Romería Vikinga de Catoira
This event has been celebrated on the first Sunday of August since 1961 and it was declared an International Festival of Tourist Interest in 2002. It marks the Norman incursions that took place in Galicia in the 12th century, as they came looking for treasures from Compostela and had confrontations with the locals.
People gather on the shores and the bridge where the estuary of Arousa merges with the Ulla River. Over the course of the morning the town is filled with thousands of tourists who come to witness the arrival of a Viking longship, just like it happened about a thousand years ago.
The ruins of the medieval defensive towers Torres del Oeste become the target of about thirty northern barbarians with horned helmets, who disembark yelling out their most ferocious battle cries.
The armed battle for the defence of the towers is the focus at noon, and the festivities continue for the rest of the day with cultural events, folklore music and dances, a medieval market, mussel and red wine tastings, and rural meals. On this day the streets and promenade of Catoira are full of Vikings and visitors enjoying the festival.
People gather on the shores and the bridge where the estuary of Arousa merges with the Ulla River. Over the course of the morning the town is filled with thousands of tourists who come to witness the arrival of a Viking longship, just like it happened about a thousand years ago.
The ruins of the medieval defensive towers Torres del Oeste become the target of about thirty northern barbarians with horned helmets, who disembark yelling out their most ferocious battle cries.
The armed battle for the defence of the towers is the focus at noon, and the festivities continue for the rest of the day with cultural events, folklore music and dances, a medieval market, mussel and red wine tastings, and rural meals. On this day the streets and promenade of Catoira are full of Vikings and visitors enjoying the festival.
Services
- Actividades de animación: Sí
Features
Origin and history The first Viking festival was held on 29 July 1961 and promoted by Ateneo del Ullán, an artistic and literary group created by intellectuals from the region of Ullán. At first the festival consisted of a religious service in the Chapel of Santiago of the castle Torres del Oeste, which was celebrated in honour of Diego Gelmírez and the rest of the defenders the fortress. It was followed by a re-enactment of the arrival of invading ships led by King Ulf ‘the Viking’, who would later surrender. The organisers changed with time, first it was a pottery company from Catoira and afterwards the Council of Catoira, which increased the prestige and quality of the celebration until it had a more culturally significant role, which eventually led to it being declared a Festival of International Tourist Interest.Itineraries and main events during its celebration There are several activities in the week leading up to the festival, such as theatre performances and concerts in As Torres or cultural sessions in collaboration with other European sister cities like Frederikssund in Denmark and Wachet and West Somerset in the United Kingdom.
- Descripción del entorno: River
- Responsible body: Council of Catoira
- Declaration of tourist interest: International
Date of event
- Date of: 04/08/2019
Entertainment performances
- Musical performances: Sí
- Theatrical performances: Sí
Access
- Accesos a pie: Sí
- Accesos para vehículos privados: Sí