Fragas do Eume
The Atlantic Forest of Europe
Las Fragas do Eume, which stretch across a rugged valley of deep gorges, boast the distinction of being the best-preserved coastal Atlantic forest in Europe and one of the very few forests of this kind on the continent. Covering 9,125 hectares, it was declared a Natural Park—the fifth in Galicia—on August 12, 1997. In terms of size, it is the second largest natural park in the region after Xurés (Ourense), which spans nearly 30,000 hectares.
Top 5: What You Shouldn’t Miss
- The Eume River carves a great canyon in its final stretch, wrapped in mist and guarding an extraordinary botanical treasure. Listen to the silence and to the sounds of the small inhabitants of these magical woodlands.
- Spot some of the 28 species of ferns that have survived hidden since the Tertiary geological period (after the last dinosaurs became extinct), beneath the shade of oak, chestnut, birch, and alder trees.
- If you are lucky, identify some of the more than one hundred species of birds and forty species of mammals that coexist with fish such as trout or sea trout, as well as endemic species of invertebrates and reptiles that are hard to find elsewhere, such as the Iberian frog or the long-tailed salamander.
- Discover the human footprint in the Park through prehistoric remains, medieval monuments (the monasteries of Caaveiro and Monfero), and ethnographic elements such as the curripas, which bear witness to the use and exploitation of these mountains until the 20th century.
- Enjoy the views from the Monastery of Caaveiro, the emblem of the Fragas do Eume located in the very heart of the Park, and from the five viewpoints (Teixido, Monte Pendella, Caaveiro, Pena Cavada, and Carboeira Viewpoint) open throughout the year. One landscape, four different color palettes.
