Itinerario de Interés Paisajístico Soutochao - Penedos do Castro
This Route of Landscape Interest is about 48 kilometres long, and it travels along the curvy and very scenic roads that follow the course of the Sil River. The surrounding landscapes are spectacular, with an abundance of terraced vineyards and chestnut forests, and with the rocky cliffs of the Sil Canyon as another major highlight.
SOUTOCHAO - PENEDOS DE CASTRO
We begin at Souto Chao in the municipality of Sober, which offers some of the best views available over the grapevines being cultivated on the terraced lands. The banks on the northern (Lugo) side of the river are almost entirely covered by steeply sloping vineyards.
On the other side of the river, where our route will be taking us, we can see some impressive, leafy native forests, with these trees consisting primarily of oaks, pines, and chestnuts.
The Route will take us to places such as the A Cortezada vineyard, Cristosende, San Adrián, Entrambosrrios, and Cabezoás, before arriving at a spectacular lookout point known as Penedos do Castro (Castro Rocks). As the name indicates, this is a rocky hilltop where a historic Castro culture hillfort site is found. Today, we can look out over the same landscape from this rocky vantage point and see the Santo Estevo de Ribas de Sil Monastery in all its splendour, surrounded by beautiful chestnut forests, while the Sil River flows through the valley below.
Interactive map