Embalse de Mansilla, lac espagnol
Embalse de Mansilla is a reservoir in La Rioja, formed by damming the Najerilla River and flooding the surrounding valley. The shoreline alternates between oak woodland, open meadows, and rocky slopes that frame the water on all sides.
The reservoir was completed in 1959, when the Najerilla was dammed and the original village of Mansilla was flooded. The families who lived there were relocated, and the settlement disappeared entirely under the rising water.
The nearby village of Mansilla de la Sierra marks the Cross of May each spring and the Exaltation of the Cross each autumn, two traditions that have long shaped the local calendar. Visitors who time their trip around these celebrations find a small community that still lives closely tied to the land and the water.
Late summer and autumn bring the lowest water levels, which is when a walk along the shoreline becomes most rewarding. The paths around the reservoir are flat and easy to follow without any special gear.
When the water level drops in autumn, the walls and streets of the submerged village reappear at the surface, and it becomes possible to walk among the ruins. The old church is one of the last structures to remain identifiable, its outline still clear when conditions are right.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
