The Ruta Indiana gives a stay in Merille a cultural and historical focus within the municipality of Ourol. It comprises 17 stops: 14 houses, two Indiano schools, and the Indiano cemetery of Xerdiz. The theme therefore extends beyond individual homes. For travellers interested in Indiano architecture, the appeal lies in the mix of different types of stops and the opportunity to discover several parts of the municipality. This is a good starting point if you are deciding between visiting a single building and exploring a broader cultural theme. The houses make up the largest share of the stops.
Indiano Houses and Their Distribution
Ourol has around a dozen well-preserved Indiano houses dating from the 19th and 20th centuries. Most are located on either side of the C-640 between Viveiro and Betanzos and are spread across the parishes of Ourol, Xerdiz, Miñotos, Vilares, and Merille. Merille is therefore one of several points of interest in a larger municipal area; the theme extends beyond the village centre.
The geographical layout can be understood on two levels: the C-640 marks the corridor along both sides of which most of the houses are located, while the named parishes show how they are distributed within Ourol. This distinction is useful for a trip focused on architecture, as it keeps the relationship between Merille and the wider municipality clear.
Casa das Veigas in Vilares
Near Merille is Casa das Veigas in Vilares, in the parish of Merille (Santa Eulalia). The house was built around the 1930s and has three storeys and two galleries, one on each side of the main structure. The three storeys and the galleries positioned on either side give the building a distinct architectural profile.
Dating from around the 1930s places this house in a more specific period than the general classification of Ourol’s Indiano houses as dating from the 19th and 20th centuries. This allows you to connect a specific building with the municipality’s broader historical context without conflating the two perspectives.
Getting Around the Municipality
Access routes include the road from Agro to Pousada in Merille, the road to the village centre of Vilares, and the LU-P-3802 from the LU-105 to the church of Ourol. These three routes lead to different reference points: Merille, the village centre of Vilares, and the church of Ourol. This reflects the distribution of Indiano houses across several parishes and helps distinguish the locations within the municipality.
Consider whether you would prefer to focus on the architecture of a single house or on the wider distribution of the houses and other stops.
Discover more destinations: Outeiro De Rei, San Cosme De Barreiros, Frontón, Vilamor, A Pobra do Brollón, Casacamiño, Xermade, Piñeira
For the broader travel overview: Lugo.
