Whether it is to lead a healthier lifestyle or to have more savings capacity, the idea of leaving the capital and starting from scratch in a village is present in the heads of many young people in Madrid. However, the lack of job opportunities in rural Spain prevents them from taking the plunge.
Holapueblo, an AlmaNatura initiative that seeks to repopulate rural areas with fewer than 5,000 inhabitants and take advantage of their resources and opportunities, has been created to encourage entrepreneurs who dream of running a business in a small town.
In 2025, Holapueblo is celebrating its sixth edition with 100 participating towns, 11 of them in Castilla-La Mancha. One of the closest to Madrid is Herreruela de Oropesa, in Toledo. This small town of 328 inhabitants offers apartments for rent between 170 and 250 euros per month, and houses for sale from 12,000 euros. However, the town council clarified on February 8 that “there is not enough rental housing” for all the expected demand.
Herreruela has health services (pharmacy, doctor’s office and health center), sports and cultural services. It also has a gas station, supermarket and center for the elderly. It stands out especially for its agricultural and livestock activity, which is presented as an opportunity for young people who want to work in the primary sector: the large number of retired people in the municipality already calls for a generational replacement. Those entrepreneurs or workers who want to develop their project in this rural environment can register in Holapueblo through this website.
On the other hand, the town encourages births with the ‘Baby Check’, which gives families €1,000 per child registered in Herreruela. This aid was created after two consecutive years (2022 and 2023) with no births in the town.