Galicia Tourist Guide 2018

Monastery of Caaveiro

Classified as a quintessential Atlantic forest, Fragas do Eume is protected as a natural park. Traveling along its paths, you can discover dozens of native plant species, including ferns and lichens that have been growing in this area since the Cenozoic era. At over 9,000 hectares , these woods are pristine–barely anyone lives here. The Betanzos and Ares upper rías are the ones that run near these invaluable woods and provide it with a year-round temperate climate . The Eume River and some of its tri- butaries bathe this valley, where wa- terfalls and cascades abound. Their A s Fragas do Eume

first inhabitants enjoyed. The pano- ramic views over the river and oak forests are unbeatable. Nearby, although outside the oak forest, is another architectural gem: the Santa María de Monfero Mon- astery , which is situated in a small valley through which the Lambre River runs. Its façade, designed like a chess- board made of granite and slate, will take your breath away, as will the well-preserved sarcophaguses inside the building that were delicately constructed for the Andrade family, which ruled the region for several

incessant flow breaks up the silence of the forest, and you will have the opportunity to check them out on some of the marked trails. If you study the ground, you will be able to make out wolf tracks, though their flighty behaviour in human presence will make it hard for you to actually come into contact with them. At one of the most spectacular places is the Caaveiro Monastery, which was built in the 12th century to give shelter to the hermits living in the area. There, you will gain a better understanding of the spiritual retreat and absolute tranquillity that these

30