The beginning of spring, the anticyclonic weather and the daylight hours mean that more and more short breaks are wanted to get rid of the stress of the week. In Galicia, these are the times when the beaches and coastal areas begin to become saturated with visitors, but they are not the only option to enjoy the community.
The mountainous areas and the towns in the interior of the region tend to receive less attention, despite hiding some of the most beautiful natural jewels in Galicia. Lugo and Ourense are the leading provinces of this type of rural tourism, especially in their border area in Asturias and Castilla y León, where the Massif Central is.
Pedrafita do Cebreiro, Lugo
Typical pallozas of Pedrafita do Cebreiro
Pedrafita do Cebreiro is him first point of the Camino Frances in the community and is known for its characteristics straws, constructions dating from pre-Roman times. The municipality was then the Roman pass to Astorga and since then it has become a strategic point to connect the Spanish northwest with the rest of the peninsula.
One of the most curious legends about this town is that of the Miracle of O Cebreiro. According to this story, the Holy Grail, the cup used by Jesus Christ at the Last Supper, had ended up in this Lugo town. Although it is not very well known how, the proof dates back to the year 1300 when a monk from the Church of Santa María was celebrating the Eucharist and despised the only neighbor he attended. God, punishing the faith of the religious, turned the host into flesh and the wine into blood. The image of the Virgin on the altar also moved, slipping on her knees and bowing her head as a sign of respect.
This church is now one of the main attractions of the municipality, along with the ethnographic group of O Cebreiro and the pilgrim monument which is located in the Alto de San Roque.
Rubiá, Ourense
Serra da Enciña da Lastra (turismo.gal)
The town of Valdeorras Rubiá is the home of the Serra da Enciña da Lastra Natural Park. It is located right in the valleys of the Sil river, and is famous among caving lovers due to the number of shovels in the Park, caves full of stalagmites and stalactites where there are also some of the largest bat colonies in Spain.
A perfect paradise to get lost in nature, the municipality is also home to a old lime kiln, in the parish of Pardollán. In the area, known for the mines and stonework, formerly people worked in kilns such as the one in Caleira to manufacture plaster and lime. It is very close to the Peñarrubia reservoir, where you can also see the railway line.
There are two viewpoints in the town that allow you to observe the river in its greatest splendor: that of A Cruz and that of Vilardesilva. From both you can see the mountains that make the natural border between Galicia and León.
Ribas de Sil, Ourense
Cloister of the Knights Monastery of Santo Estevo
We are going to Ribeira Sacra, one of the magical areas of Galicia. The origins of the town of Santo Estevo Ribas de Sil go back to the time of the Roman Empire, when the town was used above all for its mining potential. It’s considered one of the most beautiful towns in Ourense according to National Geographic magazine and stands out, not only for its natural environment, but also for its archaeological remains.
Ribas de Sil, in the municipality of Nogueira de Ramuín (Ourense), preserves its most famous monastery, that of Santo Estevo, today converted into a stopr, in addition to that of Santa Cristina. This Benedictine monastery dates from the 9th century and is surrounded by chestnut trees. However, what the area stands out for the most is its natural environment, perfect to contemplate from one of the numerous viewpoints in the area.
Folgoso do Courel, Lugo
The O Courel mountains are one of the natural wonders of Galicia and finding just one municipality that captures the essence of this place is a complicated task, which is why, in addition to Pedrafita, we wanted to add its neighbor. Finally we have opted for Folgoso do Courel, capital of the area and which houses some of the main attractions of the place.
One of the unmissable points of the municipality is the surroundings of the Devesa de Rogueira. Considered one of the ecological jewels of Galicia, it is a forest of around three square kilometers, which is home to a diverse fauna, from the Iberian newt to wild cats. The set houses a hiking trail through which we can find panels with information on the biology of the devesa. In the environment we also find the Cova do Vello, with groundwater and glacial lagoons such as Lucenza.
In Folgoso do Courel we can also find villages such as A Seara, Vilamor, Froxán or Seceda. Getting lost in the different parishes is not the only thing that the municipality has to offer, which is also home to archaeological sites such as Castro de A Torre or the castle of O Carbacedo.
Ship from Suarna, Lugo
On the border with Asturias and León is one of the jewelry from Os Ancares. The municipality of Navia de Suarna, crossed by the river that gives it its name, is made up of a group of population centers that house all kinds of surprises for visitors.
The A Pobra de Navia bridge, the main complex, is one of the main attractions, which in turn guides the visitor to the Castle of the Altamira, which still preserves remains of walls and towers. The fortress dates from the year 1037, when Rodrigo Gutiérrez gave it as a dowry to his Senior’s wife. It was rebuilt after the Irmandiño assault in the 15th century, although the big changes came at the hands of one of its last owners, the village priest, who transformed it into a block of flats.
In the municipality it has numerous recreational areas and river beaches, as well as numerous pre-Roman archaeological remains such as forts, dolmens and mámoas. Navia de Suarna is also the main set of the film by Oliver Laxe, What Burnsa “a mysterious, paradoxical, contradictory land“, as the filmmaker explained.
#mountain #villages #lost #Galicia