Camellia Route The flower that came from the East
Peace houses, castles, parks... The Camellia Route will reveal authentic botanical paradises in the Rías Baixas. This flower from the East, introduced in the province of Pontevedra three centuries ago, is present in beautiful historic buildings and public gardens where you can enjoy thousands of varieties with great chromatic richness.
The province of Pontevedra is an immense garden of camellias, which are in full bloom in spring, autumn and especially in winter, accompanying us in streets, squares, gardens, manor houses, castles, monasteries... This beautiful flower is part of the history and culture of the province of Pontevedra. Camellias are ornamental trees whose serene beauty surprises those who contemplate them.
Originally from the East, camellias arrived in Pontevedra in the 17th century from Portugal, adapting extraordinarily well thanks to the growing conditions of the Rías Baixas: well-drained acidic soils with a certain degree of humidity. There are more than 80 species and 30,000 different varieties, according to size, shape, colour, petals and leaves, among other characteristics. Contemplating the delicacy of these flowers up close and finding in each one of them that beauty that is so inspiring and magical is an experience for the senses.
The Camellia Route proposes a journey through authentic botanical paradises of As Rías Baixas that allow those who undertake it to discover imposing castles, beautiful manor houses and natural parks. Four of these places have been declared International Camellia Garden of Excellence by the International Camellia Society.
This castle, a jewel of the fortified heritage of As Rías Baixas, is a synthesis of medieval fortress and later neo-Gothic palace. It boasts a splendid 25-hectare estate where the flower of the Orient reigns supreme, flooding the landscapes of the province of Pontevedra with colour. This botanical paradise is recognised as an International Camellia Garden of Excellence, and is the first in Spain to obtain this distinction.
The camellia flower is the undisputed protagonist in the gardens of the majestic castle of Soutomaior, whose collection grows every year; of its more than 400 camellias, the 18 specimens from the 19th century (one of them the Camellia japonica with the largest perimeter in Galicia) stand out. The collection grows every year thanks to the Deputation of Pontevedra. An example of this constant innovation is the Camellia Garden with a Woman's Name, a project that started with the camellia dedicated to María Vinyals and the tea plantation with 72 specimens of Camellia sinensis, which, little by little, will grow in the garden.
The space is complemented by other tree species from the five continents, such as the Chilean araucaria, the sequoia, the Japanese cedar, the Spanish fir and the shade plane tree.
A beautiful French-style garden welcomes us to this historic pazo in the region of O Salnés. More than 4,000 camellia specimens embellish the gardens of international excellence of the Rubianes pazo (Vilagarcia de Arousa) since 2014. One of the botanical treasures guarded by the property is a group of 19th century camellias donated by the Duke of Caminha (Portugal). Camellia sasanqua, Camellia sinensis, Camellia reticulata and Camellia japonica are some of the species that share reign in this idyllic garden where more than 800 varieties shine during the cold season.
The cultivation of the species in this place is a passion for gardening and knowledge passed down from generation to generation. Its collection of camellias coexists in perfect harmony with magnolias, calocedrons, cryptomerias, eucalyptus, camphor trees, ash trees, araucarias, oaks or cork oaks, making the place an ideal botanical park for a stroll.
Located in the heart of the region of O Salnés, the Quinteiro da Cruz pazo, dating from the late 18th century, is an example of Galician neoclassical stately architecture. Its 7-hectare estate has a French-inspired garden area designed in the late 19th century, surrounded by Albariño vineyards and native woodland.
Around 5,000 specimens of more than 1,500 varieties coexist in this enclave, which has held the distinction of International Camellia Garden of Excellence since 2018. Camellia japonica, Camellia reticulata and Camellia Higo stand out, having won the Golden Camellia Award at the International Camellia Competition on several occasions. This botanical paradise allows you to walk among camellias and admire the beauty of this elegant flower from the province of Pontevedra.
On the outskirts of the city of Pontevedra sits this magnificent example of a late 19th century manor house, currently dedicated to forest research and conservation. This manor houses a garden of great size and quality, in which a number of unique botanical species are concentrated, such as a metasecuoya that was only known in fossil form, a majestic sapphora, a Dutch elm and a cedar from Lebanon that is about 180 years old.
The oldest camellias on the property are specimens of Camellia japonica 'Alba Plena' which date from the 19th century and dress up this garden, which has more than 600 specimens of this very species, from November to February.
The pazo Quiñones de León or pazo de Castrelos, is built on the old Lavandeira tower (17th century). After being owned by different families, in 1924 it was donated to the people of Vigo to be converted into a museum and public park in 1937. In this marvellous park where botany seems like magic, there are several sectors, including a rose garden, a French garden, an English-style garden and a forest.
In the shelter of the pazo is a specimen of Camellia japonica known as the "Methuselah" of camellias due to its age, as it is around 200 years old. Among the impressive camellia specimens are some varieties of Camellia japonica such as 'Alba Plena', 'Bella Romana', 'Federici', 'Hagoromo', 'Herzilia II', 'Incarnata', 'Kellingtonia' or 'Pomponia Portuensis', among others.
On the outskirts of Pontevedra is this manor house built by Archbishop Malvar at the end of the 18th century. The pazo of Gandarón has housed the headquarters of the Galician Biological Mission since 1928. Fountains, ponds, a granary and a chapel are part of the identity of this beautiful place that has preserved its original style.
The oldest camellias were planted in the 19th century by Jerónimo Malvar. Later, Cruz Gallástegui, founder of the Mission, increased the collection, and during the last half of the 20th century Antonio Odriozola contributed greatly to the cultivation and dissemination of the camellia. Among the varieties in the garden, the specimens of Camellia japonica Fimbriata Alba, Juan XXIII or Prince Eugene Napoleon, which so often walked through the streets of Pontevedra in Odriozola's lapel, stand out.
Another of the gardens of international excellence in camellia in the region of O Salnés can be found in the town of Meis, in the pazo of A Saleta. Its botanical heritage is one of the most important private collections in Spain, where native species coexist with others from all continents. This English-inspired garden is part of Les Belles Maisons, an exclusive selection of private homes.
More than 300 camellia specimens adorn its beautiful gardens, where species such as Camellia japonica, Camellia reticulata or Camellia x williamsii flourish . Together with the chapel of A Saleta, the pazo, the dovecote, the oak grove, the pond and the Australian jungle make this one of the most special gardens in the province.
The pazo of Oca is the oldest Galician pazo. Within the complex, the chapel of San Antonio, the pazo - in which an imposing tower with battlements and several coats of arms stand out - and the spectacular gardens, which conserve the dual character of productive orchard and ornamental garden, stand out.Known as the Galician Versailles, due to the exceptional quality of its baroque style gardens, within its garden composition the romantic, the classical geometric and the labyrinth stand out; as well as numerous details such as the treatment of water, with the ponds of the boats, fountains, jets, mills, cisterns and canalisations, which give the property a great attractiveness.
In its geometric garden grows a specimen of Camellia reticulata Captain Rawes of an intense red colour that is around 170 years old and 11 metres high, which makes it the oldest and largest specimen in Spain. In addition to this great jewel of the camellias of the province of Pontevedra, there are hundreds of camellias of different sizes, species and colours that awaken the senses of those who visit this botanical wonder.
This park, the highest point in the centre of the city of Vigo, is an exceptional botanical garden that offers a beautiful view of the port and the estuary. It has exotic species of great size and ornamental value, as well as the remains of a castreño site dating from the 3rd to 1st century BC.
Its collection of camellias is distributed in different areas and most of them are of Portuguese origin, such as the varieties 'Dona Jane Andresen', 'Angelina Vieira' or 'Pomponia Estriata Portuensis', among others.
The Pegullal pazo dates back to the 18th century and is located in the municipality of Salceda de Caselas. This manor house is surrounded by beautiful gardens, ponds and fountains. The coats of arms of the Correa, Mendoza, Quirós, Sarmiento and Sotomayor families preside over the entrance gate of this splendid pazo, the southernmost of the Camellia Route of Pontevedra Province-Rías Baixas.
The property is home to the vineyards of the Pazo Pegullal winery, which produces and markets its wines under the Rías Baixas Designation of Origin. The pazo also has kiwis and olive groves.