Pardollán: Nature, Hiking Trails and Romanesque Culture

Pardollán is one of the villages in the Serra da Enciña da Lastra Nature Park.

Culture

The Ermita de Santo Estevo de Pardollán dates from the 11th–12th century and is one of the few Romanesque examples in Valdeorras. The building is constructed from local stone masonry. Its main portal has a semicircular arch. The portal is framed with the characteristic red stone from the local quarries.

Hiking

The Ruta de la Ermita de Santo Estevo is a six-kilometre circular hike that takes three hours. It begins and ends at the Pardollán picnic area. From Pardollán, the route leads to the hermitage through holm oak forests. On the return journey, it passes the viewpoint opposite Penarrubia. The trail then heads back towards Pardollán.

Another hiking route is called Biobra–Covas–Vilardesilva–Pardollán–Biobra. It runs through the Serra da Enciña da Lastra Nature Park.

The hiking landscape takes different forms: the first route combines the path to the hermitage with holm oak forest and a viewpoint, while the second route brings together several places in the nature park in its name. For planning the first circular hike, a distance of six kilometres and a duration of three hours are given; the picnic area in Pardollán remains both the starting point and the finish.

Nature

Most of the caves recorded in Galicia are concentrated in the parishes of Covas, Pardollán and Biobra. There are around one hundred caves in total. They contain stalactites and stalagmites.

The equipped Pardollán viewpoint is located at an altitude of 540 metres. From there, it offers views of the Sil Valley near Penarrubia and Pardollán. Extensive old chestnut groves surround Pardollán. These groves preserve centuries-old trees.

History

The Mina de Ocre de Pardollán is an open-pit mine. The excavation is ten metres deep, an average of 25 metres wide and 150 metres long. The mine contains reddish-brown, limonite-rich earth. Its iron content is around 50 percent.

The ochre-coloured limonite earth from the Mina de Ocre de Pardollán was used to make paints. For this reason, the mine was popularly known as Mina de las Pinturas.

The historical evidence also differs significantly: at the mine, the focus is on its dimensions, the earth and its former use in paint production; the Caleira points to a different form of former use, with lime kilns, a chimney, bricks and a grate.

The Caleira de Pardollán consists of former lime kilns. The Caleira is a former lime kiln; inside it are a large chimney, bricks and a grate.

Other places include O Irixo, A Mezquita, Vilar De Barrio, Parderrubias, Requiás, Pazó, Faramontaos and Sadurnín.

Geographical Location

From O Barco de Valdeorras, Pardollán can be reached via the N-120 towards Ponferrada in the province of León. After nine kilometres, turn right onto the local OU-0807 road.

For the higher-level travel overview: Ourense.