Fuentes

Fuentes is an abandoned village near Escarabajosa de Cabezas, in the province of Segovia, Castile and León. Also known as Fuentes de Carbonero, it stood just 2 km from the town of Carbonero el Mayor, of which it was a dependent hamlet. Today it counts among Spain's "despoblados" — villages left completely empty during the 20th century — and its story offers a vivid window into how rural life in Castile changed after the mid-1900s.

What was life like in Fuentes?

At its peak, Fuentes had around thirty houses, along with its own school, two taverns, and two lime kilns that once formed a meaningful part of the local economy. Sheep and pig farming were the main sources of income — pork found a ready market through the slaughterhouses of nearby Carbonero el Mayor — alongside cereal farming, chiefly wheat and barley, ground at the Arco mill in neighboring Bernardos.

How did residents manage without their own services?

Fuentes depended heavily on surrounding towns for everyday needs. A priest from Bernardos rode in on horseback to say Sunday Mass, while a doctor had to be summoned by mule from Carbonero in case of illness. A teacher known as doña Pilar cycled in from Carbonero to give lessons to roughly twenty children. A fishmonger from Bernardos made regular visits, first by bicycle and later by motorcycle, and electricity reached the village from a small power plant on the Eresma River in Bernardos.

Why did Fuentes become abandoned?

Depopulation crept in gradually through the first half of the 20th century, then accelerated in the 1950s and 1960s as families relocated to better-equipped Carbonero el Mayor, which offered easier access to services, healthcare, and schooling. The last permanent residents were the Álvarez brothers — Domingo, Luis, and Pedro — with Pedro and his wife among the final ones to leave, around 1965. As was common across rural Castile at the time, many departing families dismantled their own homes to reuse the building materials elsewhere.

What remains to see in Fuentes today?

The main surviving structure is the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, built in 1741 to replace an earlier church destroyed by a lightning strike. It stands as the clearest physical trace of the community that once lived here. Although uninhabited, the village hasn't been entirely forgotten: former residents and their descendants still gather for patronal celebrations on the Feast of the Assumption (August 15) and again in autumn for a rosary festival, occasions that historically drew crowds from neighboring villages along with live orchestral music.

The surrounding countryside is typical of central Segovia — an elevated Castilian plateau bordered by the pine woodlands of the Tierra de Pinares region, with a continental climate of hot summers and cold winters.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does anyone still live in Fuentes? No, the village has been completely uninhabited since the mid-1960s and is classified as a despoblado.

What is the main thing to see when visiting Fuentes? The Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, built in 1741, is the principal surviving building.

How far is Fuentes from Carbonero el Mayor? The former village lay about 2 km from Carbonero el Mayor, of which it was a dependent hamlet.

Are any events still held in Fuentes? Yes, former residents and their families traditionally gather there on August 15 and again in autumn for a rosary festival.