Ballestero, El
Albacete · Castilla-La Mancha
El Ballestero is a municipality in the province of Albacete, located within the autonomous community of Castilla–La Mancha, Spain. It is located 68 km west of Albacete, situated along the main road between Munera and Robledo.
History
The origins of El Ballestero are traditionally linked to a meeting between King Alfonso X of Castile and his son-in-law, Jaime I of Aragón, during which they negotiated the ownership of recently conquered territories. According to local legend, the town was settled by crossbowmen (Spanish: ballesteros) who had become redundant following the cessation of hostilities. Over time, a settlement developed around a strategic crossroads.
Like many small towns in La Mancha, El Ballestero lost a significant share of its population in the mid-20th century. In the 1949 census, El Ballestero had 1,858 inhabitants, and the population shrank over the following decades. In 1964, the peak emigration year, over 500 inhabitants left El Ballestero. Many of these emigrants moved to large cities and the coast, where employment opportunities had increased in the growing tourist industry. In recent years, many abandoned homes in El Ballestero have been purchased by people from Madrid, Valencia, and other urban areas, who have refurbished them as second homes.
Gallery
Festivals
November 2026
Festivals this month
- No festivals recorded this month.
Rest of the year
- August: San Lorenzo (10)
- September: San Miguel (29)
Trails and hiking
•Via Augusta - Via Heraclea
Famous people
•José Gabaldón López, jurista español
•Daniel Martínez Sáez, político español
Town hall
Alcaldía: Daniel Martínez Sáez
Web oficial: http://elballestero.es/
Town hall of Ballestero, El
Alcaldía: Daniel Martínez Sáez Web oficial: http://elballestero.es/
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How to get there
- 🚗 68 km from Albacete (about 48 min by car)
- 🚗 187 km from Murcia (about 132 min by car)
🧭 Travelling around the villages of Spain: a practical guide — Opening hours, transport, money and customs, before you set off.
- ✈️ 66 km from Albacete airport (about 47 min by car)
- ✈️ 205 km from Región de Murcia airport (about 145 min by car)
Practical info
⛽ Nearest petrol station
- CANOIL · 7.8 km away
🏖️ Where to swim
- Piscina Municipal · 0.4 km away
Wall
🏛️ The town hall publishes on this wall. Residents publish their business in Services and their home or job offer in Community, for free.
This wall is still quiet.
News
🏛️ The news is published by the town hall. Residents publish their business in Services and their home or job offer in Community, for free.
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Videos
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