Lakabe sits quietly among the forests of the Pyrenees, where a path winds towards a stone village once forgotten.
In the 1980s, it was a ghost town. Then, a small group of people seeking an alternative to urban life decided to re-inhabit it, rebuild it, regenerate it.

House by house, wall by wall, Lakabe was reborn — not only as a physical place, but as a social experiment, grounded in coexistence, non-dogmatic spirituality, collective work, and deep listening to the land.

Today, Lakabe is one of Europe’s most enduring and inspiring intentional communities — a living example of how it is possible to collectively reclaim abandonment with beauty.

Self-Building and Sustainability

The homes in Lakabe were restored by hand, one by one, using local materials and traditional techniques.
The village retains its original stone-and-wood architecture but is now energy-efficient, with solar roofs, compost systems, and rainwater harvesting.

Community Life in Lakabe

Each resident takes an active role in caring for shared spaces — from the communal bakery to forest management, from gardens to woodworking.
Daily life weaves together practical work and shared moments: baking bread, gathering wild herbs, hosting talking circles and craft workshops.

The community gathers regularly in assembly to make decisions collectively, using processes that integrate empathic communication, emotional awareness, clear thinking, and shared responsibility.

In this way, life in Lakabe becomes a continuous journey of learning — where every gesture supports both personal growth and collective wellbeing.

A Model of Shared Self-Sufficiency

Lakabe is nearly self-sufficient: it produces its own bread, vegetables, legumes, preserves, energy, soaps, and natural products.
The land is cultivated through ecological and regenerative practices, and most food consumed is either produced on-site or exchanged with local networks.

What makes Lakabe unique is that this self-sufficiency is collective.
There is no private ownership — just shared care.
People work together, decide together, grow together.

An Economy Based on Trust

Lakabe does not follow a classic economic model.
There are no salaries, no profits.
Collective activities — baking, farming, woodworking, education, hospitality — generate resources that are managed communally, based on the group’s needs.

Each resident receives what they need: food, clothing, personal expenses, and learning opportunities.
Economic decisions are made in assembly, guided by transparency, shared responsibility, and mutual trust.

In this sense, Lakabe is a radical example of a community-based economy, where money doesn’t rule — it serves life.

Personal Growth and Collective Transformation

Lakabe is more than an ecological project — it is a place of inner evolution, ongoing learning, and presence.
Those who live here commit to a personal journey of self-awareness, empathetic communication, and relationship care.

Each week includes talking circles, silent moments, and collective meetings.
The community functions as a kind of informal school, where people learn by doing, observing, and living together.

Over the years, Lakabe has developed a rich programme of workshops and experiential trainings — ranging from permaculture to natural building, from group facilitation to sociocracy, and from bodywork to meditation and non-violent communication.

There is no separation between theory and life: every course is embedded in everyday rhythms, and each learning experience is rooted in the community itself.

How to Visit or Take Part

Lakabe does not accept spontaneous visits.
To connect with the community, it’s essential to reach out in advance and clearly express your interest.
You can join residential workshops, thematic retreats, courses, or apply to live and contribute through volunteering.

People come to learn, to offer, to listen. Lakabe is not a place to observe from the outside — it is a space to be lived, even for just a few days, with presence and deep respect.

In a Nutshell

Lakabe is a self-managed ecological community, born from the regeneration of an abandoned village.
It offers a way of life that is simple, shared, and profound, rooted in self-sufficiency, community economy, collective labour, and inner growth.

A place that has shown for over 40 years that collective care is a revolutionary act — one capable of regenerating the world.

By Valentina Bracciodieta