As Pontes De García Rodríguez: Lake, Trails and Industrial Heritage

As Pontes De García Rodríguez brings together the landscape around Lago de As Pontes and a layered industrial history. When planning your stay, you can choose different focuses: paths by the water and through forests, traces of mining, or historic buildings. The routes described differ considerably in length and theme.

Comparing the Lake and Trails

Lago de As Pontes is 5 km long, 2 km wide and has a circumference of 18 km. Almost half of its shoreline has been developed as a publicly accessible promenade. At Playa del Lago de As Pontes, you can take part in water sports; there are also hiking trails around the beach. This means that activities on the water and paths by the lake are available side by side, without requiring you to choose the same route for both.

The Senda de la Memoria is an 8.3 km trail around the lake that can be used on foot or by bicycle. Motorized vehicles are not allowed. Information panels commemorate people, settlements and parishes that disappeared during coal mining. At Espiñaredo, the route includes a birdwatching observatory and offers views of Lago de As Pontes. As you should check the observatory’s local status before your visit, it is best to plan this stop using up-to-date information.

A longer hiking option is the PR-G 147 As Fragas da Ribeira e do Lostegal: this 19 km circular route begins at Parque da Fraga in the town center, at the crossing over the Eume. It passes through dense oak, holly and laurel forests before reaching the reservoir. By comparison, the Senda de la Memoria is shorter and focuses on the lake. The Senda de la Calvo Sotelo is shorter still, at 1.6 km; six information panels explain the industrialization that began along the banks of the Eume in the early 20th century.

Industrial History and Townscape

Several exhibitions explore different aspects of local history. The Museo Etnográfico Monte Caxado features a permanent exhibition across two floors, with everyday objects and items from former occupations in As Pontes, as well as photographs, documents, audio and video. The Centro Expositivo de la Maquinaria Minera de As Pontes, or CEMAM for short, focuses on machinery used in coal mining in As Pontes. The Centro de Interpretación “A Mina” presents the history of the lignite deposit from its origins to the present day through graphic and audiovisual materials and interpretive panels.

The Poblado de As Veigas also tells the story of the town’s development. The neighborhood comprises 230 homes across 27 hectares and was built in several phases between 1946 and 1962 to house 1,500 residents. It was designed as a self-contained neighborhood with schools, a health center, a shop, a church, and sports and leisure facilities. The Casco Histórico de A Vila has a different historical origin: it developed from a medieval settlement at the foot of the Eume.

Bridges, Mills and Waterfalls

The Ponte de García Rodríguez was commissioned by García Rodríguez de Valcárcel in the 15th century. Its larger left-hand arch is Gothic and has a span of about 9 m; a smaller round arch is on the right. The medieval Puente Romana over the Chamoselo was probably built around the 14th century. It has a round arch and a simple slate-masonry wall. The Ponte de la Piedra, meanwhile, was moved to its current location in the 1970s because of coal mining. Today, it provides access across the Brixeo to Parque Vila de Lesneven.

Former water-powered facilities and mills are also part of the architectural heritage. The Molino de Alende dates from 1805; its water-powered mechanism, as well as the dam and channel that supplied it with water, have been preserved. The Molino Fábrica de la Luz was the first power plant in As Pontes. The company Prieto y Compañía built it in 1906; it used the water power of the Eume to generate electricity.

Natural attractions include the Cascadas de Somede, a series of waterfalls on the Rego dos Campos in a native woodland area with several mills. The Cascadas de As Painceiras de Bermui comprise two waterfalls with drops of 10 and 12 m respectively. They are located in a well-preserved native woodland area in the Eume Canyon; the higher waterfall is not easy to reach. From the Mirador Monte Caxado, you can look out over the surrounding landscapes. On a clear day, the Sisargas Islands are visible to the west.

Festivals and Dates

The events calendar may also factor into your travel plans. The Feria de As Pontes takes place on the 1st and 15th of each month. The Feira do Grelo is scheduled for Carnival Sunday, and the Feira de Fungos e Cogomelos for the weekend before All Souls’ Day. The Capilla de San Vicente de Pontoibo is associated with the annual Romería de San Vicente on January 22, which includes an auction and a festival. As event dates and annual schedules can vary, check the specific dates before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Cruces, Os Fornos, Cesuras, Miñortos, Curtis, Ouces, Monfero, Vachao.

For the regional travel overview: Coruña.