it. Soria lies a few hours north-east of Madrid, not far from the border with Aragón.

 

Beratón is the highest and easternmost municipality in Soria, tucked away in the Moncayo region, close to the border with Aragón. Its mayor, Carmen Lapeña, says the aim is simple: to make it easier for people, especially families, to move there and breathe new life into the area.

 

The house on offer has recently been renovated, and would come on top of the usual public aid available from Castilla y León and other regional governments for reopening rural bars. The bar itself is ready to go, fully equipped and with a dining room that can seat 40 guests.

 

The town’s popularity rises in the warmer months, attracting hikers, cyclists, hunters and nature lovers, many of whom come from nearby Zaragoza. It also has a council-run hostel, based in a refurbished old hermitage, which draws regular groups of visitors looking for peace and fresh air.

 

But for the few residents who live in Beratón all year round, the bar is more than just a place to have a drink. “It’s our place to meet and socialise,” said one. “When the bar shuts, a bit of the town’s life disappears.”

 

Mayor Lapeña says villages like hers are constantly battling depopulation… and doing it mostly alone. “Everyone talks about the demographic challenge,” she said, “but when it comes to action, we don’t see the help reaching places like Beratón.”

 

She also called for more flexibility in how aid is distributed, arguing that small mountain villages shouldn’t face the same requirements as towns in more populated areas.

 

For anyone dreaming of a quieter life and a business opportunity in one of Spain’s most peaceful corners, Beratón may have just opened the door. Quite literally.

 

 

Image: Googlemaps