What is the least inhabited people of Spain? The answer is, according to data from the National Statistics Institute (INE) in Illán de Vacas, In the province of Toledo. The town of Castilla-La Mancha has only two inhabitants, although more than 420 kilometers from the municipality, in the Autonomous Community of Rioja, There is the second villa with fewer neighbors throughout the country: In Villarroya only four people live.
This town of the Arnedos region, Being so small, he has with him numerous curiosities, But although there is hardly any life in its streets, it hides great wonders both in its urban nucleus and in its surroundings. All this make this Rioja town a whole jewel to discover and that will delight any lover of rural tourism and those who love to enter nature.
Villarroya, a town that resists disappearing
This tiny town of less than 12 square kilometers of the region of La Rioja Baja fight constantly not to disappear, and therefore there are numerous Restoration, activities and parties works which have been held in the town in recent years, as confirmed on the City Council website. Its origin as a town dates back to the 16th century, but since a long time the shepherds already used these lands.
But why does Villarroya have so few inhabitants? To solve the issue you have to go back to the 60s of the last century, when coal mines The locality closed and the workers left. A population already reduced in itself after the exodus to America began to be reduced until almost disappearing, getting alone Three people in 2023. In fact, in the general elections, this people are known for trying to be The fastest in Spain to vote: His record is in 26 seconds, and his mayor has been the same since 1976.
The great architectural jewel of the municipality is the Church of San Juan Bautista, that remains in a very good state of conservation. Although just late for a few minutes to travel all the streets of the town, the Wonders offered by Villaroya They do not end there, since the surrounding environment It is full of both buildings with a lot of history and incredible natural spaces that no one can miss.
Villarroya is nestled in the La Rioja Biosphere Reserve, as confirmed on the website of the Consistory, so it is nestled in an impressive environment full of Mepartrales, Hayedos, Encinares (There is a copy of more than 450 years) and Robles, but also the lands that surround the town have a Mycological wealth huge. In addition, near the town the Mount Gatún, Copy of pines.
Villarroya’s environment is also ideal to do hiking and cycling routes, since they run through curious enclaves: an example is the path that leads to aNtiguas Abejeras, Masonry and plaster constructions prior to current hives dedicated to the Honey production In their walls, holes were made where the panels with the bees were placed, the best known being the one with Villarroya and the Cardenillos, among others.
Another option is to make a route through the corrales located in the field, also known as ‘Majales’. Some get to be excavated in the rock, So it is an ideal route to contemplate very curious constructions. You can also leave the town to visit the old coal mines that were the economic engine of the people or the ‘Snow wells’, that were destined for food conservation.
Of course, if more traditional itineraries are preferred, there are also several paths that serpente by Purely natural environments and even an authentic and important Paleontological site of river origin in which numerous vestiges of both Pliocene and Pleistocene have been found. Of course, even if it is named, it is located in the neighboring town of Muro de Aguas.
How to get to Villarroya
To get to the town of Villarroya from the city of Logroño, you just have to take the N-232 road until the height of El Villar de Arnedo, and there take the exit by the LR-123. Finally, at a short distance from the municipality, you have to deviate by the LR-488, The only one that gives access to the town. The journey is less than an hour by car.
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