Nantón: Megalithic Heritage and Rural Cultural History

If you’re looking for a hotel for a stay in Nantón, its cultural history offers a clear point of reference: A Piolla is associated with prehistoric remains, while the Church of San Pedro de Nantón reflects rural church architecture and furnishings. Historic routes and regional examples of rural heritage add to the picture.

Prehistory in A Piolla

The area of A Piolla, within the parish of San Pedro de Nantón, contains one of the largest concentrations of Mámoas in the municipality of Cabana de Bergantiños. They date from the Megalithic period, or Stone Age. Another prehistoric trace is the petroglyph of A Piolla. Together with the petroglyphs of Corme and O Roncudo, it is one of the few examples of its kind from the Bronze Age in the Bergantiños region. A Piolla thus brings two distinct prehistoric periods into view: the Mámoas of the Megalithic period and a Bronze Age petroglyph.

Church of San Pedro de Nantón

The Church of San Pedro de Nantón is a rural Baroque church dating from the 18th century; it also retains an apse from the 16th century. It contains three altarpieces in Baroque and Neoclassical styles. The church’s construction and its apse therefore point to two different centuries within the same place of worship. Visiting hours follow the schedule of religious services. If you plan to visit the church, check the service schedule in advance.

Route, Mill and Castro

Route 8, “Del Vao al Castro de Anido por Camafreita,” passes through the parish of Nantón. At the Castro de Anido, despite the severe damage to its fortifications caused by mechanized agriculture, defensive remains survive on the northwest, east and southwest sides. The historic Molino de Nantón mill is another surviving trace of the past: it once ran on electric power. The fortification remains and the mill’s former technology offer different perspectives on the history of the area.

Rural Heritage and Former Uses

The Hórreo in A Palleira is considered a regional example of rural heritage and is described as the largest in Bergantiños. Two interpretations of its construction are offered: either it consists of two connected Hórreos, or an original Hórreo with six pairs of supports was extended with another one having four pairs of supports. The described structure can therefore be understood either as two connected granaries or as a later extension.

Processions used to take place at Fuente del Carmen, near the new cemetery. The brotherhood offered linen bundles and money as offerings. An old path in the parish of Nantón served a different historical purpose: muleteers known as “xalleiros” used it to fetch clay from Buño, while farmers transported sand from A Insua to their fields. Together, these examples illustrate a range of former uses, from religious processions to transporting materials for crafts and agriculture.

Road Directions

The C-552 from A Coruña to Fisterra skirts the municipality along its southern edge, passing through A Piolla and Nantón. To reach the Church of San Pedro de Nantón, take the AG-55 motorway exit 53 (A Pedra-Nantón), continue along the C-552, then take a turnoff at A Ameixenda to the church. The regional road connection along the southern edge of the municipality is therefore distinct from the specific route to the church.

Discover more destinations: Basoñas, Pantiñobre, Calo, Lens, Rúa De Francos, A Capela, Guitiriz, Manón.

For the broader travel overview: Coruña.