The castle ruins of A Peroxa stand above a former Castro settlement; from the hilltop, there are views towards Ourense, Graíces, and the Pazo de Láncara. The area also has churches with distinctive architectural details, museums dedicated to rural and technological history, and trails of varying lengths and levels of difficulty. A Peroxa is part of the Ribeira Sacra geodestination area. To plan your visit, you can start by deciding whether to focus on heritage, landscapes, or a particular route.

Castle Ruins, Churches and Local History

Castelo de A Peroxa stands on a hill above a former Castro settlement. The views mentioned connect this historic site with Ourense, Graíces, and the Pazo de Láncara. The facade of the Igrexa de San Martiño de Vilarrubín reveals rural Baroque architecture from the 18th and 19th centuries: pilasters divide it into three sections, alongside a glazed image of the Virgin Mary.

The Igrexa de Santiago de A Peroxa tells a different architectural story. It was built in the second decade of the 20th century using stones from Castelo da Peroxa and modelled on a Baroque church. The facade features a twin bell gable topped by Christ the King, as well as round arches with tympana and stained-glass windows. The two churches therefore present contrasting styles: rural Baroque from the 18th and 19th centuries in Vilarrubín, and a more recent building in A Peroxa inspired by a Baroque church.

Manuel Fernández Fernández, known as “O Lebre das Casarizas”, is also associated with A Peroxa: he was born in the village of Casarizas in 1906 and died in 1997. The O-Lebre Museum contains nearly 500 exhibits. Machinery and inventions by Lebre convey the rural life of the 20th century and the traditional occupations of that time. The Aula - Museo do Ferrocarril dos Peares offers another perspective. Its exhibition is divided into six thematic areas; the collection includes railway technical communications equipment, tickets and other ticketing materials, clocks and uniforms, as well as models, toys, and art. The main building also houses a historic canteen with a related library.

Hiking Trails, Cycling Routes and Landscapes

The Senda A Peroxa is a 23.80-kilometre circular route for hiking, running, cycling, and motorcycling. Its difficulty rating depends on how you travel: it is rated difficult on foot and by bicycle, and moderate by motorcycle. When choosing a route, take these differences into account rather than treating the ratings as a single assessment of the trail.

The Ruta cicloturista da Peroxa covers 23 kilometres through the municipality’s chestnut and oak forests and is fully signposted. However, it includes technically difficult sections; check conditions before setting off. The Ruta do Miño PR-G 179 is an officially approved trail, signposted in accordance with the guidelines of the Federación Galega de Montañismo. Its first section runs from A Peroxa to Gulfariz, following the Rial stream through a riverside forest. Check the signposting here too before setting out.

A shorter option is the six-kilometre Ruta do Río Bubal, which follows the right bank of a high-altitude mountain river to Besteiros. It is described as especially scenic, but is currently not signposted. This makes it quite different in length and signposting from the two routes of around 23 kilometres; check route conditions before planning your trip. Another landscape feature is the Fervenza de Santigueiro, with several small cascades on a stream that flows into the Río da Barra. Further downstream, the river joins the Miño.

Feira da Peroxa and Regional Cuisine

The Feira da Peroxa takes place on the 13th and 27th of each month in the municipal capital. Confirm the dates locally before your trip. Associated with the feira is Carne O´Caldeiro de Vitela, a dish from traditional Galician cuisine. It consists of boiled beef and potatoes, seasoned with pork lard and paprika. The traditional preparation is linked to a tradition dating back centuries; the dish is therefore a distinctive culinary feature of the feira.

If you’re looking for a holiday apartment in A Peroxa, it’s best to decide first whether your trip will focus mainly on the churches and museums, a hike, or one of the differently signposted cycling routes. Route length, difficulty ratings, and signposting are important planning details; be sure to confirm the dates of the feira.

Discover more destinations: Seixalbo, Ribo, A Teixeira, San Amaro, Mesón, Cea, Monterrei, Vilar De Barrio.

For the main travel overview: Ourense.