Vilar: Romanesque Architecture, Wayside Crosses and the Way of St. James

Culture

The parish church of Santa María de Vilar is a small Romanesque church. It was built in the second half of the 12th century. The sacred building is constructed from granite ashlar blocks. Inside, there is a Baroque high altarpiece and side altars from the Renaissance period. The carvings date from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. The high altarpiece is part of the Baroque furnishings, while the side altars are attributed to the Renaissance. The church also has a bell gable. It has a single opening. The church therefore combines a Romanesque structure, granite construction and furnishings from the Renaissance and Baroque periods. The carvings span the period from the 16th to the 18th century.

The wayside cross Crucero de Rebordiños is one of the prominent wayside crosses in O Vilar. The Crucero de Fraguas is also among the prominent wayside crosses in O Vilar. The Crucero de Fraguas is located next to the house of the same name. The grain store Hórreo de Rebordiños stands next to the owner’s house. Thus, Vilar is home to a wayside cross named Crucero de Rebordiños, another named Crucero de Fraguas, and the Hórreo de Rebordiños, which is a grain store. The two wayside crosses therefore have different names, while the location of the Crucero de Fraguas next to the house of the same name is also specified. The Hórreo de Rebordiños, by contrast, is classified as a grain store and associated with the owner’s house.

Routes

The Way of St. James passes through Vilar. Along its route, the village is located after Parga. The Way of St. James also passes through Vilar before Negradas. The two place names, Parga and Negradas, mark the section of the route described here. The route is therefore one of the explicitly mentioned points of reference for Vilar. The route description mentions Vilar in connection with both place names, thereby placing the village along the course of the Way of St. James.

Geographical Location

Vilar can be reached from Guitiriz via the road to Negradas. Guitiriz is the starting point for this connection. The stated road leads to Negradas. Vilar is 1 kilometre from Mariz. O Vilar is 6.5 kilometres from the town centre of the municipality. Vilar’s location is therefore described using separate distances to both Mariz and the municipal centre. The place names distinguish the route via Guitiriz and Negradas from the stated distances to Mariz and the municipal centre.

History and Festival

There are numerous prehistoric burial mounds in O Vilar. One of these burial mounds is Fraga de Forcas in A Fontataza. The name Fraga de Forcas refers to a specific archaeological site within the place named A Fontataza. A festival is held in O Vilar on the first weekend of September. This festival is celebrated in honour of Our Lady. The festival honours Our Lady.

Other Places

Other places you can discover from this page include Doade, Chao De Pousadoiro, Merille, Fonsagrada, Mondoñedo, Monterroso, Pacios and Trabada.

To the main travel overview: Lugo.