Cea: Bread Ovens, Culture and Routes of the Vía de la Plata

Bread Tradition

In Cea, the traditional bread-making process has been practised in the ovens of Cea since the 13th century. Pan de Cea is a traditional product made using an artisanal production method passed down from generation to generation. Pan de Cea is prepared in wood-fired ovens and baked in circular ovens made of granite stone. Many old bread ovens in Cea were restored by the Concello de San Cristovo de Cea. The bread ovens of Cea are signposted. The Ruta CEA passes through the centre of Cea and visits the bread ovens there; it may be possible to see an oven currently in operation being used to make Pan de Cea.

The bread tradition is therefore evident in several specific places in Cea: In addition to the restored ovens, the “Do Lodairo” oven is also part of the townscape; it has been converted into an ethnographic bread museum. In this way, the traditional method, the granite-stone ovens and their current use as a museum are all part of a shared local context.

Culture

The Santuario de la Saleta is a Neo-Gothic sanctuary built in 1908. The Capilla de la Saleta was built in the same year through a public collection. The “Do Lodairo” oven was converted into an ethnographic bread museum. The bell-tower fountain of Cea was built between 1926 and 1928 to a design by Conde Fidalgo. The parish church of Cea is dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary and Saint Christopher. Its current building dates from the 16th century. The Casa de la Guerra is known for its carved-stone chimneys and artistically designed corbels.

The town’s architectural history thus brings together different periods: The current parish church building dates back to the 16th century, the Santuario and Capilla de la Saleta were built in 1908, and the bell-tower fountain was built between 1926 and 1928. This picture is complemented by the stone details of the Casa de la Guerra.

Routes and Landscape

The Cea–Dozón stage of the Vía de la Plata is 15 kilometres long. It begins at the foot of the A Saleta sanctuary, built in 1908, and continues along the road to Oseira. In the vicinity of Cea, the route to Oseira Monastery follows the Oseira River. The Miradoiro do Lodairo viewpoint is in the parish of Cea (San Cristovo), in the town of Cea, on Calle do Lodairo. The Mercadillo de San Cristovo de Cea is a local market at Praza Maior 1 in Cea. It is located on the Vía de la Plata.

Along the stage, the A Saleta sanctuary, the road to Oseira and the Oseira River mark different sections of the route. The Miradoiro do Lodairo and the Mercadillo at Praza Maior also add a viewpoint and a local market within the aforementioned town and route references.

More destinations

Find more destinations here: A Gudiña, Tamallancos, Vilar De Barrio, Vilamartín de Valdeorras, Toén, Vilanova, Maside, Cartelle.

Markets and Festivals

The Festa de Exaltación do Pan de Cea takes place on the first Sunday in July; bread-making workshops are held on the Saturday as part of the festivities. The Sunday Festa do Pan de Cea at Campo da Saleta features traditional music and communal meals with Galician products bearing a designation of origin.

The festival therefore combines a date in the annual calendar with two different forms of public celebration: On Saturday, bread-making workshops are on the programme; on Sunday, the Festa do Pan de Cea features music and communal meals at Campo da Saleta. The products mentioned there bear a Galician designation of origin.

For the higher-level travel overview: Ourense.