Road to Armenteira
Take a route that ends at the foot of the monastery, a jewel of the 12th-13th centuries whose foundation is attributed to the nobleman Don Ero. It is practically intact and captivates visitors with its majesty.
In the heart of O Salnés we find a hiking route that is an invitation to immerse yourself in the vineyards and enjoy the power of the water next to centenary mills to finish on the steps of the imposing Monastery of Santa María de Armenteira.
It is an unbeatable alternative for those looking to disconnect in the midst of nature and soak up the history of Pontevedra's rich religious heritage. It is just over eight kilometres, always on the banks of the Armenteira River and under the foliage of an abundant grove of trees.
The most hungry for experiences will start from Barrantes and go through the parishes of San Martiño de Meis until they reach the Cistercian monastery whose foundation is attributed to Don Ero in the year 1149.
It was occupied for 700 years by a community of monks dedicated to prayer and work, until 1837 when the confiscation forced them to abandon the monastery. The church is a real treasure from the 12th-13th centuries, classified as Galician Romanesque although in a transitional style to Gothic. All that remains of the original cloister is the entrance door.
Legendary place
Don Ero is the protagonist of a famous legend that is already recorded in the Cantigas de Alfonso X el Sabio (Songs of Alfonso X the Wise). According to the story, the monk went for a walk one morning and was enraptured by the song of a little bird. He spent 300 years in this state and returned to the monastery believing that only a few hours had passed. But everything has changed and the monks only recognise him from the chronicles of his disappearance. After his death, they called him "the holy abbot" and depicted him with the bird on his shoulder.
The area around the temple is a true spectacle of nature. It is one of the most famous trails in Galicia for its beauty and uniqueness and it also allowed the recovery of the old path by which the neighbours of Ribadumia used to go up to Armenteira on Easter Sunday. Today the celebration is moved to Monday, when thousands of neighbours of the region take part in the pilgrimage of Nosa Señora das Cabezas, which is said to have curative properties for migraines.
In the busiest stretch, between Ribadumia and Meis, the route runs between the mills of Serén, many of which have been restored.
The busiest stretch, between Ribadumia and Meis, is known as the Ruta da Pedra e da Auga, where the route runs between the mills of Serén, many of which have been restored. An obligatory stop on this itinerary is the farming village sculpted in stone by the Escola de Cantería de la Diputación de Pontevedra.
You can't miss it...
- The 12th-13th century church
- The cloister
- Muíños de Serén
- Stone farming village