In Ordes, short riverside walks meet longer routes and diverse traces of the town’s history. The Paseo Ramiro Recouso is in the town center; at around 15 kilometers and approximately four and a half hours, the Roteiro do Río Mercurín is on a very different scale. There is also a traditional costume collection, railway heritage, and markets. This makes it easy to tailor your stay to your interests and preferred distance, without requiring every discovery to fit the same time frame.

Riverbanks and trails

The Paseo Ramiro Recouso is a riverside recreation area in the town center of Ordes. It has less than one kilometer of riverside paths, wooden walkways, and bridges over the Mercurín. Picnic tables are located next to the children’s playground and farther into the natural area. The short paths and different places to stop and relax make this a compact riverside area.

The Roteiro do Río Mercurín offers a longer hiking option: the route is about 15 kilometers long and takes approximately four and a half hours. The full route is considered moderately difficult, while shorter variations are easy. The length, duration, and difficulty level refer to different variations; you can keep this distinction in mind when choosing a route.

The Ruta San Paio Buscás–Poulo offers another way to experience the landscape. Its traditional paths pass through oak woods, meadows, and eucalyptus groves, by fields bordered by traditional hedgerows, and across two streams. The route shares part of its course with the Camiño Inglés. In the Terras da Comarca de Ordes destination, the Camiño Inglés passes through the municipalities of Ordes and Oroso. The Igrexa Parroquial de San Paio de Buscás is also on the English Way.

Traditional costumes and railway history

The Mostra do traxe Juanjo Linares is located at Rúa da Feira 5. Its collection includes more than 1,000 traditional costumes, around 260 of which are on display. Most are traditional costumes from around the world, with the autonomous communities of Spain making up the largest share. Opening hours are 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. every day except Mondays. On Sundays and public holidays, the exhibition is closed in the afternoon. Check the opening hours before your visit.

The former A Pontraga railway station also tells the story of the railway connection between Santiago and A Coruña. It was built in 1943 on the original Zamora–A Coruña line. Remains are preserved in the station area, including a rusted signal, several posts, wagon wheels, and remnants of a track switch. The building was designed by architect Ramón Cortázar de Urruzola, modeled on the station in Azpeitia. Together, the surviving elements and the architecture give the site a distinctive connection to railway history.

Architecture and historical traces

The Pazo de Codeseda was founded in the 17th century by Don Domingo Rodríguez de Verea e Aguiar and his wife, Dona María López de Verea. It is privately owned and not open to the public. The main façade faces the street; its features include a balcony supported by sturdy corbels and a carved-stone balustrade. Keep its restricted access in mind when planning visits to historic buildings.

Stone inscriptions at the Casa na que se aloxou Felipe II indicate that Felipe II spent a night there in 1554. Ordes is also home to a surviving Roman-era bridge, which formed part of the Via XX. These sites represent different historical periods, from the Roman road to later manor houses.

Markets, art, and landscape

The Praza de Abastos is mainly used for the sale and marketing of natural, local, and other food products. The Mercadiño dos Mércores takes place in the town center at Campo da Feira from 08:00 to 14:00. As market times may change, it is a good idea to check before your visit. The two markets offer different insights into the local selection, and the same opening hours are not given for both.

The Festival DesOrdes Creativas adds another dimension to public space: it transforms abandoned or unused spaces into new, colorful places for community use and is described as a large, free, open-air public museum. The landscape is also part of Ordes’s character. The Río Tambre area in Ordes is designated as a Site of Community Importance within the Natura 2000 network.

This gives you several clearly distinct areas of interest to plan around: short riverside walks in the town center, a longer route with different options, a section connected to the Camiño Inglés, and the history of traditional costumes, railways, and architecture. Choose what suits your stay, and leave room in your plans for the different route lengths and opening hours.

Discover more destinations: Santa Cruz Santa Cruz De Montaos, Castrelo, Boaño, O Coto, O Cabo de Area, Zas, Narón, Basoñas.

For the broader travel overview: Coruña.