Directions 
17.7 Penedos do Castro
Finally, this route arrives at a truly special place, known as Penedos do Castro.
In addition to its extensive panoramic views over the Sil River, this was a location that offered defensive advantages, which is why there are remains of human occupation here that go all the way back to the Iron Age.
The first use of this location seems to be as a Castro hillfort site in the 4th century BC, with a second occupation period dating to the 1st century BC. Then, following an abandonment phase, a medieval fortress was built here, although today there are only a few remnants of its stone walls existing at the site.
There is an inscription carved into one of the large stones reading “+LEOVIGIL DUX”. This would seem to refer to King Leovigildo, which suggests that this carving could date back to the Visigoth Era in the 6th century AD.
This location also stands out for the views it still offers today. The magnificent Santo Estevo de Ribas de Sil monastery is seen on the slopes below, with a broad section of the Sil Canyon completing the panorama, including small villages emerging from among the leafy native forests. Finally, the bridge at A Barca can be seen in the distance, where the Cabe River flows into the Sil.
