Route through O Courel - Serra do Courel

Route through O Courel

If you set off on the LU-651 local road, which runs through O Courel from north to south, from the descent of O Cebreiro to Quiroga, we suggest four itineraries to enjoy the view of the natural heritage and the richness of the landscapes.

The first turn-off to the hamlet of Romeor starts in Seoane. It has been recently signposted as a Roman tunnel-aquaduct (1st and 2nd centuries). To reach this place, you will have to park your car near the houses in Romeor and walk a few kilometers among the trees. Coming back, from Seoane, it is also possible to reach the magnificent monastery of Samos, or viceversa. The road runs through the mountains and the river Louzara, with its beautiful valley. Further down Seoane, at the turn-off to Moreda (where there is a Nature Room) and Parada, it is possible to access the Devesa da Rogueira and the small ake of Lucenza. From Moreda, you can enjoy 12 km of pure Courel. As early as in 1901, One of the first botanists who studied it wrote that "A Rogueira maintains the decorations of ancient history", and it has remained unchanged.

The brooks which have their source at the peak, such as Fonte do Cervo, rush downhill. A large crag may be found, with two jots from which waters with different tastes and colours spring up: one is limpid and calcareous, and the other is ferruginous. The small lake of Lagoa Lucenza may be found upriver. Halfway between Seoane and Folgoso, a branch sets off to Seceda. This route, which offers the Celtic settlement of A Torre, is an open-air museum of traditional architecture that gives lessons of common sense and adaptation to the environment. The hamlet of Seceda was restored a few years ago, and in the mountains you will see alvarizas, groups of beehives fenced to protect them from bears

The vegetation surrounding them reveals the taste of heather and other ericaceous flowers. Further on, you will pass the spa of O Incio and the Romanesque church of Hospital do Incio. The fourth route starts in Folgoso and leads to the Celtic settlement of Vilar. The charming, medieval-looking hairnets of Vilamor and Froxan may be visited. The latter has also been recently restored, and still maintains beautiful cork oaks on the descent to the river. The final part of the route, which should be made on foot, is indicated by the Celtic settlement of Vilar, chiselled in mountain slate on a meander of the Lor. It can also be reached through a steep road from the top of Alto do Boi (1.062 m.)

Finally, near Quiroga, tectonic forces are suddenly revealed in the open-air synclinal folding in Campodola. There are few places in Europe where we can open our eyes to the geological history of a land like OCourel. You will be glad to know its history, and to see that it is still preserved.