10 places in Pontevedra that you cannot miss

10 places in Pontevedra that you cannot miss

Introduction

Hello to everyone! Today I bring you a new entry, in which I am going to talk about my city of birth: Pontevedra. I always say that I am so lucky to have been born here, despite the cold sometimes freezing my bones, and other times the rain last for two consecutive weeks as though it were the end of the world. Even still, the province of Pontevedra has a lot to offer, many places to discover, places that are pleasing to the eye, that relax you and break you from your routine.

In other occasions, I have dedicated a complete entry to a specific place, as I have quite a lot of information about each one of them, and I need to elaborate, as is the case for Ons or Cíes (you can read them here or there). However, today I want to show you ten places, all at once, that you cannot miss in Pontevedra. The point of bringing them all together into one blog entry is to reflect on the fantastic and versatile place that we live in, where nature tends to be the protagonist. Going straight to the point, here I give you ten places that I believe you cannot miss if you live in Pontevedra, or if you come here for a holiday.

1. Firstly, the suspension bridge in Soutomaior.

This bridge, that crosses over the Verdugo River, is not for people who suffer from vertigo, as it is quite high up (although it doesn’t look it in photographs). Normally, there are always people jumping into the river, as it is very deep and it is not dangerous. The water of the Verdugo River usually has an ideal temperature for bathing, nowhere near as cold as the water in the sea. Furthermore, it is very clean, and not at all contaminated.

In fact, one of the days we were recording videos with a GoPro, and you could perfectly well see us and the bottom of the crystal-clear water. Right next to the bridge, there is a tiny beach where you can lay down your towel and sunbathe. Normally, it’s not usually very busy and there is often space for you but, if not, you can always sunbathe on the ground, which is usually covered by leaved. My recommendation is that you do not just stay on the bridge, you can go to the river below and discover the different parts of the Verdugo. There are lower parts of the river that are more rapid, and others where it is calmer, but the nature and its sounds are always around you, and it is really relaxing. In conclusion, spending an afternoon at the river, diving into the water from the bridge could be a perfect plan for a summer afternoon. Totally recommendable.

Furthermore, very near to here is the Castle of Soutomaior, which is also worth a visit: its walls and its arabesques in its gardens dignify a visit.

2. Lérez River.

Speaking of rivers, we turn now from the Verdugo River to the Lérez River in Pontevedra. I recommend this specific place of the Lérez River, where there is a dam and you can bathe in peace as, along this stretch of river, the water is not at all strong. The best thing about this place is the two ropes tied to the trees, which you can use to propel and launch yourself into the water. It follows the path upwards from the river’s beach, and there are two paths you can take. The first is a dirt road. You walk surrounded by nature, plans and tree trunks just next to the river. As walks go, it’s pretty good, it’s not too intense but you can tire yourself enough to feel great when you take a dip in the river. The second one you can go along on the other side of the river, where there is a wooden path for part of the track. The other part is a road that you walk on. To get to the ropes, you have to cross the river by a dark green bridge that is situated next to the fire station, which collects water from the river to distribute to the city of Pontevedra. The route is quite long, but we stopped just where the ropes are situated. At first, throwing yourself in doesn’t seem like a good idea, but once you do it, you realise that it is not dangerous at all. In conclusion, we love this place so much that we come here various times during the summer. If you’re keen on hiking or discovering new places, coming to here would be a good idea.

3. Mirador de Chans.

Putting aside aquatic plans, I now want to talk to you about a vantage point: the Mirador de Chans. It is situated in the town hall of Bueu, and I recommend you come here by car, although another, frequently-used option is to come here by bicycle. You park your car and you go to the viewpoint, where the panoramas of the whole town of Bueu and of the river of Pontevedra are incredible, especially when the sun is setting. Just in front of the wooden valley of the viewpoint is a terrace, perfect for the start of a paraglide that ends at the best beach in Pontevedra: Lapamán. Chans also tends to be quite a frequented place by small children, as its good for birthday celebrations, playing football or simply for spending the day with your family. It’s also the perfect place for hiking, running and being at one with nature. Here are two photos of the place.

4. Santa Tegra Mountain.

Speaking of viewpoints, I bring you now to the Santa Tegra Mountain (Santa Tecla in Spanish). I discovered this place relatively recently. My friend, Sandra, brought me here because she knew I would like it and, in short, she was not mistaken. This mountain is situated in A Guarda, is 340 metres high and, when you see it from the city, you cannot begin to imagine that this mountain is populated with ancient fortresses where the Celtics lived. The easiest way is to go up in your car, as the terrain is quite steep, and there are also many places to park. When we went, we were totally alone, which was a big highlight.

The entrance fee is €1, which is a symbolic price. Along with entry, they give you a leaflet with information about the place, where, I will reveal to you, in this village lived up to 3, 000 people, which is quite surprising. These forts were oval-shaped, small and looked disorganised and almost completely stuck together, with hardly any space between them. The reason that the village was situated in the mountain is because, from here the village had absolute control over everything in the surrounding area. From here up, the views are striking. You can see all of A Guarda, parts of Portugal and where the River Minho (Miño in Spanish) meets with the Atlantic Ocean. If you visit the Santa Tegra Mountain, you can take advantage and go to cities such as Valença do Minho, as they are quite close and worth a visit.

5. Facho Mountain.

Continuing with the settlement culture, it’s the perfect moment to mention the Facho Mountain. Surely the most known place in this whole blog entry, as its next to Cabo Home and in front of the Cíes Islands. Even so, I would like to mention it and talk a little about it, as it seems to me one of the best places in the whole province of Pontevedra.

As I have said before, the Celts searched for high places to settle their civilisation as, in this way, they had better control over the territory that surrounded them. For this reason, at the top of Facho Mountain, in Denón, you can see the forts of an ancient Celtic civilisation. The blueprint repeats itself here: oval shapes and relatively stuck to one another. This place doesn’t just offer culture, but also a perfect place to relax. The views will leave you breathless, especially when the sun is shining. I have visited this place thousands and thousands of times, and I have never tired of doing so. Its panoramic is different to that of the Pontevedra river, from where you can see various points of interest: Cíes, Cabo Home, Cabo Udra, Ons and Onza. If you visit the Facho Mountain, it is a must to visit the ‘Cabo’ where several lighthouses can be found that characterise this place, along with the cliffs, the plant life, the different beaches with white sand and the sea. In short, it’s the Costa da Vela (the ‘candle coast’). Without a doubt, something that you cannot miss.

6. Mirador de Redondela.

And, finishing already with the viewpoints, I now bring you the viewpoint in Redondela, where the ”best bench in the world” (how many are there, already? ) is located. Definitely, from here you have an incredible view of the Vigo River, where the Rande bridge is the focus, as well as all the little riverbanks that surround it. You can see this panoramic from giant stones, where you have to be careful when walking because they are very tall. Just here is the famous bench, which has been the main focus of many photographs with its phrase “Galiza, it’s different”. A few years ago, the bench was destroyed in an act of vandalism, but it has been rebuilt.

I don’t think this was its intention, but, without doubt, this bench has served as a good way to develop the tourism in this place. Above, I have left you with a photo from the day that we were here.

7. Coto Wagner.

Without moving from the town hall, in Redondela you can also find the Rande loading point: Coto Wagner. This is a very different place to the previous ones that I have taught you about, but it is precisely for this that I feel I should include it in this post, because it is original and not often visited. It was a little difficult for us to find it, but this abandoned loading bay, found just behind the Rande bridge, in the opposite direction to the entrance of the river, and you can see from the viewpoint “the best bench in the world”. On first impression, it may not seem very attractive, but definitely, this abandoned place has a certain charm. It is in the shape of an ‘L’, made of metal and, furthermore, you visit it at your own risk. In fact, there are signs that warn you that the path is forbidden, but everyone goes nonetheless. Every day, the fishermen gather at the top of this loading dock which, by the way, is said to have supplied the Germans during the Second World War. It is a completely abandoned area, broken in some parts where you have to take care when walking. The photos that you can find on Google do not do it justice, so I will leave the ones that I took here for you. Certainly, the views are incomparable to those from the Rande Bridge.

8. Towers of the West.

In the municipality of Catoira, you are obliged to visit the Towers of the West. If Catoira is known for something, it is for its Viking past. The construction of these towers was ordered after dispelling a Viking attack, so we could say that its main function was to defend. They are situated along the Ulla River, just in front of where it flows into the sea. Near to here, there is quite a long, pretty wooden path, surrounded by plants that look like wheat plants, as they are quite tall. It is an ideal place for disconnecting, relaxing and walking.

In Catoira you can also find the Lagoas das Pedras Miudas quite close to here, although I would recommend going by car. This “lagoa” can be found behind some windmills, and from here you can also see a stupendous panoramic. This lake is the result of an abandoned quarry that, with the passing of time and the accumulation of rainfall, resulted in this little “lagoa”. I don’t think it’s very well-known, so I hope you have discovered a new place to visit and get to know the place we live a little better.

I visited Catoira purely by chance, but the truth is that it is the place I loved the most. Small, very likeable, with history and places to discover. Also, very recommendable.

9. A walk along the Beluso pier and beyond.

It’s a small part of Bueu, a mini-bay whose waters, in summer, are a light blue and also crystal clear. It’s a very pleasant walk along the pier, where there are many boats and where we used to jump off from when we were small. The sand on the beach is not very fine, and the water is quite cold, but it’s very nice. Here, there are two very well-known restaurants, where you can try good seafood. They are A Centoleira and Restaurante Playa de Beluso. At the end of the pier, you will find a “house that sails”, designed by the architect Ramón Vázquez Molezún, who has international recognition and has received various awards. Continuing along the only road here, you will gradually leave the asphalt and enter into nature. During this hike, you only have to follow the coast. The walk is quite intuitive, and it will bring you to beautiful coves along this coast, passing through Punta Arbosa and Punta Trimiño.

10. Ouriceira Beach.

I have saved this for last because this is a special place for me, this little beach in Poio, Pontevedra. The beach itself isn’t anything incredible if you compare it to others in the area. Nevertheless, from the little mountain, situated to the left of the beach, looking towards the sea, you will find here a kind of wooden ‘trampoline’, where the water can jump from during high tide. The water is crystal blue. Here I will leave you with a photo that my friend Antonio took during the month of May in 2018. On that day, we have been practically alone, there were hardly any people as it still wasn’t yet summer and the sun set quite early, which gave this little beach some extra points.

And that is the entry for today. I hope that you have discovered a new place for yourselves, and that you have been encouraged to discover more by yourself. Thank you for reading, and see you soon.

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