Explore Forcarei through a variety of highlights: hiking trails with clearly stated lengths, Romanesque architecture and archaeological heritage sit alongside wetlands and a landscape defined by rock outcrops and open horizons. When planning your trip, it is worth distinguishing the trails by length and route, and setting aside separate time for cultural heritage and nature.
Hiking routes with different profiles
The Senda das Neveiras is about 9.8 kilometres long and passes through varied landscapes, from the peaks of the Serra do Candán to riverside woodland. Informational and directional signs help with navigation along the route. The Ruta das Pontes do Lérez, by contrast, is a 14.6-kilometre linear hiking trail. Its route is shaped by gallery forests, where herons and cormorants can be spotted.
Another option is the 15-kilometre circular Ruta Aciveiro–Candán. It starts at the Mosteiro de Aciveiro and follows the edge of the protected Serra do Candán. In terms of length, this circular route and the linear Ruta das Pontes do Lérez are similar, but they differ in route type. The shorter Senda das Neveiras, in turn, links the landscapes of mountain peaks and riverside woodland.
The Camiño Miñoto-Ribeiro crosses the municipality of Forcarei over a distance of about 25 kilometres, running from southeast to northwest. Another named route runs for 14 kilometres from Pardesoa to A Mámoa: the Ruta Xacobea da Geira e dos Arrieiros.
Monastery, ice houses and archaeological heritage
The Mosteiro de Aciveiro is a Romanesque Cistercian monastery dating from the 12th century. Associated with it are the Neveiras de Fixó: this archaeological complex consists of two 17th-century ice houses. The monastery’s monks used them to store snow and ice. The monastery’s architectural history therefore sits alongside a specific former use of the ice houses.
The Mámoas are also part of the archaeological heritage: 77 of these burial mounds have been identified and mapped in the municipality of Forcarei. They served as burial sites in the Neolithic period. The Centro Etnográfico Terra de Montes, or CETMO for short, offers a different way to explore cultural heritage. It is dedicated to researching, preserving and presenting the tangible cultural heritage of the comarca. The cultural highlights thus encompass both archaeological remains and a focus on the region’s tangible heritage.
Wetlands, species and distinctive landscapes
Brañas de Xestoso is a 1,077-hectare inland wetland. Its habitats include bogs and wet heathland. The area is known for its ornithological value; protected species include the little bustard (Tetrax tetrax), the European tree frog (Hyla arborea), and the bats Myotis myotis and Rhinolophus ferrumequinum.
The Serra do Candán is characterised by scrub vegetation, striking rock outcrops and open horizons with few settlements. Around the Fervenza de A Graña Albariza e antiga central, a waterfall, an albariza, a former power station, a reservoir and a viewpoint come together. Nature and built heritage share the landscape there; the power station is specifically a former one.
More ideas for planning your trip
The Torrente do Rego do Castro lies near the village of Chamosa and is used by some adventure tourism companies as a canyoning location. The Observatorio AstronĂłmico in Forcarei offers activities that bring science closer to the public, especially children and young people.
Regional events also add to the cultural highlights: the Festa gastronĂłmica da Richada celebrates Richada meat, typical of Forcarei, and includes workshops, concerts and cultural events. Around 750 musicians come together at the Festa do Gaiteiro de Soutelo de Montes. For planning purposes, check the specific event dates before your trip.
Discover more destinations: Duxame, Peinador, Estacas, Tabagón, Nigrán, Salcidos, Barbudo, Sieiro.
For the broader travel overview: Pontevedra.
