The city of Madrid has more than 3 million inhabitants and in 2024 increased its population by 3.6% over last year, also the Community added 13%. However, there are villages in the north of the region that are on the verge of disappearing. Bellidas is an uninhabited village in the municipality of Piñuécar, just on the northern edge of the CAM, where only one inhabited house remains.
Although with the current housing crisis it seems an oxymoron, most of the houses in this village are abandoned and in ruins, in most cases only a few stone walls remain standing. This degree of degradation is evidence that this is not something new: the total depopulation of Bellidas occurred in the 50’s of the last century.
Bellidas was never a large population, in the sixteenth century, when it was an independent village, it was inhabited by 11 families, then came to have tavern and bakery. By the arrival of the twentieth century only three neighbors lived in the current depopulated area. Now the Caserío Bellidas is the only building in which people live, and according to different media the owner is Paco Racionero, 83 years old, who has appeared in popular television series such as Aquí no hay quien viva.
Hiking in the depopulated area of Bellidas
The fact that there are hardly any houses still standing does not mean that it is not a good route for walking. The streets are still clear, although taken by nature. It is a curious getaway and only an hour from the center of Madrid.
The City Council of Piñuécar has seven official hiking trails to do in the area, most of them are about two hours long and easy to complete. You can consult the maps and all the technical information here.
In addition, in this area, which is the middle valley of the Lozoya, you can also find picturesque villages such as Buitrago de Lozoya, Horcajo de la Sierra and Somosierra.
Other medieval villages near Madrid
If Bellidas has whetted your appetite to know the medieval villages of the Community of Madrid, there are still six in perfect condition.
These municipalities still retain their historical and architectural essence and are perfect for a culture-soaked getaway. From the imposing castle of the Mendoza family in Manzanares el Real to the intact walls of Buitrago de Lozoya, the Plaza Mayor of Chinchón and the rural atmosphere of La Hiruela, the selection of charming medieval villages in the Community of Madrid invites you to visit castles, walls, churches and landscapes worthy of novels. In addition, Torrelaguna and Talamanca de Jarama stand out for their monuments and Romanesque legacy, completing an itinerary worthy of the Middle Ages.