Casaio can be explored through several themes: the mining history of Valborraz, religious and artistic heritage, and archaeological traces in the communal mountains. If you are planning a stay, you can start by considering which of these themes you want to shape your trip. The following places and stories offer different points of connection.
Mining History and How to Get There
During the Second World War, 463 Republican prisoners worked in the mines of Valborraz. Another trace of this mining history is the “pista de los alemanes”: it was built in 1940 so that cars and trucks could reach the Valborraz mining area. These two details shed light on different aspects of the same area—the work in the mines and the vehicle access provided for it. This connects the history of Valborraz to specific people and named infrastructure, rather than limiting it to mining as an abstract topic.
Much of the track is still intact and in good condition. If you want to use it today, check the road conditions beforehand. For the journey to Casaio, there is a separate route to follow: the OU-122 branches off from Sobradelo towards Casaio.
Church Art and Religious Memory
The church in Casaio has an interesting altarpiece. Another architectural feature can be found at the cemetery entrance: there you can see remains of the Plateresque façade of Casaio’s former church. These are different features—the furnishings of a church in one case, and surviving parts of a façade in the other. In Casaio, religious art and architecture can be found in two places: as an altarpiece in the church and as remains of the former church façade at the cemetery entrance.
In the valley of Casaio, the Ermita de San Xil preserves the memory of a 12th-century Benedictine monk. He withdrew to these mountains as a hermit. This tradition gives the chapel its own historical connection: it focuses on the memory of the monk and his life as a hermit. The San Xil festival in Casaio is held every year on May 1 in the chapel dedicated to the saint, beside the river of the same name. If you want to travel for this date, check the specific festival dates in advance.
Rock Art and Landscape
Schematic rock paintings can be found at Pala de Cabras, in Casaio’s communal mountains. The schematic rock paintings are dated to around 2500 BC. They therefore represent a different area of interest from the mining history or religious heritage: here, the focus is on prehistoric images at a named location. The Teixadal de Casaio also offers a connection to the landscape. It lies in the Pena Trevinca massif, in the province of Ourense and the municipality of Carballeda de Valdeorras.
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Discover more destinations: Xinzo De Limia, O Irixo, Boborás, Vilanova, Maside, Laza, Ribadavia, Os Blancos.
For the broader travel overview: Ourense.
