Donís brings together a striking watercourse, traditional building styles and archaeological traces. The Rego de Bous, with its small waterfalls, pools and rapids, is a central feature; hórreos, pallozas and the Casa-torre de Donís offer a glimpse into other aspects of local architecture. There are also two rock art sites with precisely described forms and measurements. When planning your trip, you can consider nature, architecture and archaeology as distinct areas of interest.
Watercourse and access to the waterfall
The Rego de Bous, also known as the Rego de Piornedo, rises in Penalonga and flows into the Río das Pontes as a tributary of the Río Ser. Several small waterfalls, pools and rapids form along its entire course. Rego de Piornedo is another name for the same watercourse and one you may come across when finding your way around Donís.
To reach the Fervenza das Pontes, go down through the village towards the church of San Fiz, then continue to the bridge over the Rego de Bous. The terrain is difficult, so bear this in mind when planning your visit.
Building styles and former uses
The hórreos in Donís are built in the Becerreá style. They stand on conical granite supports fitted with round stone discs to keep mice out. The grain stores are made of wide chestnut boards with no openings. Four-sided slate roofs with wide overhanging eaves protect them from rain and snow. The bases, chambers and roofs of these granaries are each distinguished by their own materials and forms.
Pallozas are part of Donís’s traditional vernacular architecture. The Casa-torre de Donís is one of the most prominent buildings in Cervantes. The Ponte Romana, also known as Pontevella, and the Acea das Pontes offer another link between a structure and its former use: the bridge is in the parish of Donís, near the Acea. This mill was used by parish residents to grind grain.
Comparing the rock art
The Petroglifo da Campa de Campo Redondo comprises 12 round cup marks, measuring 3 to 9 centimetres in diameter and up to 1 centimetre deep. There are also nine oval cup marks. The largest measures 11 × 7 centimetres and is 2.5 centimetres deep.
The Petroglifo dos Montes de Robledo comprises at least 28 cup marks carved into a rock that slopes slightly westward. They measure 3 to 7 centimetres in diameter, and a central group forms a semicircle. The two rock art sites differ not only in the number of cup marks: Campa de Campo Redondo has both round and oval forms, while the semicircular arrangement is a notable feature of Montes de Robledo.
Routes and traditional customs
A path leads from Donís to the Ponte de Castelo and can be continued as far as the Souto de Xantes. Check the path conditions before setting out. These named destinations provide another way to combine a visit to Donís with an outdoor activity, alongside the route to the waterfall.
Donís is also associated with musical traditions. On Shrove Tuesday, women played tambourines, danced and made guttural cries. At weddings, women played tambourines and sang. The recorded practices are associated with two different occasions: Shrove Tuesday involved dancing and cries, while weddings featured singing and tambourine playing.
Discover more destinations: Foz, Incio, A Lobagueira, O Vicedo, Viveiro, Goiriz, Nespereira, Folgoso Do Courel.
For the main travel overview: Lugo.
