Negreira: Way of St. James, Pazos and Granite Gorge

Negreira has the 15.5-kilometre circular hike Ruta de senderismo de los Tres Pazos; it starts and ends at Pazo do Cotón. The route follows the Way of St. James between Ponte Maceira and the town of Negreira.

Further information about Gandara can be found on the linked page for the locality.

Hiking

Ponte Maceira is a medieval bridge with a central semicircular arch, parapets, a curved bridge crest and lateral arches. Ponte Maceira is also home to the Capilla de San Brais de Portor, which dates from the 17th century.

Culture

The Sunday market in Negreira takes place every Sunday throughout the year, with various stalls in an area near Pazo de Cotón, and attracts numerous visitors. The house of Manuel Negreira in the town centre is the most significant example of Caribbean architecture in Negreira.

In the parish of Bugallido, near the church, stands Casa da Torre de Bugallido, a building dating approximately from the 18th century. It belonged to the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem. Pazo de Xallas may be connected with the Torre de Xallas of the See of Compostela, destroyed by the Irmandiños in the 15th century. The chapel of Pazo de Xallas preserves a distinctive carving of the Holy Family.

Several so-called American Schools were built in Negreira by emigrants. These schools had areas for recreation and sport, as well as experimental fields for agriculture. Colegio de Covas is considered the most artistic of Negreira’s American Schools.

Monumento al emigrante is a work by Fernando García Branco from 1997, made of stone and bronze. It stands in the square next to Capilla de San Mauro, near Pazo de Cotón, and commemorates the many emigrants from the area who left in search of a better life for themselves and their relatives. Monumento a Xulián Magariños is a monolith commemorating the Galician writer Xulián Magariños (1904–1934).

Casa de Antelo in Broño dates from 1600 and has a small, beautiful attached chapel. The building is privately owned and in very good condition. Pazo de Balandrón was built between 1945 and 1955 with modernist and historicist design elements. It includes a large garden with a dovecote and several hórreos.

Iglesia de Santa María de Portor is considered one of the most complete Romanesque churches in the Comarca de Barcala. Its façade and tower date from the 17th century. Igrexa Parroquial de San Pedro de Gonte was built in the second half of the 12th century and later remodelled; inside, it has two altarpieces with sculptures. Igrexa Parroquial de San Xulián de Negreira was built in the 18th century and has three altarpieces and several images of saints.

Nature

In its final stretch, the Río Corzán has large waterfalls and rapids. The final three kilometres of the Tambre run through a pronounced granite gorge between Lueiro in Negreira and Cornada-A Graña in Brión.

Traditions and gastronomy

Pazo do Cotón can be visited during the Feira do Románico. The Feira do Románico took place for its 19th edition on the last weekend of June and included a medieval market with stalls run by artisans.

Estrelas no Camiño combines gastronomy and the Way of St. James, enhancing the visitor experience. The 12th edition of Estrelas no Camiño was presented at Finca Casa Barqueiro in Negreira.

To the higher-level travel overview: Coruña.

More destinations

More places within the same destination:

Dumbría, Ortigueira, A Enfesta, Loiba, Mallas, O Campo de Berdeogas, Fadibón.