Discover Padrón: Garden Art, Literature and Lamprey

When looking for a hotel in Padrón, your interests can help you decide. Garden art, literary history, Jacobean tradition and lamprey cuisine offer different themes to explore locally. The routes also provide concrete points of comparison: the literary walk through Iria Flavia is 790 metres long, while a second route is four kilometres. There are also historic sites, a market held every Sunday and an event whose dates vary with each edition.

Garden art and fishing history on the Ulla

The Jardín Botánico–Artístico de Padrón covers about one hectare and preserves around 300 species. In 1946, it was declared an Asset of Cultural Interest (Bien de Interés Cultural, BIC). The garden therefore has both botanical and cultural-historical significance.

Another historical theme concerns the Río Ulla: along the river as it flows through Padrón, there are up to 14 pesqueiras, also known as canles, between Herbón and Carcacía-Lapido. These traditional stone structures were used for the artisanal fishing of river lamprey. Their construction and former purpose are closely linked to local fishing traditions.

Literary routes and Camilo José Cela

The “Camilo José Cela en Padrón nº1” Literary Route is a 790-metre walk through the parish of Iria Flavia. The second route, “Camilo José Cela en Padrón nº2,” is of moderate difficulty and four kilometres long; it also leads to other notable places in neighbouring Padrón. The first is therefore the shorter option, while the second combines a longer distance with a moderate difficulty rating. The Ruta del Pimiento de Herbón is another circular route.

The Fundación Camilo José Cela is located in Iria Flavia, in 18th-century buildings originally built as residences for canons. It preserves the writer’s complete works, manuscripts, private collections and documents relating to his life. In the halls, visitors can see hundreds of book titles, awards and prizes, including the 1989 Nobel Prize, the 1995 Cervantes Prize and the 1987 Prince of Asturias Award.

The Casa da Matanza is also associated with literary history. Rosalía de Castro spent the last years of her life there and died in the house in 1885. It was restored in 1971 and converted into a Casa-Museo in 1972. Her time living there and the house’s later conversion are two distinct stages in its history.

Jacobean tradition and religious sites

El Pedrón is a Roman altar. Jacobean tradition associates it with the boat that brought the apostle James’s remains from Palestine to Galicia. In Padrón, the altar can be seen beneath the main altar of the Iglesia de Santiago.

The chapel of O Santiaguiño do Monte is currently open only during the novena and the Santiaguiño do Monte pilgrimage celebration on 25 July. Check the current dates of the novena and celebration before visiting.

A religious community settled in the Convento de San Antonio de Herbón in 1396. It remained there for more than six centuries and is still there today. Since 2010, the municipality of Padrón has awarded the “Pedronía” diploma in connection with the Camiño da Pedronía.

Market and lamprey tradition

During the Xornadas Gastronómicas da lamprea, participating establishments in Padrón serve traditional and modern menus featuring Lamprea do Ulla. Dates vary with each edition. The programme may also include gastronomic workshops, competitions, talks, routes and guided visits. If you want to plan your trip around one of these activities, check the dates and programme for the relevant edition.

The Mercado Dominical takes place every Sunday and attracts thousands of visitors of all ages, including people from other autonomous communities. The offerings include seasonal fruit and vegetables, cheese, cured meats and liqueurs, among other things. This gives you a concrete distinction for planning: the market has a set weekly date, while the Xornadas take place on the dates scheduled for each edition.

Discover more destinations: O Alto, Nantón, Culleredo, Serra de Outes, Arriba, Oza, Fadibón, Corcubión

For the main travel overview: Coruña.