La Lastra

La Lastra is an abandoned village on the southern fringe of the municipality of Peguerinos, in the province of Ávila, Castile and León, close to the border with the Community of Madrid. Sitting at roughly 1,418 metres above sea level on the south-western edge of the Sierra de Guadarrama, the settlement lies inside the Sierra Norte de Guadarrama Natural Park. Although it belongs administratively to Ávila today, its origins and centuries-long history tie it firmly to Segovia and the historic jurisdiction of El Espinar.

Where exactly is La Lastra located?

The village sits in rugged, pine-covered terrain where the provinces of Ávila, Segovia and Madrid meet. Pine forests and rocky slopes typical of the central Guadarrama range surround the ruins, and the remoteness of the spot has allowed nature to reclaim much of the ground once occupied by houses and farmland.

How was the village founded?

La Lastra was established during the Reconquista, as the community of Ciudad y Tierra de Segovia repopulated land south of the city. A charter dated 8 July 1297 formally placed the settlement, together with the neighbouring hamlets of Peguerinos and Hoyo de la Guija, under the sexmo (historic administrative district) of El Espinar, one of the subdivisions governed from Segovia. For centuries, La Lastra developed as part of this structure.

When did its administrative status change?

In 1776, La Lastra, Peguerinos and Hoyo de la Guija broke away administratively from the town council of El Espinar to manage their own local affairs. A far more consequential change came in 1833, when Spain's national reorganisation into provinces placed Peguerinos, Hoyo de la Guija and La Lastra inside the newly drawn province of Ávila, even though the three settlements formally kept their membership in the Segovia-linked sexmo community. This split explains why La Lastra is still associated with El Espinar despite lying in a different province today.

Why did the village end up abandoned?

The Spanish Civil War sealed La Lastra's fate. Its position in the mountains made the surrounding area the scene of significant fighting between Republican and Nationalist forces, and the combat left much of the settlement in ruins. Post-war depopulation across this mountainous district completed the process, and the village has had no permanent residents since.

What remains to be seen today?

What survives is mostly rubble, with the remains of the parish church still partially recognisable among the ruins. Civil War-era trenches and bunkers can also be found nearby, tangible traces of the fighting that took place here nearly a century ago. In 2024, the site and its ruined buildings were listed for sale at 900,000 euros, a sign that interest in the abandoned settlement persists. Local folklore adds another layer to the place, with tales of werewolves, spirits and witchcraft still told about this isolated corner of the mountains.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does anyone still live in La Lastra?

No. The settlement is completely depopulated, with no permanent residents, and its buildings stand in ruins.

Which municipality and province does La Lastra belong to now?

Administratively it belongs to the municipality of Peguerinos, in the province of Ávila, though it was historically part of the El Espinar sexmo linked to Segovia.

Why is it associated with El Espinar?

Because from 1297 until the administrative changes of the 18th and 19th centuries, it belonged to a district governed from El Espinar, before becoming self-governing in 1776 and later being assigned to the province of Ávila in 1833.

What can visitors see on site?

The ruins of the former village houses, the remains of the parish church, and preserved Civil War trenches and bunkers, all surrounded by the forests of the Sierra de Guadarrama.