Bueu: maritime history, churches and festivals

When looking for a hotel in Bueu, you can choose the focus of your trip according to your interests: maritime history, church architecture, walking trails or a festival. The Museo Massó, the Iglesia de Santa María de Cela and the Iglesia de Santa María de Beluso offer different cultural and historical themes. There is also the Calvario near the Iglesia de San Martiño de Bueu and a signposted route to Cabo Udra. On the island of Ons, there are more walking trails as well as designated protected areas. Festivals are especially relevant when planning your dates, as the specific dates or programmes may vary from one edition to another.

Maritime history at the Museo Massó

The Museo Massó is located in the premises of the former Massó cannery in Bueu. Its sections are devoted to maritime ethnography, the fish canning and salting industry, and navigation. The three subject areas range from maritime ways of life to the processing and preservation of fish and seafaring. This breadth offers a concrete starting point for a cultural and historical focus. The building’s former use as a cannery meets the museum’s themes: Bueu’s maritime history can be connected both with industry and with seafaring.

Churches and architectural history

The Iglesia de Santa María de Cela is a Romanesque church dating from the 12th century. It was built by the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, later known as the Order of Malta. The Iglesia de Santa María de Beluso marks a different period: its structure, with a Latin-cross floor plan, dates from the 16th century. This type of floor plan is shaped like a cross; later additions brought in stylistic features ranging from Romanesque to Neoclassical. The comparison is therefore between a Romanesque building from the 12th century and a 16th-century structure whose later additions span a wider range of styles.

The Calvario near the Iglesia de San Martiño de Bueu can also be dated: it is from the second half of the 17th century. There are only three such monuments in Galicia. Together, the three structures offer different points of interest for anyone interested in religious architecture and its historical periods.

Walking trails and traces at Cabo Udra and on Ons

A signposted route leads from Bueu to Cabo Udra. Along it, you can see the “chozos,” structures built by shepherds among numerous rocks, as well as abandoned military batteries. The route thus connects two different themes: shepherds’ structures and former military use. The island of Ons has four colour-coded, signposted walking trails, which are also marked on the national park maps. For orientation, it is worth distinguishing between the locations: the route to Cabo Udra starts in Bueu, while the four trails mentioned run on the island of Ons.

The Ons archipelago has been designated a Special Protection Area for Birds (ZEPA) since 2001 and is included in the special area of conservation “Ons-O Grove Complex” (ZEC). The protected-area designations and the marked trails are two distinct aspects of the island: one concerns the archipelago’s designation, while the other concerns orientation along the walking trails.

Festivals and local cuisine

The SonRías Baixas festival takes place every year on the first weekend in August. The specific dates and programme may change from one edition to another, so check the dates for the edition that might coincide with your trip before booking. The Bueu International Short Film Festival (FICBUEU) was founded in 2008 as a place to promote the art of short films. Its accompanying activities include, among other things, film-themed tapas routes. The programme of associated events may vary from one edition to another.

The Festa do Polbo was established in 1999 to promote octopus as one of the town’s most important products. At the festival, octopus is prepared in a variety of ways, including polbo á feira, empanada, caldeirada, pizza and wok dishes. The participating venues and the specialities on offer may change from one edition to another. So if you want to plan a trip around a festival, the dates and programme for the relevant edition are a separate point to consider. The museum, churches, walking trails and festival themes also offer different cultural and scenic focuses for your stay.

Discover more destinations: Moscoso, Silleda, Rodeiro, A Penela, Cangas, Codeseda, A Telleira, Cores

For the main travel overview: Pontevedra.