El Club · Vilanova dos Infantes

A medieval rock-cut structure, possibly a hermitage, passageway, or cellar, which can be visited on a guided tour organized by the Curros Enríquez Foundation, which also manages the Keep. Inside, there is an exhibition on the craft of shoemaking, a long-standing tradition in the town. Access to the San Vivián cave is part of the guided tour of the medieval village of Vilanova dos Infantes offered by the Curros Enríquez Foundation. The meeting and information point is the Torre da Homenaxe in Vilanova dos Infantes. The price for the tour and access to San Vivián is 5 euros.

The Parish Church of San Salvador de Vilanova dos Infantes is a parish church located in the historic center of Vilanova dos Infantes, in the municipality of Celanova, province of Ourense, Galicia, at coordinates 42.16594, -7.95623. It forms part of the heritage landscape of this town with a medieval layout, linked to the local historic district and the traditional surroundings preserved around the ancient fortress and the reconstructed tower on the site. Based on the information available in the sources consulted, it is a church or chapel dedicated to San Salvador, situated in a rural setting of high historical value. I have not found in the sources provided a precise architectural dating or a sufficiently substantiated stylistic classification; therefore, it is not advisable to definitively assign a specific century or style without further verification. The building’s heritage value is understood within the historical evolution of Vilanova dos Infantes, a medieval-looking settlement whose identity is shaped by the preservation of the traditional hamlet, the tower, and the urban complex. The church serves as both a religious site and a neighborhood landmark within this cultural landscape, maintaining the connection between worship, the local community, and the historical memory of the place.

The Vilanova dos Infantes Tower is the preserved keep of the town’s ancient medieval castle, now converted into an Interpretation Center. It is located in Vilanova dos Infantes, in the municipality of Celanova, province of Ourense, and forms part of the historic complex of this town with a medieval layout. Its origins date back to the Middle Ages; some sources link it to the 12th century, although the documentation consulted also indicates that it was a prominent fortress in later periods and that it sustained damage during the Irmandiño revolts of the 15th century, after which it was rebuilt. The typology that best defines it is that of a defensive tower or medieval fortress serving both military and residential functions. Of the castle’s original complex, the tower is the main surviving element, having become the most visible heritage feature in the town center. An historical analysis of the building reveals the strategic control the site exerted over the Celanova area and its role in the border conflicts with Portugal during the Late Middle Ages and the Early Modern Period. Today, the building houses a permanent exhibition on the history, geography, and economy of the region, thus also serving as a museum and interpretive resource for the area. Its exact location, in the center of Vilanova dos Infantes, reinforces its value as a heritage landmark of this small historic town in the province of Ourense.