What to see on the Valdeorras Wine Route
In this post we invite you to explore the lands of the Valdeorras region and discover what places to visit.
A tour of the lands of the D.O. Valdeorras
The important wine heritage that Valdeorras treasures permeates every corner of the region, so wine is the excuse offered to visit an unknown rural territory. Following the Valdeorras Wine Route we will be able to discover the secrets of one of the oldest Denominations of Origin in the country, in a tour in which travelers will be able to enjoy its wines, gastronomy, landscape, culture and heritage. Then, we propose different plans to get to know these lands better.
Scraps of medieval history in O Barco
The town of O Barco is the capital of the Valdeorras region and stands out for its architectural and natural heritage, which keep bits of medieval history. Visiting its old town, the main square and the churches of San Mauro and Santa Rita will be a perfect plan to start the day.
A few minutes from the town center we will also find several treasures: in the Xagoaza Monastery and its surroundings, originally the priory of the Knights Templar, time seems to stand still in its almost virgin nature and its Romanesque architecture. Declared an Asset of Cultural Interest, the monumental complex of the Villa de O Castro will be another obligatory stop, as this site once constituted the gateway for pilgrims, merchants and nobles to Galicia.
As for the natural heritage, the Malecón promenade offers the possibility of contemplating a sunset on the banks of the Sil River and enjoying the gastronomy of the area.
Wine heritage in A Rúa
The vineyards and the traditional forms of plantation, the wine culture, the ways of working the vineyard, the tools that adapt to each type of soil, etc., take on a special role in the municipality of A Rúa, which is the Valdeorras municipality where the largest number of wineries attached to the Apellation are located, so that we can get to know these wines in depth from the hand of their winemakers and in the vineyards themselves.
In this municipality, it is also worth mentioning the Mount of A Coroa, an old settlement of a Roman fort, from which we can see the place where the Romans drilled the mountain to obtain gold.
The famous Vilamartín Caves
One of the main tourist attractions in the Valdeorras region are the famous “caves”, old wineries dug out of the ground and of the rock to preserve the wines of the Denomination of Origin and that are usually grouped in certain areas of the villages forming authentic neighborhoods, the most famous of which are Vilamartín, Vila de O Castro in O Barco, Seadur in Larouco and O Val in Rubiá.
Other points of tourist interest that we can find in Vilamartín de Valdeorras is the archaeological site of the Valencia do Sil fort. This is not the only place in the region with remains of Roman occupation, since in the parish of Córgomo, as in Éntoma, there are still today vestiges of gold mining with the “Ruina Montium” technique, similar to the one of the Medulas.
Hiking in the Serra da Enciña da Lastra
Located in the council of Rubiá, the Serra da Enciña da Lastra is a valuable natural territory, whose name comes from the oak, since it is said that a large one once served as a guide for travelers through these crossroads.
In this mountainous complex there is the most extensive network of natural caves or “palas” in Galicia, with about two hundred chasms and census caves. In this enclave we will be able to enjoy nature in its purest form by taking one of the marked hiking routes or by quad biking through vineyards and mountains.
The Roman past of the region in Larouco
One of the most interesting points in the Valdeorras region can be found in the municipality of Larouco. And it is that this council crossed the Via Nova, the Roman road that communicated Astorga with the Portuguese city of Braga.
Likewise, the most notable thing about Larouco is its unusual and impressive landscape. Gorge slopes overlook the narrow valleys of the Sil, Bibei and Xares rivers through which the vineyards climb, forming narrow terraces. Surprising is the image offered by those known as the Elbows of Larouco, the name given to the winding path drawn by the Vía Nova to cross the deep valley of the Bibei.
Charming corners in Petín
Finally, in the municipality of Petín there is one of the most charming towns in the area and, in its day, a place of pilgrimage. This is Portomourisco, a parish in which a bridge from the early 18th century still maintains its original appearance.
Another of the highlights is the small hermitage of Nuestra Señora de las Ermitas, with a Baroque altarpiece, and the 18th century chapel. But when it comes to contemplating the architecture of the area, we should not miss the church of San Víctor de Portomourisco, where legend has it that a strange child appeared every day sitting on the window.
