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Tucked away in the province of Soria, less than three hours from Madrid, the tiny village of Arenillas is doing something pretty extraordinary to keep itself alive. With just 40 registered residents, it's offering a free home and a permanent job to families with school-age children who are willing to pack up and move there for good.

 

Families who are accepted get a fully renovated, rent-free house and a full-time job maintaining and renovating municipal buildings. Free school transport is also included, taking children the 20km to the nearest school in Berlanga de Duero at no cost to the family.

 

Word spread fast. According to the town council, more than 116 families applied in under a week.

 

The initiative is a joint effort between the Arenillas Cultural Association and the local council, with backing from the Castilla y León regional government.

 

Rodrigo Gismera, president of the Cultural Association, explained that keeping the village's community bar running is also part of the vision, describing it as "what gives life to a town, what creates unity and community."

 

Managing the bar isn't a requirement for applicants, but it's on the table for whoever moves in.

 

Arenillas is part of what's widely known in Spain as "la España vaciada," or Empty Spain, a stretch of inland territory that's been losing people to the cities for decades. In August the village swells to around 300 people when former residents return for summer, but the goal now is to build something that lasts all year round.

 

Image: Wikimedia Commons