Catoira: Torres de Oeste, River Routes and Romaría Vikinga

Catoira offers a range of highlights: the history of the Torres de Oeste, routes along several rivers and the Romaría Vikinga. When planning, consider whether culture, scenery or a festival date will be the main focus of your stay—that will make it easier to find the right focus for your trip.

History and cultural heritage in Catoira

The two surviving towers of the Torres de Oeste date from the pre-Romanesque phase of the Castellum Honesti, which was rebuilt in the 9th century. CACTO is an interpretation centre devoted to the history of the Torres de Oeste and their strategic location at the mouth of the Ulla. The building’s history and the importance of this river mouth are therefore among the area’s central themes.

Prehistoric traces are also part of the cultural heritage: numerous Bronze Age engravings have been preserved on granite rocks in Catoira. There are also 45 watermills along the banks of the Catoira River. The tidal mill Muíño do Cura, also known as Muíño de Mareas or Muíño de Machón, is another example of the link between water and its use in the past. It lies at the mouth of the Catoira River and is connected to the Ulla riverside path by a footpath.

Romaría Vikinga: festival and history

Catoira has celebrated the Romaría Vikinga since 1961. The festival recalls the town’s role as guardian of the treasure of Santiago Cathedral and as a strategic defensive point against Viking invasions. It combines historical remembrance with a recurring programme of festivities: the Romaría Vikinga takes place in the first week of August, and a Viking landing is re-enacted at the Torres de Oeste on Sunday morning.

The week before the Romaría Vikinga, an open-air play is also performed on the grounds of the Torres de Oeste, involving around 200 residents of the municipality. A medieval market and tastings of mussels and local wine round out the programme. If you plan to visit Catoira for the occasion, check the dates for the relevant year; individual events may vary.

River scenery and viewpoints

Lagoa de Pedras Miúdas formed in the basin of a former quarry and was designated an Espacio Natural de Interés Local (ENIL) in 2008. Its origins in a quarry basin and its subsequent designation as an area of local natural interest describe two distinct stages in its history.

From the Miradoiro Ruta Xacobea on Avenida Mirador da Ría, you can see the Ulla flowing into the Ría de Arousa and much of the only maritime Way of the Cross on the Ruta Xacobea do Mar de Arousa e Río Ulla. The viewpoint thus combines views of the river mouth with a connection to this route.

River routes and a choice of trails

The walking route along the Río Catoira and the Rego de San Cibrán is 11 kilometres long and runs from the chapel of San Cibrán to the Ulla. Along the way, wooded upper sections give way to fertile valleys and riverside forests. The Paseo Fluvial do Ulla is considerably shorter, at around three kilometres: it connects the river beach area with the Torres de Oeste, passes through wetlands towards Valga and lets you walk a section of the Ruta Xacobea do Mar de Arousa e Ulla.

The Camino Natural of the ecological routes along the Catoira River consists of two routes, each about three kilometres long, following the San Cibrán and Catoira rivers. They pass through riverside woodland and by old mills, some of which are heavily overgrown and partly hidden. Some sections may be impassable, so check trail conditions before setting out. The route lengths provide a practical guide, while the different landscapes and destinations can help you choose.

If you are looking for a hotel in Catoira, base your choice on the main focus of your trip: cultural heritage, river routes or a visit during the Romaría Vikinga. For a trip during festival week, it is worth checking that year’s dates and the availability of your chosen hotel.

Discover more destinations: A Aldea de Baixo, As Quintáns, Outeiriño, Ramil, A Telleira, Crecente, Mos, A Cañiza

For the broader travel overview: Pontevedra.