In early 2025, seven more destinations joined the list of Spain’s Most Beautiful Villages, an organisation which aims to promote small municipalities for tourism purposes. Have you been to any of these picturesque ‘pueblos’?
Since the association‘s creation in 2011, 116 villages from across the country have been added to the list.
The new villages each have less than 15,000 inhabitants and are known for their cultural, natural or artistic interest. Each of them is also committed responsible tourism.
The new ones are the list are located in the regions of Aragón, Extremadura, Castilla-La Mancha and Castilla y León.
Linares de Mora, Aragón
Linares de Mora, one of many beautiful villages in Aragón. Photo: Turol Jones/Wikipedia (CC BY 2.0)
The first place on this year’s list is located in the province of Teruel in Aragón, yet is only just under a two hour drive from the coast at Castellón de la Plana. Set between the mountains it stands out for its whitewashed buildings which are very different from the other villages in the province.
It’s located along the old Camino del Cid, a cultural tourist route that crosses Spain from northwest to southeast and follows in the footprints of Cid Campeador, the famous medieval knight of the 11th century. The village is also an official Starlight Reserve, meaning it’s one of the top places in the country for stargazing.
La Fresneda, Aragón
The town hall in La Fresneda. Photo: Fontanetalcina /Wikipedia
Also lying in the province of Teruel, La Fresneda is surrounded by lush green mountains and valleys and is overlooked by grand hill crowned by the remains of the old Santa Bárbara castle. It’s narrow cobbled streets hide architectural treasures such as its triangular-shaped Plaza Mayor and its town hall, the Encomienda palace, the 16th century convent, which has now been converted into a hotel.
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Jerez de Caballeros, Extremadura
Church of Santa María de la Encarnación, in Jerez de los Caballeros. Photo: Jesusccastillo/Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Located in the municipality of Badajoz close to the border with Portugal, Jerez de Caballeros is an attractive town, built on two hills, 500 metres above sea level. It overlooks the River Ardila and is filled with picturesque medieval monuments. This old-walled whitewashed town is home to several notable buildings including the old convent of San Agustín and the churches of San Bartolomé and San Miguel Arcángel. It’s particularly worth visiting over Easter as its Holy Week celebrations have been declared a Festival of National Tourist Interest and the town goes all out for the occasion.
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Llerena, Extremadura
Plaza de España, the main square in Llerena. Photo: Luis Rogelio HM/Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Situated in the municipality of Badajoz in Extremadura the town of Llerena has just 5,600 inhabitants and lies just north of Seville and the region of Andalusia. It lies at the foot of the Sierra de San Miguel Mountain range and has a rich artistic and architectural heritage, particularly because of its many palaces, churches and convents. It’s also known for its numerous parks and natural spaces, which make it ideal for hiking and cycling.
The town even earned itself the nickname of ‘Athens of Extremadura due to the fact that it attracted several artists during the 15th to 17th centuries and became a cultural hub.
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Letur, Castilla-La Mancha
Unfortunately, Letur has been badly affected by Spain’s recent destructive floods. Photo: Wikipedia/Public Domain
Letur is located in the municipality of Albacete just outside the Los Calares del Mundo y de la Sima Natural Park within the Sierra de Segura. Set high on a hill overlooking the surrounding verdant landscape it’s known for its spectacular views and surrounding natural rivers and waterfalls. The town itself is characterised by its rich history, cobbled streets and Islamic-style architecture, left over from the times of the Moors which can be seen in the whitewashed buildings, courtyards and irrigation systems.
The town is also known for its LeturAlma festival, held each summer, featuring concerts, workshops, exhibitions and competitions.
Poza de la Sal, Castilla y León
A panoramic view of Poza de la Sal’s main square. Photo: Luiyo/Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Situated in the province of Burgos, Poza del Sal lies just under an hour’s drive north from Burgos city itself. It sits at the the foot of the Páramo de Masa and is protected by a huge rock crowned by Rojas castle. Since pre-Roman times it has been important due to its nearby salt basin. In fact, its entire history and wealth has related to the production of salt and visitors can see its salt mines. Today it’s a small medieval town with only around 300 inhabitants.
Berlanga de Duero, Castilla y León
The Castle in Berlanga del Duero. Photo: Juan F. Esteban Barahona/Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Located in the province of Soria, it’s situated around 50km southwest of the city of Soria itself. Home to around 850 people, it’s listed as one of Spain’s most beautiful places due to both its historic architecture and its imposing 16th century castle which looks like something out of a fairytale. It’s also known as having one of the most beautiful plaza mayors in Soria, surrounded by surrounded by old wooden pillars. It was the scene of various battles and reconquests and still holds many secrets of the past.
