The orography is marked by low and round mountains, next to the Támega River, which is the largest river in the area and the different municipalities also have their streams.
We have the largest acropolis in Galicia, the castle of Monterrei. In addition, there are numerous churches in the region, highlighting the Church of Santa María de Mixós among others.
We have fantastic conditions for the vineyards, with more than 30 wineries dedicated to the cultivation and production of wine. It also highlights our gastronomy linked to the products of our land.
What to see and do in Monterrei, Ourense
The location of our rural accommodation in Monterrei, and its proximity to the link to the A-52, gives the town of Villaza excellent accessibility, without breaking the tranquility of the place. We have innumerable historical routes, gastronomy and tradition.
We are expert guides of our land and we are delighted to be able to plan your stay with us, so that you can enjoy everything you can see and do in Monterrei and its wonderful surroundings with plans, visits and activities for all tastes.
O Retiro do Conde is located in the Pazo de los Espada from the 17th century located in Vilaza, where we can find more pazos of a stately character such as the Pazo de los Limias or the Pazo de los Bazal, symbol of the town’s aristocratic past. In Vilaza, we will find the Church of (it has a Templar Tower), up to the ruins of a very important old water spa run by Juan Ramón Espada, owner of the pazo at that time.
In Monterrei, we will find a wide range of historical heritage. Starting with El Castillo de Monterrei, a 14th century fortress of enormous historical relevance, churches such as Santa María de Mixós, Pre-Romanesque with Visigothic overtones or Santa Maria de Gracias in the castle and Romanesque. From Castros (A Saceda, Cualedro) fruit of Celtic populations, to Roman settlements (Tamagos, Verín), make up the extensive and vast range of possibilities to visit.
The location of Monterrei, an extensive valley surrounded by mountains, native forests, idyllic landscapes and a great variety of fauna, makes it an ideal area to enjoy nature. There are easy routes through the valley, and more complicated ones through mountains and gorges. Some of the best known are: Pozo do Demo, Ruta do Contrabando, the Ecovía that crosses the border to Chaves and those of the Invernadoiro Natural Park, less than 20 minutes away.
Our gastronomy is characterized by local and organic products. The Valley is an orchard in terms of the production of vegetables and fruits of great quality and variety. Accompanied by sustainable livestock farming, it converges on a traditional cuisinewith a modern touch that seeks its place in the Galician gastronomic scene.
For thousands of years, the history of the Monterrei Valley and its inhabitants has been linked to wine. The microclimate, the different types of terrain and the large number of autochthonous varieties, make the wines of the D.O. Monterrei stand out for their aromas and complexity. We enjoy the largest concentration of rock presses in Europe, an ancient symbol of wine production in the area.
This region is famous for being one of the largest concentrations of mineral-medicinal waters on the Peninsula. The most representative springs are Cabreiroá and Sousas, which still have a water bottling plant. They represent a time when Spanish high society came to taste our waters and rest on our lands.
