PR-G 213. Points of interest

The beginning of PR-G 237 is located in Castro Caldelas, a village in Ribeira Sacra of Ourense (Galicia) with a long history. It is crowned by its medieval castle: probably built over an older one in the second half of the 14th century, it dominated both the Sil Valley - by its north face - and the Mountains of Burgo and Queixa - south side.

The irmandiños - vassals of the great owners of the lands - partially destroyed the fortress in the great social revolt that happened in Galicia in the 15th century. However the Count of Lemos - owner of the castle - severely punished the people, and made them reconstruct it with the well-known phrase: "You threw it away, and you will raise it up".

In the 19th century the castle was set on fire by the French during the War of Independence, in retaliation for the attacks of the guerrilla. This way all the files that it kept were lost, and with them a great part of the history of this territory.

At the end of the 20th century, the castle was owned by Casa de Alba, who gave it to Castro Caldelas Council. In the present it has a cultural use, with a library, a conference room, an exhibition hall and an ethnographic museum.

The village, located around the castle, flaunts beautiful houses with shields - samples of the ancient power of the town - and typical white galleries.

In gastronomy wines stand out, and some of them belong to Ribeira Sacra Denomination of Origin. It is also very famous the bica mantecada, king of the desserts of these lands.

We cannot forget the great festivals. Os Fachós is celebrated on the night of January 19 - before the Saint Sebastian festival - by burning large bundles of straw. It is one of the most antique festivals of Galicia, and it's known its existence since 18th century. Its origin may have to do with the intercession of the saint and the purifying power of fire over the plague epidemics suffered by Castro Caldelas in that time.

The other great party is the Romaría dos Remedios, a pilgrimage with the stellar figure of Irrio Peliqueiro. This character, which can be traced back to the feudal era, precedes the procession of September 8, and originally appears to represent the lord of the castle in an attitude of collecting taxes.