The Ruta de las 12 Iglesias and the Ruta de los Castros offer different cultural perspectives: one invites you to discover the religious and cultural heritage of the municipality of O Irixo; the other follows the Coedo River to the remains of the walls of Castro de Orros. Together with the Church of San Pedro de Dadín and the pilgrimage tradition at Pena da Sela, they offer several themes for a culturally focused trip.

Two routes, different focuses

The Ruta de las 12 Iglesias is a walking route in O Irixo. Its purpose is to help visitors discover the municipality's cultural and religious heritage. The name places the churches at the heart of the route, offering a clear thematic introduction to this heritage.

The Ruta de los Castros takes a different approach. It runs alongside the Coedo River and reaches Coto del Castro. Remains of the walls of Castro de Orros have been preserved there. When choosing between the routes, visitors can follow their interests: one focuses on religious heritage, the other on a river course and archaeological remains.

Landscape of the municipality of O Irixo

The contrast between mountains and valleys shapes the landscape of the municipality of O Irixo. Dense coniferous forests and some native tree species cover these varied landforms.

Church, Reitoral and Cruceiro in Dadín

The Church of San Pedro de Dadín dates from 1833. Its architecture includes a main chapel, a nave with a gallery, and a sacristy. These components give the church building a distinct form: the main chapel, the nave and its gallery are as much part of the description as the sacristy.

The Reitoral de San Pedro de Dadín is an 18th-century building. Its irregular masonry consists of dressed stone and granite rubble; the floor plan is L-shaped. The remains also show a central staircase and a continuous solaina (covered gallery) supported by columns. Marian inscriptions are attributed to the lintels above the doors leading to the solaina. Its materials, floor plan and surviving details offer different clues for understanding the architecture of this historic building.

The Cruceiro de Dadín can also be described by its form: it has a square shaft with chamfered edges, a moulded capital and a cross with a square section. The arms of the cross end in fleur-de-lys-style tips. Alongside the architecture of the church and the Reitoral, these details distinguish the form of this separate religious monument.

Pilgrimage tradition at Pena da Sela

The pilgrimage at Pena da Sela in honour of Our Lady of Mount Carmel draws hundreds of worshippers each year. The celebration of the Virxe do Carme da Pena da Sela follows a centuries-old tradition and begins a few days beforehand with the “Baixada da Santa.” Visitors planning their trip around the celebration should check the current event dates.

Pena da Sela has a large oak grove and a building dating from the 16th century. There is also a picnic area and several fountains. In addition to the religious occasion, visitors can take in the site's specific features: its oak landscape and the facilities mentioned.

Regional orientation

Road O-202 is also a useful reference point for locating the municipality: it connects O Irixo with O Carballiño, the capital of the comarca.

Discover more destinations: Pousadoiro, Gomesende, Montederramo, A Gudiña, Lobios, Vilamartín de Valdeorras, Maside, Abelleira.

For the broader travel overview: Ourense.