Moldes: Chestnut Groves, Forest Paths and Cultural Heritage

Moldes is home to the Santo Tirso hermitage, one of the cultural heritage attractions in the municipality of Barjas. At the same time, paths lead from Moldes into a landscape whose distinctive features can be explored on foot, by car and along a cycling route.

When comparing holiday apartments in Moldes, you can review travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions side by side on the respective offer pages. This information relates the specific booking decision to your plans, while paths, nature and cultural sites highlight different focuses for the trip.

Nature

The settlements in the municipality of Barjas lie in beautiful valleys through which the Barjas and Corporales rivers flow. The Barjas area is home to numerous centuries-old chestnut and walnut trees, as well as many native species such as holly and oak.

The road from Moldes to Barjas runs alongside extensive, carefully managed chestnut groves. The Oencia–Barjas route offers a different perspective on the landscape: it passes through rural, remote areas in the valleys of the Barjas and Selmo rivers, shaped by nature and the surrounding landscape.

The different landscapes can be clearly distinguished when planning your trip: managed chestnut groves, wooded paths and rural routes each offer their own impressions.

Hiking and Paths

From Vega de Valcarce, the final 20 km run along the LE-5101 and through Barjas to Busmayor. At the end of Calle Principal, signs point to the start of the Senda del Faxeiral, also known as the Hayedo trail.

The Senda del Hayedo at Hayedo de Busmayor runs for approximately 7 km in one direction through woodland and along streams. The Frevenza do Beiro waterfall, located in Hayedo de Busmayor, lies along this route.

The route near Barjas is a 16 km circular trail. The starting point at the Herrería de Serviz can be reached by car via Vega de Valcarce and Moldes.

For day planning, you can compare the circular trail, one-way route and longer connecting route based on their different lengths and trail types. The cycling route “(El Bierzo)-Vega de Valcarce-Villasinde-Hermide-Moldes-Busmayor-Otero-San Julian-Herrerias” reaches Moldes after a climb through centuries-old chestnut trees.

The route types mentioned above offer different focuses: the circular trail near Barjas follows a closed loop, while the Senda del Hayedo is a one-way route through woodland and along streams. The cycling route complements these two options with a connection that leads to Moldes via a climb and chestnut trees.

Culture

The Piedra de los Poetas is located on the Senda del Faxeiral. Verses are recited around this large stone every year.

In Barjas, roughly worked, rustic stone buildings with typical slate roofs shape the traditional architecture.

Santo Tirso, the Piedra de los Poetas and the rustic stone buildings represent three different forms of culture: a hermitage, a large stone around which verses are recited every year, and buildings with typical slate roofs. Each of these forms is tied to its own location or section of a route.

For the broader travel overview: Barjas.