Carballedo: Churches, River Landscapes and Hiking Trails

Santo Estevo de Chouzán was moved from its original location during the construction of the Os Peares Reservoir. San Xoán da Cova was also moved from its original location because of the construction of the Os Peares Reservoir.

Culture and History

San Xoán da Cova is the church of a former Benedictine convent dating from the late 12th century and is designated as an Asset of Cultural Interest.

Santiago de Lousada is a medieval church and the only surviving remnant of a former cenobium. Aguada is home to a 13th-century Romanesque church, while Pradela has a 12th-century Romanesque church.

Santa María de Temes is a historical and archaeological complex with remains from pre-Roman and Roman, early Christian, and Christian-Visigothic periods. A marble sarcophagus lid made in a Roman workshop between 315 and 325 is set above the church’s triumphal arch.

According to local tradition in A Matanza, a battle against the “Moors” is connected with the origins of the veneration of Our Lady of Faro.

River Landscapes and Nature

The Miño runs along Carballedo’s eastern municipal boundary. Within the municipality of Carballedo, the Miño is impounded by the Os Peares Reservoir.

The Miradoiro do Alto da Picota offers views of the dam and the Os Peares Reservoir, the confluence of the Sil and Miño, the Sil Valley, and the Santo Estevo de Ribas de Sil Monastery.

A Grixoá illustrates the region’s traditional architecture through houses with rubble-stone walls and slate roofs and is surrounded by chestnut, oak, and pine forests. A Grixoá offers beautiful views of the Miño and the terraced vineyards.

The Monte Faro area is designated as a Site of Community Importance within the Natura 2000 network. Carballedo is expressly included in the municipal list for the Canón do Sil area (A Ribeira Sacra).

The Carballo do Pazo de Cartelos is listed in the Galician Catalogue of Outstanding Trees. The Devesa de Cartelos and the Carballo do Pazo de Cartelos are accessible; calling in advance is recommended, while the privately owned Pazo de Cartelos cannot be visited.

Hiking Trails and Viewpoints

The Sendero Garambullo is a 7-kilometre linear hiking trail that begins in Castro, passes through forests and riverside landscapes, and leads to the Penedo do Garabullo viewpoint.

Penedo do Garabullo is a natural formation, not a constructed viewpoint; several paths provide different perspectives of the surrounding area, including the Fondós stream and its mouth at the Miño.

Reaching Penedo do Garabullo requires an approximately 15-minute walk over difficult terrain; suitable footwear and caution are recommended.

Direct access to Santo Estevo de Chouzán leads from the designated car park over approximately 500 metres along a path with a considerable incline.

Visiting

The Os Peares landing stage in Carballedo is a landing stage for river cruises on the Miño; however, no service is currently offered there.

The interior of Santa María de Temes is closed and can only be visited as part of a tour with official guides.

Other Places

Find more places here: Monforte De Lemos, Noceda, Castro De Rei, A Airoá, O Outeiro, Chavín, Vilaxoán, Argozón.

Back to the main travel overview: Lugo.