As we all know, and especially in the middle of the 20th century, the combination of several factors such as the lack of communications and the lack of basic services such as electricity, caused a large number of localities in our country to be progressively abandoned due to their neighbors, moment from which the inexorable passage of time were turning them into ghost towns.
Although there are many more, we list below some of the abandoned towns that you can find traveling through the province of Valencia.
Cañada Seca
Located to the north of the province of Valencia, Cañada Seca was once a quiet village located in the attractive scenery of the region of ‘Els Serrans’, just under 90 km. of Valencia.
Cañada Seca suffered the same fate as many other localities in the peninsula, and little by little its inhabitants were leaving looking for new horizons, until the town became what we can see today, a ghost town in which you can still contemplate the vestiges of some of the houses that in other times were the home of their former inhabitants.
Near Cañada Seca is the ‘Castell de Poyo’, also known as the ‘Fort del Collado’, as well as the village of Cuevacruz, where we can see the archaeological site of ‘Los Castillejos’, declared a monument, and that keeps important remains corresponding to the Age of the Bronze.
La Olmedilla
Following in the same region of ‘Els Serrans’, in the province of Valencia, is Olmedilla, a town whose inhabitants leaved to other destinations during the 70s of the last century. At the moment it is an abandoned town, in which we can contemplate its vestiges, although during these years the buildings have been deteriorating with the passage of time, not being at the moment none standing.
The town stands out for the impressive landscapes that surround it, and is located on the banks of the Turia River. In the surroundings of what was once a town full of life, we can visit places as attractive as the ‘Embalse de Benagéber’ or the ‘Laguna de Talayelas’.
Los Pedriches
Los Pedriches is another of the abandoned towns that we can find in the province of Valencia. It is located in the western area of the same, in the region of Requena-Utiel. The territory in which it is located offers you beautiful places, such as the ‘Hoces del Rio Cabriel’ or the ‘Pont de Valdocañas’. In addition, in its proximity you can visit localities such as Requena or Casas-Ibáñez, the latter already within the province of Albacete.
It is worth mentioning that during the 90s a group of European Nazis tried to turn Los Pedriches into a fascist sanctuary, a meeting place for members of the extreme right, even starting some reform works. However, the action of some neighboring town councils and their struggle in the courts succeeded, that the fascist dream did not become a reality.
Berfull
Berfull is currently an unpopulated village in the province of Valencia, located in a beautiful spot, between the ‘Serra d’Agulles’ and the ‘Albaida Riu’, surrounded by low mountains, such as ‘Penya Roja’, ‘Barchilla’, ‘Benigame’ or ‘El Collado’. Berfull is part of the ‘Ribera Alta’ region, about 50 km away. of Valencia.
The population of Berfull is a hamlet of the locality of Rafelguaraf, and is in a territory that is characterized by its abundant ravines and its large number of sources. As for its architectural legacy, the town stands out in a special way for its walled enclosure, of which a considerable part is conserved. We can also see a good number of houses stand, all of them in the only street belonging to the town.
Near Berfull we can enjoy protected areas of great environmental value, such as the Natural Area of ‘La Murta’ and ‘La Casella’. In addition, hiking enthusiasts can choose between interesting routes, such as the Route of the ‘Monasteris de Valencia’.
Vizcota
Located in the region of ‘Els Serrans’, 11 km. of the municipality of Alpuente, to which it belongs, and to almost 100 of Valencia, you will find Vizcota, another one of the abandoned localities of the Levantine community.
Vizcota is located next to the hill known as ‘Muela Catalana’, slightly exceeding 1100 meters above sea level. The harsh winters and the lack of services as essential as electricity made its inhabitants leaved in search of better living conditions, until the mid-60s decided to do the last four families that were left in the town.
With the passage of time, Vizcota began to become a ghost town, where you can still see about 8 houses standing. In the decade of the 90 it was tried to turn the town into youthful camps, that were carried out during several summers disappearing later.
Nearby we will find places of great beauty, such as the course of the ‘Riu Chelva’, the ‘Serra de Javalambre’, the ‘Serra del Negrete’, the ‘Embalse de Benagéber’, the ‘Embalse de Loriguilla’ or the ‘Riu Turia’ basin, in some sections encased between deep gorges, some of them as spectacular as ‘Puente Alta’.
