The micro-villages you can visit if you want to decentralize tourism

Decentralizing tourism doesn't necessarily mean reducing its massification, warns Asunción Blanco, a specialist in tourism geography at the UAB: "In the end, everyone wants to see the Sagrada Família." In recent years, we've also seen overcrowding in rural tourism, in towns like Rupit and Siurana, where parking has been limited and visitor entry has been managed. If you're not looking for nearby urban centers and want to avoid overcrowding, one option may be more remote rural tourism, in the micro-villages that are less well-known on the map. Not everyone wants tourism, but there are those who are committed to it and for whom it is a source of wealth. This is the case of Penelles, in the Noguera region, with a population of over 400, where, thanks to tourism, they have or have been able to recover "an ATM, two restaurants, a cinema, and two exhibition halls," explains its mayor, Eloi Bergós, head of the social progress branch of the Micropobles Association.

He is clear that "tourism services are still services for the residents themselves" and that they make "the town richer and more vibrant, and that people come back." Although it isn't through tourism, which will repopulate small towns, it can make "young people who have left want to return" or "those whose houses are closed reopen them." With a tradition of farming and livestock, tourism is an added value for a rural society without generational significance, where "what fifty families used to manage is now managed by three farmers." Furthermore, investment in tourism has also proven to be a means of integration for migrant families, who "through camping or rural houses have found themselves welcomed into the social dynamics of the town."

However, it's not easy to invest in infrastructure on the budget of a small town. "A monastery produces the same amount of money behind Barcelona Cathedral as it does in the smallest town in Catalonia, and the budget isn't the same. Sometimes we have to manage things just as big as in a large capital," explains Bergós.

What can these places offer you? "The most important thing is the authenticity of the territory. You experience 100% of what the town is like. When you're in a city, you can't fully grasp what that space is like. Most of the time, it's the townspeople themselves who receive tourists," Bergós points out. He also emphasizes the tranquility of contact with nature and the activities that allow you to get to know the area. The scale is more attainable: "There are so many services in a large place that you don't get to see the most authentic things." However, intrepid visitors are warned that they should be prepared to miss some of the services found in large cities: "At night, maybe there aren't any restaurants open, or maybe you can't find a newspaper," he gives as an example. He believes that tourists visiting a micro-village should be prepared to immerse themselves in nature and the people: "You may not find museums, but you will find the reservoir, the almond trees in bloom, the murals... the charm of each area."

10 charming micro-villages without crowds

• Penelles (La Noguera)

Hundreds of murals painted by local and international artists decorate the walls of this town of just over 400 inhabitants. This is Penelles' unique offering, which has become an unexpected benchmark in urban art.

• Beget (Ripollès)

Nestled in the mountains, divided by the river and dotted with stone houses, Beget looks like something out of a fairy tale. This medieval village in the Camprodon Valley, with a population of about twenty, is listed among the most beautiful villages in Spain.

• Josa de Cadí (Alt Urgell)

With narrow streets and stone houses, it is part of the municipality of Josa and Tuixén and lies within the Cadí-Moixeró Natural Park. Its location, on the southern side of the mountain range, makes it a natural vantage point for the surroundings, and also a destination for hiking and nature lovers.

• Conesa (Conca de Barberà)

This medieval town captivates visitors with its walls and defensive towers. The original urban layout, the preserved ancient noble houses, and a Gothic-style church invite visitors to stroll through its streets and experience the daily life of its just over 100 inhabitants.

• Pujalt (Anoia)

Near Barcelona, straddling Anoia and Segarra, its streets feature covered passageways with arches and vaults that bear a medieval imprint. We also capture the recent history of the military camp of the People's Army of the Republic. Furthermore, the municipality's astronomical observatory takes advantage of the quality of its dark sky to connect visitors with the universe.

• Paüls (Baix Ebre)

With a larger population of just over 500, Paüls is one of the gateways to the Els Ports Natural Park, a rugged mountainous environment filled with ravines, springs, and spectacular landscapes. Perched on a hill at the foot of a castle, it preserves a town center of cobbled streets and is a popular starting point for hikers.

• Guimerà (Urgell)

It is one of the best-preserved medieval complexes in Catalonia. The stone houses, with details such as grand windows and corridors connecting buildings on different levels, evoke the splendor of bygone eras.

• The Loar (Priorat)

The wine-producing and mountainous landscape and the old town with its stone houses make up its privileged setting. The trails that crisscross it make it a good choice for hikers, and the Priorat Wine Route, of which it is part, puts it on the map for wine lovers.

• Montclar (Berguedà)

With an old town that preserves 17th and 18th-century houses, as well as a Romanesque church with two superimposed chapels, Montclar stands out for its curated restoration of its heritage.

• The Puebla de Massaluca (Terra Alta)

A landscape decorated with vineyards, olive and almond trees makes this small town, the only one in the region bordering the Ebro and Matarraña rivers, a peaceful destination for nature lovers.