Laias on the Miño: Thermal Springs, Trails, and History

Landscape along the Miño

Laias lies on the banks of the Miño River. The Sendero Termal y de Salud de Laias runs along the Miño through a landscape where water, riparian woodland, vines and vineyards, slopes, and archaeological remains come together. The trail is easy and takes about 40 minutes.

History

The Cova da Moura and O Castelo archaeological site is located in Laias. This site is associated with gold mining. Gold mining was already being carried out before the Roman occupation. A wooden knife handle from the Castro do Castelo de Laias illustrates the Iron Age material culture made from plant-based materials. The thermal springs of Laias were already known in Roman times.

Churches

The decorated portal of the old parish church of Laias preserves an inscription. It reads: “ESTA ES IGLESIA DE REFUGIO SAGRADO”. Parts of the Baroque altarpieces from the old church have been preserved in the new church of Laias.

Trails

The Paseo termal del río Miño is a linear walking route. It is just under 2 km long. The route begins at the thermal area of Barbantes. The route known as the Ruta do Miño is equipped with some markers and information boards. The boards refer to the animal and plant life along the route. The Paseo termal del río Miño runs along the banks of the Miño and ends at the facilities of the Vila termal Laias. The facilities lie at the foot of the Ermita de San Bieito.

The linear walking route therefore has a named starting point and a named endpoint. In addition to following the riverbank, its description also includes the markers and boards, as well as the references to the animal and plant life.

Geographical Context

The Monte San Trocao is located near Laias. Monte San Trocao is a mountain. The Museo Arqueológico Provincial, a museum, is located in the vicinity of Laias. Manuel Márquez. Galería de Arte is located in the vicinity of Laias and is a museum. The Museo Arqueolóxico is also located in the vicinity of Laias and is a museum. Ponte Vella, a historic site, is located in the wider regional area around Laias. The Serra do Chan de Moiras, a mountain, is located in the wider regional area around Laias. The Sierra Moura, a mountain, is located in the wider regional area around Laias. The Serra do Faro, a mountain, is located in the wider regional area around Laias.

The regional context thus ranges from a mountain in the immediate vicinity through several museums in the surrounding area to a historic site and three mountains in the wider regional area. The places mentioned therefore each have their own geographical relationship to Laias.

Festivals

The main summer festivals of the parish of Laias take place on 10, 11, and 12 July. The San Trocado pilgrimage was celebrated on the Saturday after 15 May.

For the higher-level travel overview: Cenlle.