Mondariz-Balneario: Spa, Springs and Cultural Heritage

Mondariz-Balneario combines a strong wellness focus with springs, walking routes and historic sites. This gives you several themes to consider when planning your trip: a spa stay, mineral medicinal springs, activity by the river or a look at the town’s architectural heritage.

Spa and Mineral Springs

The Palacio del Agua is a spa covering more than 3,000 m². The Circuito Celta is a balneotherapy circuit inspired by ancient Celtic thermal culture. These two descriptions have different emphases: the Palacio del Agua stands out for its size, while the Circuito Celta is defined by its circuit format and cultural inspiration.

Fonte do Troncoso is a nitrous mineral medicinal spring. On 16 June 1873, it was declared to be of public utility. It is located one kilometre from the town centre, on the bank of the River Tea, and is accessible via a short walk from the start of Paseo do Tea. This places the spring in both a historical and a riverside context.

A second spring is Fonte da Gándara, an iron-rich mineral medicinal spring. The classical pavilion above it was designed in 1908 by architect Antonio Palacios Ramilo. The spring is located in the gardens of the Gran Hotel in the town centre. While Troncoso is by the Tea and one kilometre from the centre, Gándara is right in town.

Walking Routes by the Tea and in the Woods

Ruta da levada de Cambelas is a 2.59-kilometre circular route that starts in the town centre. It leads into the ecologically valuable Rial forest and follows the old Levada de Cambelas. Paseo do Troncoso is an 850-metre riverside path along the River Tea that starts at Fonte do Troncoso. When choosing a route, you can compare their length and format: a longer loop associated with the forest and the old levada, or a shorter riverside path along the river.

The Tea and its tributaries, the River Xabriña and the Valdecide stream, flow through Mondariz-Balneario. The landscape is protected under the Natura 2000 network. Together with the two routes by and through the woods, these waterways give the town’s landscape theme a concrete setting.

Cultural Heritage from Different Periods

Capela de San Pedro was probably built in the Romanesque style in the 13th century and preserves medieval elements, including a possibly Romanesque Patée cross. According to tradition, the wedding of King Don Denis of Portugal and Isabel of Aragon took place in the chapel in 1282. At San Pedro, a cautiously qualified construction date is thus paired with a wedding story explicitly described as a tradition.

Another point of reference takes us further back: Dolmen-cruceiro de las Piedras is a prehistoric megalithic funerary monument with three crosses placed on top. Later historical landmarks include O Gran Hotel, designed by Xenaro de la Fonte. Construction was completed in 1898. The Monumento a Enrique Peinador Vela was inaugurated on 24 August 1919. The sites and dates mentioned therefore span a prehistoric funerary monument and medieval architecture, as well as construction and monument dates from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Golf by the River

Campo de Golf Balneario de Mondariz is also located on the bank of the Tea. The course has 18 holes and covers an area of 50 hectares. If golf is a factor in your trip, you can consider it as a focus in its own right, alongside the spa, springs, cultural heritage and walking routes.

Discover more destinations: Picoto, A Escardia, Marín, A Xesteira, Tui, Ladrido, Bamio, Curantes.

For the broader travel overview: Pontevedra.