Excursions
RIBEIRA SACRA

Routes along the Miño River

I am the eldest, at least in terms of length, 315 km. I’m so old that some call me “O pai Miño,” the father Miño.

During my journey through Ribeira Sacra, I bathe the shores of vineyards, deciduous forests, and along my route, I behold some of the most impressive Romanesque monuments, such as the Monastery of Santo Estevo de Ribas de Miño.

Since humans dammed me at Belesar and Peares, I hold within me some flooded villages, known as “asolagados.” Some buildings from these villages had better luck and were relocated stone by stone to places from which they now overlook me. Also, with the creation of reservoirs and new bridges, the figure of the ferryman who transported people from one bank to the other disappeared.

The good thing about being dammed is that I serve as a source of electricity, and my waters are quite warm, allowing for swimming.

You can explore my course through Ribeira Sacra since I am navigable. In fact, some vineyard owners use me to transport the fruit of the vine.

During my journey, I am accompanied by some fish such as the eel (anguila) and trout (salmo trutta).

If you want to see me in all my esplendor, don’t hesitate to come and visit me at the Mirador do Cabo do Mundo, where you can see what I’m capable of doing with the land.

Miño River Viewpoints

Terra Branca Viewpoint.
Isla de Sernande Viewpoint.
Cabo do Mundo Viewpoint.
Líncora Viewpoint.
Faro Viewpoint.
Taboada Viewpoint.
Paradela Viewpoint.

Routes along the Cabe River

I am the smallest of the brothers, measuring only 56 km. The good thing about being small is that my path was not blocked, so I can freely run down through the mountains. They say I’m quite noisy, perhaps because I never stop making noise as I flow among the surrounding rocks and jump. From my banks, you can admire Los Escolapios in Monforte, a town that I traverse in a “peaceful mode.” Here, you can indeed navigate through me With the force of my flow, I provide water for mills to function. My waters are colder than those of my brothers. The fish that inhabit me include the meagre (megaleporinus obtusidens), common carp (cyprinus carpio), and trout (salmo trutta). I pour my waters into my brother, the Sil River in A Barca.

Routes along the Sil River

I am the second of the three brothers. I have the highest flow, but I “only” measure 225 km.

I traverse the Cañones del Sil, a fracture caused by the shifting of tectonic plates, although some say that this fracture was caused by Juno in a fit of jealousy… the quirks of Greek gods.

From the heights of the Cañones del Sil, which reach up to 500 meters in altitude, you can admire me from the many viewpoints you’ll find.

The Romans always held me in high esteem, perhaps because they believed my waters carried gold. In fact, they diverted me from my natural course and created “O Montefurado” to search for and extract gold from my bed. Later, they decided to take advantage of my sun-facing slopes to plant vineyards and export wine to Rome.

Despite the ruggedness of my territory, I was never alone. First the Romans and then the monks, who found peace, contemplation, and the fruit of my vineyards in my lands. They founded monasteries on my hills, such as the one at Santa Cristina de Ribas de Sil, among others.

I am so strong, thanks to the abundant water I carry, that two reservoirs were built along my course: Santo Estevo and San Pedro, which made me navigable.

From A Barca to Os Peares, I flow alongside my younger brother, the Cabe River, to meet our eldest brother, the Miño River. Together, we continue our journey to the Atlantic, along which other familiar rivers join us

Viewpoints along the Sil River

Mirador de Moura.
Penedos do Castro.
Pé do Home.
Mirador de Vilouxe.
A Columna.
Cabezoás.
Mirador de as Xarriñas do Castro.
Balcones de Madrid.
Peña de Matacás.
Mirador do Duque.
Pena do Castelo.
Soutochao.
Santiorxo.
Boqueiriño.
Cividade.
A Cruz.
Pena Pombeiro.