Zas brings together a range of discoveries: routes lead through the town and along river landscapes, while churches, towers and a museum offer insights into history and crafts. When planning your trip, it is worth first choosing what you are most interested in: would you like to compare route lengths, focus on natural features, or specifically include cultural sites and events?
Routes and their different points of interest
The town hall is a specific starting point: the Ruta Zas – Rial de Abaixo begins in front of it. The Ruta del Agua is a 10-kilometre circular route that starts and ends at Ponte do Sisto in Zas. Its length and starting and ending points are clearly specified, making it easy to choose a route by distance. The Ruta RÃo Grande offers a different scale: it is 22 kilometres long and runs through Zas.
The route conditions offer another point of reference. The Ruta da Auga follows restored old roads and riverside paths. On the Ruta del Agua, the trail leads to the Budián Waterfall; there are five mills in the surrounding area. The Cascada de Rabiñoso is also on the route. It is surrounded by dense riverside forest and an old slab bridge, with two mills nearby. These details make the waterfalls and mills specific landmarks for anyone wishing to focus on water and the route’s course.
River landscapes and views
A riverside forest of alders, oaks, birches and willows grows along the Ruta RÃo Grande. It provides habitat for, among other species, Iberian frogs, mallards and trout. The Pedra VixÃa natural area lies where the Zas River meets the RÃo Grande de Baio. Oaks and alders, mills and rocks rising on both sides of the river shape the landscape there. The river landscape thus brings together different natural and cultural features without being limited to a single route.
If you would like to include a viewpoint at a higher elevation, the Mirador de Pico de Meda is at 556 metres. From there, the view extends across the Val de Soneira and, on a clear day, as far as the Atlantic Ocean. The Pozo de Limideiro on the banks of the Xallas River offers a different historical connection with water: it was once a gold and tin mine. The viewpoint, river landscape and mining history each add a different focus to your choice of places to visit.
Churches, towers and linen crafts
The Iglesia de San Andrés de Zas was commissioned in the 16th century by Ãlvaro Núñez de Lamas. The sarcophagus of the founder’s mother is inside the church. The Torres do Allo also date from the 16th century; they were built on the remains of an earlier fortress destroyed by the Catholic Monarchs. Today, the towers serve as a heritage interpretation centre and an ethnographic museum. The church and towers therefore offer two different historical points of reference: a story of patronage and the later use of a building with a fortress history.
At the Museo do Liño (Baio), you can follow the entire linen-making process, from cultivation to weaving. One of the looms there is more than 200 years old. The museum also hosts live demonstrations and educational activities about linen crafts. If attending a demonstration is important to your plans, check the specific dates before your trip. This will help you decide whether to focus on the individual stages of the craft or combine your stay with other historical and landscape themes.
Plan visits around your interests
The Carballeira de Zas folk festival takes place on the second weekend in August. If you would like to plan your trip around the festival, check the programme for the relevant year. For other visits, you can follow the different themes: routes and river landscapes, the history of the Iglesia de San Andrés and the Torres do Allo, or linen crafts in Baio. If you are looking for hotels in Zas, you can use these interests as a starting point for your choice.
Discover more destinations: Borreiros, Arteixo, A Ramallosa, Nemiña, Remesal, Corrubedo, Coristanco, Curtis.
For the broader travel overview: Coruña.
