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 viewpoint of As Penas de Matacás is a panoramic balcony over the Sil canyon, in the parish of Paradela, more than 500 meters above sea level. It sits on a rocky edge of steep slope, with the river valley several hundred meters below and slopes covered by vineyards, soutos and Atlantic scrub. The topography explains the breadth of the view and the contrast between the slopes of Ourense and Lugo. From the point of visit, the course of the Sil river, the river piers of Abeleda and Ponte do Sil and, on clear days, the terraces of vineyards that characterize the Ribeira Sacra can be clearly recognized. The reading of the landscape is one of its main virtues: water, rock and cultivation are combined in a stretch where the river acts as a natural border between provinces. The viewpoint is part of the approved route PR-G 237, which links Castro Caldelas with this enclave and with other landmarks in the area, such as A Cova do Mario. The space has been conditioned with walkways and observation balconies, which facilitates the stay and reinforces its interest as a landscape viewpoint. It is a good place to understand why the Ribeira Sacra aspires to greater heritage recognition. The best time is usually the first half of the day or dusk, when the light best models the slopes and the river. In autumn and winter the valley tends to show more contrast; in spring and summer, the vineyards and vegetation give more depth to the whole.

The fluvial beach of Ponte das Táboas is a recreational bathing area located in the surroundings of the river Edo, next to its confluence with the Ferreiros stream, in the municipality of Castro Caldelas. It is not a natural sandy beach, but a conditioned space in the riverbed and its banks, with a river pool and areas to stay to take advantage of the water in summer. The toponym alludes to an old pass or plank bridge associated with the place. From the area you can see a stretch of valley, with riverside vegetation and the rural landscape that accompanies the course of the Edo. The interest of the point is in combining bathing, walking and a small river valley environment, with the presence of mills and ethnographic elements on the routes that start from the site. The area also has facilities for family use that make it a very complete rest area. It is a place mentioned in tourist information of the Ribeira Sacra and in local references of Castro Caldelas as a place for summer leisure. The best time to visit it is between late spring and early autumn, when the flow and temperature allow you to enjoy the bath with more comfort. It is advisable to go with time on hot days, because the influx can be high and parking space limited in high season.