Ribeira Sacra

Along the road OU-536, in Tarreirigo, we found the turn off towards San Pedro de Rocas Monastery, the oldest conserved hermitage sanctuary in Galicia. In this area we find the Centre of Interpretation of Ribeira Sacra, where you can follow a route to know more about the landscape, history, life, jobs, traditions of this area. Next to the monastery you will find Camino Real, which goes to Esgos. It is a good idea to walk along it, at least, until San Benito fountain.

We continue the route down the same road until Luintra, where we can photograph the Knife Grinder Statue, a nomad trade representative of the Nogueira de Ramuín Council.

From here we move to Santo Estevo along the road OU-508. On the way we recommend two stops. The first one is Bambán do Solpor swing, situated close to the Megalithic Necropolis of As Mámoas de Moura. The second one is Os Penedos do Castro viewpoint.

We reach Santo Estevo de Ribas de Sil, an old 12th century Benedictine monastery. It is the biggest monastery in the Ribeira Sacra and currently a national parador.

We continue our way to Loureiro village, where the detour to the jetty is.  Here we can take a catamaran which goes down the Sil river. Downhill, on the right side, a sign will indicate the Pena do Pobre viewpoint, where the Ribeira Sacra best bench is located. On the same road we head to Parada de Sil, not without visiting before the Picotiño (A Columna) viewpoint and the Cabezoás viewpoint, one of the most amazing panoramic views to the Sil Canyons.

When we are reaching Parada de Sil, a turn off to the left will take us to the Monastery of Santa Cristina de Ribas de Sil surrounded by chesnut trees in Merilán Grove. In the way we can take a turning to As Xariñas de Castro viewpoint and the Pena de Cividade viewpoint, located on Bronze Age fortification. 

 On the way back to Parada de Sil, we can visit the monument to the wafer-makers or take a path which will lead us to the Balconies of Madrid, the most well-known viewpoints.

DID YOU KNOW THAT?

In San Pedro de Rocas, in the Camino Real, it is also possible to make out the fast heartbeat of “lobishome”. He is not a legend; his name is Manuel Blanco Romasanta.

Heroic viticulture, this is the name given to the grapevine growth in the Ribeira Sacra. You need to be a hero to cultivate vineyards on the sloping hillsides of the Sil Canyons.

See the wineries available for visit

Options from Parada de Sil…

The first option is to take the road that leads to Vilariño Frio (OU-0604) to find, by the village of Teimende, the Chocolate House Museum (the only one in Galicia). From here we reach the road OU-536 and we continue towards Castro Caldelas.

In Teimende, if we head to Neveiros de Monte Meda, we can get to know Chan de Madeiros viewpoint, also known as Xuguiño viewpoint, and leave the OU-536 in Xunqueira de Espadanedo.

Another option is driving to A Teixeira by road OU.0605 to approach the amazing Rio Mao route, where we can walk on the banks of the river by walkways which allow us to enjoy the landscape. We complete this walk visiting the necropolis of San Vitor de Barxacova, following the same hiking route or by car until its proximity.

We continue to A Teixeira, through Cristosende and enjoying the amazing views over Sil Canyon. From there, we will go down by Lumeares and, on the right hand, we will find Fervenzas do Cachón (waterfalls). The route is suitable for the whole family.

In the same road we will find the Monastery of San Paio de Abeleda which is, despite its state of abandonment, an enjoyable visit. If we move towards Monforte, we will find A Abeleda jetty,  where we can also take some of the catamarans through Sil river.

From here it is worthwhile to get lost in the river banks to contemplate the amazing vineyards terraces on hillsides from the Designation of Origin Ribeira Sacra and get closer to the spectacular As Penas de Matacás viewpoint, from A Abeleda village.

Castro Caldelas, with its castle at his heart, will be the next stop. Inside it, there is an interesting Ethnographic Museum. We will enjoy walking around an interesting natural, monumental heritage which has been recently recognized as one of the most beautiful villages in Spain. We can’t forget to try its distinctive dessert: the bica

Back in Ourense along the road OU-536, we turn off to Montederramo. Here we can visit the Monastery of Santa Maria, founded in 1124 by Teresa of Portugal, in whose foundational document Rivoira Sacra is mentioned for the first time. We also drive through Vilariño Frío, a village that preserves part of a small roman bridge. In Xunqueira de Espadanedo we find the Ciestercian Monastery of Santa María, probably the least known monastery and the most amazing one in the Ribeira Sacra. In this centenary monastery we can discover one of the best late Romanesque churches.

Niñodaguia, cacharreira (pottery) village par excellence, has in its pottery house-museum a reference in the Ourense craft, where secrets of the potter’s profession are revealed to visitors. We go back to Ourense with satisfaction of getting to know the Ourense Ribeira Sacra

DID YOU KNOW?

If you want to walk a hiking route, the best option is Montederramo forest. This birch forest is very important for botany since it is one of the most eastern ones in Europe. 

Around Cachamuíña reservoir, in Pereiro de Aguiar, there is a calm path with amazing views to walk with family since it is very accessible. Moreover, it has parks for many different ages.