El Club · Castro Caldelas

Castro Caldelas Castle is a medieval fortress located in the town of Castro Caldelas, in the province of Ourense, Galicia, next to the historic center and on a strategic height that dominates the town and its surroundings. It is identified as the most emblematic monument of the town and is associated with the Counts of Lemos, within the stately defense of the Ribeira Sacra. The current construction dates from the 14th century, attributed to Don Pedro Fernández de Castro, although sources indicate that it may have occupied the site of an earlier building. Due to its chronology and function, it corresponds to medieval military architecture, without the sources consulted detailing a more precise stylistic ascription; in its current state it presents features of a stone fortress with tower, walled enclosure and defensive spaces. In the interior of the castle a palace of the XVI century is documented, in addition to later cultural uses. Since 1991 it was ceded to the council in usufruct and became home to the tourist office, municipal library, auditorium and an ethnographic museum, becoming a cultural focus for the region. The complex was declared a Historic-Artistic Monument by the general protection regulations of 1949 and the Spanish Historical Heritage Law of 1985. Its heritage value lies both in the medieval fortress and in the historical continuity of the enclosure, linked to the evolution of the town and the stately memory of Castro Caldelas.

The Mirador de As Penas de Matacás is a scenic viewpoint located in Castro Caldelas, in the province of Ourense, within the area of the Ribeira Sacra and very close to the valley of the Sil. Turismo de Galicia lists it as a nature resource of the municipality, with the name "Miradoiro das Penas de Matacás". It is a natural and conditioned balcony on a rocky relief, in the parish of Paradela, about 550 meters above sea level and with a steep slope over the Sil riverbed. From this point, the great river canyon, the steep slopes and the mosaic of vineyards and riparian vegetation that characterizes this sector of the Ribeira Sacra can be seen. The most valuable aspect of the visit is the breadth of the panoramic view: the transition between Ourense and Lugo, the river gorge and the traditional agricultural landscape of the slopes, with the Sil as the visual axis, can be appreciated. The Penas de Matacás are also interpreted as an outstanding stone formation of the environment, associated with the abrupt topography that makes this section of the valley unique. Its tourist interest lies in that it allows to understand at a glance the extreme geography of the Ribeira Sacra and the historical relationship between river, mountain and vineyard. In addition, the viewpoint was improved and expanded in 2019, which reinforces its use as a safe and accessible observation point within the network of viewpoints in the surrounding area.

The river beach Ponte das Táboas is a recreational area in the municipality of Castro Caldelas, in Ourense, located on the river Edo, a tributary of the Sil, in the surroundings of the valley that descends towards the fortress of Castro Caldelas. It is a bathing and leisure area linked to the riverbed, with an area equipped for public use and a clear character of natural riverside area. The place is interesting for combining fluvial landscape, shade and water with rest and recreation facilities: tables, benches, barbecues, playground, picnic area and, in different descriptions, swimming pool or artificial bathing area. From here there is also a route that follows the river and passes by water mills, which adds an ethnographic component to the walk. Its main value is landscape and local use, as a place to stay at the bottom of the valley and access point to the river environment of Edo. There is no specific environmental protection figure in the sources consulted, but there are restoration and conditioning actions promoted by the Miño-Sil Hydrographic Confederation and the Concello to improve the recreational area and adapt the bathing areas to a safer use.