Montederramo: Hiking Trails, Forest and Culture

If you want to discover Montederramo along specific trails, the Ruta del Bidueiral starts right in the town. The 9.4 km hike leads through one of Galicia’s most spectacular forests. The starting point is therefore directly in Montederramo, while the trail itself allows you to experience the Bidueiral as a continuous natural area.

Hiking

Another route is the Ruta del Santo. It follows the path taken by the hermit San Mamede from his hermitage on the Sierra de San Mamede to the Cistercian monastery of Montederramo. This path begins before Santa María de Montederramo and gradually climbs from there to the mountain summit. Along its course, the route thus connects the hermitage of San Mamede, the church and monastery of Montederramo with the mountain summit. The historic route and the gradual ascent are among the defining features of this hike.

The Ruta del Bidueiral and the Ruta del Santo pass through different landscapes and layers of memory: in one, the forest is at the centre; in the other, the traditional path of the hermit and its connection with the Cistercian monastery take centre stage. Both routes are connected with Montederramo, but they begin at differently named starting points and lead to their own respective destinations.

Nature

Bidueiral de Montederramo is recognised within the Natura 2000 network as a Site of Community Importance (SCI). The natural area therefore has a clearly designated status within this European network. Its inclusion in the network adds a defined natural significance to the hiking route. The forest thus appears not only as the setting for the 9.4 km trail, but also as a separately named natural area with a European designation.

Culture

The Cruceiro de Marrubio is a covered, polychrome wooden cross from the 18th century. The church of Santa María de Montederramo was built during a clearly dated construction period: construction began in 1598 and was completed in 1607 under the master builder Juan de Tolosa. Santa María de Montederramo was classified as a cultural asset of special cultural interest, a Bien de Interés Cultural.

Montederramo therefore brings together several different forms of cultural heritage: the painted and covered wooden cross of Marrubio, the historically documented church and its classification as a Bien de Interés Cultural, as well as the Cistercian monastery located at the end of the Ruta del Santo. The dates from 1598 to 1607 place the construction of the church within a clearly defined period.

History

The present-day round-arch bridge in Vilariño Frío dates from the 17th century and was built from large, carefully hewn stone slabs. The Old Bridge of Vilariño Frío is one of the surviving remains of the Roman road that connected Astorga with Braga. An open-air interpretation centre about the New Road is located on the access road to the bridge. The centre includes 12 information panels, as well as reproductions of the road and the milestone.

Several layers of history therefore converge at the bridge in Vilariño Frío: the present-day round-arch bridge dates from the 17th century, its stone slabs were carefully hewn, and at the same time the Old Bridge refers to the Roman road between Astorga and Braga. The centre on the access road complements the site with information panels and reproductions, including the road and the milestone.

Another connected place is Sas Do Monte.

More destinations

More places within the same destination:

Taboadela, Verín, Beariz, Cenlle, Soutelo, Magros.

Back to the main destination overview: Ourense.