Las Hurdes

Nowhere in Spain has been untouched by tourism, but beautiful Las Hurdes in mountainous northern Extremadura comes close. Time has not quite stood still, but it has certainly slowed right down, and many people still live in the traditional stone houses that are unique to this corner of Spain.

It’s an area of picturesque hamlets, waterfalls and fine walks, but you’ll need a car to explore it properly. It’s remote and untrammelled, but not so remote that Luis Bunuel couldn’t find it when he came to film Las Hurdes: Tierra Sin Pan. The fact that a surrealist film was made here - mixing Spanish peasantry, death adders, a moribund rural life, and more death - tells you all you need to know. It’s Spain stripped to her bare essence, but hauntingly beautiful nonetheless.