The Miño and Sil meet at Os Peares; the Búbal also joins them here. The river landscape and the town’s industrial history provide two distinct themes. If you are looking for accommodation in Os Peares, you can plan your stay around whether you would most like to focus on the landscape along the Miño or on railway and hydropower history. A designated river route and several tangible landmarks around the station bring these interests to life locally.
Riverside Landscape and Terraced Vineyards
The valleys of Os Peares have Mediterranean climate characteristics. These allow strawberry trees and holm oaks, which are rare in Galicia, to grow there. Terraced vineyards, typical of the Ribeira Sacra, can also be seen in Os Peares. The landscape at the confluence thus combines specific features of the climate and vegetation with terraced viticulture. The Miño, Sil and Búbal give the town’s landscape a clear geographical setting.
The PR-G 179 Miño River Route
The PR-G 179 Miño River Route ends in Os Peares. It is officially approved and signposted in accordance with FGM guidelines. Its second section is completely flat, runs along the banks of the Miño and offers views of the river and terraced vineyards. This precise information is useful for planning: the details about the flat terrain and views apply to this second section. This makes it possible to distinguish the river route as a landscape experience from the structures and artworks that shape the town’s railway and industrial heritage.
Railways and Hydropower
The iron railway bridge in the Eiffel style is a landmark in Os Peares. The railway museum is located in the former goods transshipment area and features a permanent exhibition on the history of railways in Ourense. It is temporarily closed; check whether it has reopened before planning a visit.
The Os Peares reservoir also tells a complex industrial story: construction began in 1945, the reservoir began filling in 1952, electricity generation started in 1953, and the reservoir was completed and inaugurated in 1955. The complex also includes houses built on vertical walls. Os Peares experienced a major economic boom in the 20th century; the reservoir and railway station contributed as sources of employment. The sequence of dates sets out construction, filling, electricity generation and inauguration as distinct stages in its development.
Art Around the Station
There are nine large-scale murals in the station area. The main mural is titled “La golondrina ahogada emigra” and has a strong railway theme. The other murals mainly depict plant and animal motifs. Thus, alongside railway history, the same area also features nature-inspired imagery. A sculpture there commemorates Rodolfo Prada, a Galician intellectual and founder of the Irmandades da Fala. Together, the murals and sculpture offer different ways to explore the town’s cultural history.
Road Connections
Os Peares is located on the N-120 and is connected by road to Ourense and the Comarca Monforte de Lemos.
Discover more destinations: Cartelle, Dornelas, Coles, Congostro, A Manchica, Casaio, San Cibrao Das Viñas, Baños de Molgas
Go to the main travel overview: Ourense.
