Discover Forcarei

Forcarei offers travelers a range of starting points for planning a trip: hiking trails with different route types, distinctive landscapes, and cultural history. When considering Forcarei as a destination, travelers can prioritize these themes according to whether they are particularly interested in a hiking route, nature, or historical heritage.

Hiking trails: length, route type, and scenery

The Senda das Neveiras is about 9.8 kilometers long and passes through a range of landscapes, from the peaks of the Serra do Candán to riverside forests. The trail also has informative and directional signs. When planning a hike, both the approximate distance and the change between these landscape types can therefore serve as useful points of reference.

The Ruta das Pontes do Lérez is a 14.6-kilometer linear hiking trail. It passes through gallery forests, where herons and cormorants can be spotted. The 15-kilometer Ruta Aciveiro–Candán offers a different route type: this circular route starts at the Mosteiro de Aciveiro and runs along the edge of the protected Serra do Candán. Although similar in length, the routes differ chiefly in their form: one is linear, the other circular.

The Camiño Miñoto-Ribeiro crosses the municipality of Forcarei on a route of about 25 kilometers from southeast to northwest. The Ruta Xacobea da Geira e dos Arrieiros runs for 14 kilometers from Pardesoa to A Mámoa. When choosing between them, travelers can compare a longer crossing of the municipality with a route that has named endpoints.

Landscapes and nature

The Brañas de Xestoso is a 1,077-hectare continental wetland with bogs and wet heathland. The area is known for its ornithological value and is home to protected species, including the little bustard (Tetrax tetrax), the European tree frog (Hyla arborea), and the bats Myotis myotis and Rhinolophus ferrumequinum. These habitats and species give the nature theme a specific ecological dimension.

The Serra do Candán, in turn, is characterized by scrubland, striking rock outcrops, and open horizons with few settlements. This gives it a different landscape character from the Brañas de Xestoso wetland. At the Fervenza de A Graña Albariza e antiga central, too, nature and the region’s industrial past come together: a waterfall, an albariza, a former power station, a reservoir, and a viewpoint are all connected in the surrounding area.

Cultural history and regional themes

The Mosteiro de Aciveiro is a Romanesque Cistercian monastery dating from the 12th century. The Neveiras de Fixó are linked to its history: this archaeological complex consists of two ice houses from the 17th century, where the monastery’s monks stored snow and ice. The site thus illustrates an earlier form of storage, while the monastery serves as an architectural and religious landmark.

The Mámoas are also part of the municipality’s archaeological heritage: 77 burial mounds have been identified and mapped. They served as burial sites in the Neolithic period. The Centro Etnográfico Terra de Montes, or CETMO for short, is dedicated to researching, preserving, and presenting the material cultural heritage of the comarca.

Events and other interests

The Festa do Gaiteiro de Soutelo de Montes brings together around 750 musicians. The Festa gastronómica da Richada has a different focus: it celebrates Richada meat, a specialty of Forcarei, and also features workshops, concerts, and cultural events. Music and regional food culture therefore feature as distinct event themes.

The Observatorio Astronómico in Forcarei offers activities that bring science to the public, particularly children and young people. For travelers interested in science, this is another area of interest alongside nature and cultural heritage. The Torrente do Rego do Castro lies near the village of Chamosa and is used as a canyoning location by some adventure-tourism companies.

Discover more destinations: Salcidos, Vilanova De Arousa, Lantaño, Pontevedra, As Mariñas, Forxán, Monte Bouza, Porriño

Go to the main travel overview: Pontevedra.