Matavenero Ecovillage is a small village comprising unique houses made of stones and recyclable materials near Leon, Spain. The village offers total autonomy for its residents as long as they can support themselves. The newcomers can move into vacant houses or build brand-new homes for themselves. The village land is also free for the residents to grow their vegetables on. So, the residents of Matavenero are almost completely free in their way of living. There is only one rule in the village, which is the prohibition of alcohol.
Following a forest fire in the late 1960s, Matavenero was actually abandoned by its former residents. 20 years later a group of German travellers claimed the village and turned it into an eco-village.
Due to its location on the slopes of the Sierra de Ancares mountain, Matavenero is hard to reach, and one can only arrive at the village by foot. Some villagers also use donkeys for transportation. In contrast to the transportation infrastructure, the village offers some facilities such as an alternative school for the children, a non-alcoholic bar, and a shop selling medical plants. Today, the village is home to 60 people who chose self-sustainability to the tumult of modern cities.
