Praza de Galicia, s.n. 15570 Narón T: 981 337 700 · F: 981 337 701 · [email protected] · www.naron.es ENGLISH

TABLE OF CONTENTS

NARÓN AT A GLANCE CULTURAL AND ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE Pena Molexa ...... 03 Castros ...... 03 Os Niños Mountain ...... 04 O Couto monastery ...... 05 Chapels, churches and crosses ...... 06 Baltar convent ...... 07 Mansions and pazos ...... 08 Mills ...... 09 NATURAL SURROUNDINGS Century-old magnolia tree ...... 10 Xuvia River ...... 11 Xuvia Promenade ...... 12 Beaches ...... 12 Pedroso Recrea4onal Area ...... 13 Freixeiro Park ...... 13 ETHNOGRAPHIC HERITAGE Path to San Andrés de Teixido ...... 14 English Pilgrim’s Way to San4ago de Compostela ...... 15 Aldea Nova ...... 16 GALICIAN TOURIST HOLIDAYS Oenach Atlán4co ...... 17 FAIRS O Trece Fair ...... 18 A Solaina Fair ...... 18 Agricultural Machinery and Fruit Tree Fair ...... 18 Medieval Market of Freixeiro Park ...... 18 Honey and Ecological Products Fair ...... 19 OTHER CELEBRATIONS AND PROCESSIONS Procession of the O (Pedroso) ...... 19 Santa Margarida Procession (O Val) ...... 19 GASTRONOMY O Couto pepper ...... 20 San4ago black tomato ...... 20 NARÓN TODAY Auditorium ...... 21 Leisure ...... 22 Narón commerce ...... 23 Narón industry ...... 23 Narón by night ...... 24 Telephones of interest ...... 24

CREDITS

Edi.on Municipality of Narón edion. Tourism Council Produced Item-Aga Photography Ovidio Aldegunde / Municipality of Narón Legal deposit C 2275-2015 In this guide, we see Narón as it truly is: a lively, dynamic, extensive and intense city filled with charming sites, some of which are well known and others that are great unknowns and come as authentic sur - prises to travellers. Delight in the architectural jewels, unique natural spaces, magical mills and streams, the bustle of the shows and relentless culture, intensive sporting activities, the living art, the energy of the trade shows and horses, the unparalleled sweet peppers, the thriving commerce, vital in - dustry and progress, the dynamism of the streets and people, and the water, rivers, the sea... Narón is much more than you ever imagined. Take a glance and discover it. Without a doubt, this is one of the magical places in Narón

CULTURAL AND ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE PENA MOLEXA A unique element on the mount known as “Monte da Lagoa” (the la - goon mount), the Pena Molexa megalithic site is considered a heritage landmark for its location, its relationship with the surrounding terri - tory, the construction technique used to erect it and the articulation of its elements, and was possibly dedicated to an old worship of the dead. The site is an unparalleled material entity in Western Europe and fully documents the lunar funeral rite. Pena Molexa is the tangible ref - erence of a symbolism-rich territory which is intended to be lived as a magical experience. It is surrounded by many legends, the most well- known being the “ Lenda da Moura ” about a witch who knows the se - crets of the earth and the other world.

CASTROS Narón is filled with these vestiges of the past ( “castro ” is a Neolithic for - tified settlement): Castro de Quintá (Quintá church, Santa María a Maior do Val parish), Castro da Cruz do Castro (San Mateo de Trasancos parish), Castro de Sequeiro (San Xiao parish), Castro de A Revolta (Santo Estevo de Sedes parish), Castro de Os Vicás (San Xiao parish), Castro da Ermida 3 View from the Os Niños mountain

(San Salvador de Pedroso parish), Castro de Santa María do Castro (parish of the same name), and Castro de Vilasuso (Santa María A Maior do Val), all of which are private property and may not be visited. Visits to Eiravedra, the dominant castro of Narón, are permitted. It dominates the landscape and the territory, from the Pedroso valley to the Xuvia estuary and to the lands of San Sadurniño. It has an oval shape and a wall in its inside with an embankment facing outward. The Petouzal castro (O Couto) is a sort of coastal settlement using the estuary as a source of food resources with fisheries, etc. Of this fort, only the walls remain, some ten meters in height, along with the moats, having a depth of five meters. These are located along the south east - ern side, facing the Trasancos valley.

OS NIÑOS MOUNTAIN The prehistoric necropolis of Os Niños Mountain, with at least 14 bur - ial mounds, is located in the Santo Estevo de Sedes parish, occupying the plateau of the mountain, at 300m above seal level. This type of monuments makes up the early Galician architectural mon - uments, also serving as a cultural phenomenon that unites it with the European Atlantic front. Created to endure over time in this location, 4 Apse of the O Couto convent. Detail San Salvador de Pedroso church and cross ever since the Neolithic period, they modified the landscape, human - izing it, such that it is possible to call it a "burial ground for the living". These burials were mainly based on a collective funeral rite, with the deceased being accompanied by different ritualistic objects: stone axes, arrow heads, necklaces, ceramic jars, etc. A large percentage of the burial mounds of Os Niños Mountain appar - ently are from the so-called megalithic phase, having a large burial mound and burial chamber (dolmen).

O COUTO CONVENT Located along the Xacobea route of the English Way, its origin dates back to the reign of Ramiro I, in the mid 9 th century. With the Counts of Traba, in the middle of the 11 th century, it would be reborn, although its era of the greatest splendour would be in the 12 th century with the Cluniac Reforms, when the Romanesque church was built. The building of the current convent of San Martiño do Couto began around the 12 th century. Next to the convent, declared a National Artistic Monument by the Minister of Culture, is the San Martiño church, whose construction dates back to the 12 th century, although its façade and tower are from the 18 th century. It is owned by the Mondoñedo-Ferrol diocese .

5 Shrine in Sedes

Church of San Estevo in Sedes Chapel of Santa Margarida in O Val

CHAPELS, CHURCHES AND CROSSES The church of San Lourenzo de Doso has an eye-catching 16 th century barrel vault from that welcomes visitors to this ancient place of wor - ship. Today it is virtually in ruins, but elements such as its bell tower continue to maintain their beauty in this model of a Galician parish church. The San Salvador church, located in the parish of Pedroso, is the heir of the ancient and now long gone convent of Pedroso , which was in its splendour in the 13 th century. Some elements of the convent remain in its interior architecture. The transept-shaped atrium, the only one in Narón having a bed stone, was created from serpentine rock, am - phibole, from the quarries of Moeche. The chapel of Santa Margarida do Val was created in the shelter of the Andrade, in the 15 th century, one of the most ancient ones of the town. It is located in a rural site, has a rectangular shape and situated inside the main nave is a low vault. Nearby this building it is possible to visit the cruceiro (Calvary cross) and fountain of Sta. Margarida, with the spouts of Santa Margarida and Santa Lucía. The chapel of the O recalls times of drought when the virgin of the O was taken out in the procession in order to pray for rain. Even though

6 Mansion-convent of Baltar

Chapel of Sagrado Corazón in Baltar’s pazo Baltar’s pazo. 16 th century stone coat of arms it didn ’t always work, the strong devotion of the locals led to the cre - ation of this simple chapel in her honour and a procession was estab - lished that continues even today. Outside of the chapel of the O we find the Chao Bridge and the mills of Perfecto and Chao.

THE BALTAR CONVENT Located within the rural center of Baltar, its original construction was the work of Juan Pardo and Andrade during the late 16 th century, granted by the late Marchioness of San Sadurniño, María a Natividade Quindós e Villarroel, to the Claretian missionaries in 1910. Of the orig - inal structure, today only two large crests or emblematic stones carved in sculpted quarry remain. It was later modified, including the chapel of the Sacred Heart ( Sagrado Corazón) and a Baroque style fountain. Near Baltar there are also var - ious medieval houses such as Quintá and the impressive collection forming the chapel of Santa Margarida from the 16 th century, the Cal - vary cross and the fountain with two spouts .

7 Pazo do Vento

Chalet Antón, city property Pazo de Nelle

MANSIONS AND PAZOS The Pazo do Vento (“pazo ” is the Galician word for a noble house) is a mansion made of quarry stone, having numerous architectural details inside. This includes the grand stone staircase and a typical house. Ex - terior details include a granary ( “horreo ”) of pilasters or a large polyg - onal loft-leisure area containing an image of the very nobility who had it built. The Pazo de Libunca , mansion of A Pena de Embade, was created by the Montenegro family in 1922. It has a clear modernist style. Its dec - oration includes modernist lines with raised columns and terraces made of ceramics from Talavera. It is known as the Cabezas chalet. The Chalet Antón is a building that was created in the early 20 th century and was restored in 1982. The main façade includes ornamentation in the mouldings, lines, capitals and balustrades in the portico. The Pazo de Nelle , the summer house of the Pita Romero, of the Freire, of the Román, evoking a romantic French style from the late 19 th cen - tury, are some of the many examples of the large houses that exist in this town.

8 As Aceas mill

Pedroso mill Xuvia mill

MILLS As we follow the flow of the Freixeiro River, we come upon the Ame - nadás mill which continues to function today. Created last century, this construction includes a technological advance of great interest, the tur - bine mill, taking full advantage of water, devised for times of water shortages. The Aceas mill is a tide mill created in the late 18 th century, promoted by a company of Galician and French businessmen, and was one of the largest flour factories of Galicia over the 19 th century. The Xuvia mill , in 1858, was the country ’s principal mill in terms of pro - duction capacity. It received wheat in boats and exported flour to the Baltic, America and Santander. This flour mill went on to become a paper factory. The Gradaílle mill dates back to the 1950s. Located on the banks of the Xuvia River, in the parish of San Salvador de Pedroso, this flour mill is also known as the Entrerríos mill. The Pedroso mill and its area are an exceptional recreational area, in - cluding an area for camping, a picnic area, parking area and a recon - structed and functioning mill that may be visited, a true interpretation centre of our ethnography.

9 The Magnolia Grandiflora has been witness to life in Naron for over 200 years

NATURAL SURROUNDINGS CENTURY-OLD MAGNOLIA TREE The magnolia grandiflora of Santa Rita de Xuvia, with its more than six meters of trunk perimeter, is the largest of all Galicia and possibly of Spain . The City Hall of Narón, in the Urban Plan approved in 2002, granted it integral protection. Later, in 2007, the Autonomous Government of Galicia, upon including it in the catalogue of "Special trees of Galicia", under number 58A (the only one of this region), granted it regional pro - tection . Both the magnolia tree, as well as the estate where it is located, always have been and shall continue to be private property; however, their use and conditioning were granted by their owners to the City Hall of Narón. Although it is difficult to put an exact date to the plantation, it dates back approximately 200-220 years, that is, to the late 18 th century and according to diverse sources, it was brought here from some European location by a Spanish ambassador, most likely Eugenio Izquierdo, direc - tor of the Royal Money Factory and an individual who was extremely

10 Banks of the Xuvia River Floodgates in the Presa do Rei educated in many areas of science, including botany, travelling across Europe during these dates and becoming plenipotentiary ambassador in order to sign a peace treaty with England after the Battle of Trafalgar. During the 20 th century, the magnolia tree was protected as this was the ancient barrels factory of the Civil Guard barracks for almost fifty years. It is told that at times, it was even used as refuge against an air attack. Today, the public has open access to the tree .

XUVIA RIVER The space , made up of the banks of the Xuvia and Castro Rivers, ex - tending over 2,074 Ha, is included in the Red Natura 2000 , Lic (Places of Community Interest) and Zepa (Zones of Special Protection for Birds), thanks to its natural and ecological interest. One of the most pictur - esque natural spaces in Narón , the final stretches of the Xuvia River border the Ancos Mountain and widen as it reaches the Presa do Rei , the dam that supplies water to the Royal Mint of Xuvia and to the mill. The Presa do Rei , with its large trees leaning over the water and its roe deer drinking from its banks, also has beautiful falls, created where the Grande River flows into the Xuvia River . The Presa do Rei dam was built during the reign of Alfonso XIII, in front of the Xuvia mill. This natural

11 Estuary and Mountain of Ancos from the Xuvia promenade

Narón coast. Pena Lopesa between the coves of Casal and Lopesa

space is one of the most emblematic spaces for visitors taking a walk through Narón. The forests of the Xuvia banks create a unique ecosys - tem.

XUVIA PROMENADE Located to the right of the Xuvia neighbourhood is its marine prome - nade, with a bridge that joins the shores of Narón and Neda. It is a mag - nificent place to sit down, observe, spend some relaxing time and watch as all sorts of people come and go, in this oasis where it is pos - sible to play sports, walk next to the ria and enjoy the views and the tranquillity .

BEACHES The small coves of Casal, Lopesa and Hortiña are situated along a rural setting, virgin, isolated, having the shape of a shell and with white sand. Windy and with strong waves, they are ideal for looking at the waves, the mountain landscape and the nearby beaches of Covas and A Frouxeira. They are the ideal spot for nature lovers and those seeking out less populated places .

12 Recrea.onal area of the Pedroso mill

PEDROSO RECREATIONAL AREA The perfect place to spend a day with the family next to the Xuvia River, which is virtually surrounded in its perimeter by Protected Natural Areas ( Coordinates: 43 ° 31' 16.66" N - 8 ° 06' 40.03" W ). It is an ideal stopping point , with its camp grounds, river beach, restored ancient mills, children ’s park, dining tables and barbecue pits, green areas, walking paths, bridges, etc. It can be reached from the Ferrol-Vilalba AG-64 highway, heading in direction of Xuvia via the AC 862 and then turning off towards the signalled area at 1 km. It may also be reached via Neda, taking the Coruña-Ferrol highway and continuing until O Couso and asking there .

O FREIXEIRO PARK This site transforms a hostile urban environment into a habitable zone. What is more, in a few years, the area shall become a small forest. Today, in addition to walking paths, street furniture and public light - ing, the park also has an extensive green area and children ’s play areas .

13 Sanctuary of San Andrés de Teixido The fish, symbol of the Path to San Andrés

ETHNOGRAPHIC HERITAGE PATH TO SAN ANDRÉS DE TEIXIDO All of Galicia, and even those from outside of Galicia , make the pil - grimage to San Andrés de Teixido, but the classical path and that which is filled with pilgrims making their journey to Teixido begin in Narón, at the O Couto convent, where today we find the announcement board of the ancient route known as the Old Path to Teixido. Some arrows carved on wooden tables, opportunely placed in each crossroad, guide us along the way. The legend is well known to all: Christ was travelling across the world and, tired from walking, stopped in Teixido. In order to regain strength, he took an apple and when he opened it, he found San Andrés. The Saint complained bitterly about his situation, forgot - ten and abandoned in the far away lands. Christ took pity on him and promised him that his pilgrimage would be the most visited, since no one, dead or alive, would fail to make it. Other versions state that Christ responded: "Stay there San Andrés, for he who does not come alive shall come three times when dead .” The path begins in the atrium of the San Martiño church. After heading 13 km across Narón, it is necessary to go another 29 km across the towns of Valdoviño and Cedeira. We begin by climbing up towards the

14 Icon of the Camino de Santiago As Forcadas dam hill of the Petouzal castro, covered in forest, then lowering to the Aceas mill. Crossing the Castilla highway, the path goes close by the Sequeiros castro, travelling across the Feal channel and other paths leading to Pena de Embade. Then it runs through the towns of Narón and Valdoviño, Carreria de Ar - riba, Monte Boeira, Carballo and the slopes of the Esperón Mountain with its splendid views of the Trasancos valley, the A Lagoa Mountains and the great sandy expanse of A Frouxeira.

ENGLISH PILGRIM ’S WAY TO SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA The English Pilgrim ’s Way to Compostela, as it has been known throughout history since the largest contingency of pilgrims coming from the British Isles and Nordic countries, began here during the 12 th century. Coming from the city of Ferrol, where the English pilgrimage to Santiago began, the walkers advance across the Gándara area, en - tering the town of Narón and following the Avenida do Mar de Caranza parallel to the Ferrol estuary. After crossing under the train tracks that join Ferrol to Betanzos, the street called “Rúa da Pena ” leads them to the San Martiño de Xuvia convent. Facing the entrance to the convent, an asphalt path rises to a crossing. At this point, the pilgrim turns to

15 General view of the theme park facili.es

Aldea Nova carries out ac.vi.es directed towards understanding our origins

the right to join with the Salto path. Then, taking the pedestrian trail that, without ever leaving the river ’s bank, arrives at an electrical power plant, the pilgrim must go around it from the back. Heading to the right, the path opens up into the As Aceas mill and its bridge, which must be crossed.

ALDEA NOVA Opened to the public in January of 2008, in the Os Niños mountain (Sedes), is the Aldea Nova rural setting theme park. This space, some 35,000 square meters of surface area, recreates the typical life in a Gali - cian village. Here it is possible to find facilities such as a shelter holding up to 50 individuals, a rural house in which an ethnographic museum is located, as well as a farm housing different animal species. This huge natural and regional culture park of Galicia is an exclusive, authentic and lively product, in constant evolution. It is a sample of the recovery of the Galician identity and maintenance of local values and environ - ment. +info: www.aldeanova.es

16 O Trece Fair: co/age and menhir recrea.on

GALICIAN TOURIST HOLIDAYS OENACH ATLÁNTICO Declared a Galician Tourist Holiday since 2014, this event is pro - moted by the City Hall of Narón and led by the Working Group of the Sedes neighbourhood, having its summit in the Night in the Castro of Eiravedra and with the everyday recreational life of the Celtic castro village . In the Campa Castrexa ( “castro meadow ”) of Sedes on the last weekend of July, the Feira do Trece ( “The Fair of the Thirteenth ”) is celebrated from Friday to Sunday, structured in diverse activities: Lit with fire and nights of Galician music, the living museum of the military life, inter - national and Galician artisan ’s fair, sampling of popular rural games, Oenach gastronomy, the race of O Castro and recreational space . Oenach Atlántico runs throughout the year with complementary pro - gramming: A "longbow" archery tournament, Ateneo Aldeán, Work - shops for the creation of elements and reproductions for the recreation of a castro village, etc.

17 The O Trece Horse Fair is a classic amongst horse fairs in Galicia

FAIRS O TRECE FAIR Date: The 13 th and the last Sunday of each month / Place: Fairgrounds of O Trece (Sedes) / Frequency: Bi-weekly

A SOLAINA FAIR Food products (Cheese, bread, meat products, octopus …). Agricultural products. Textiles and footwear. Date: First Sunday of the month from 9.00 to 15.00 / Site: A Solaina / Frequency: Monthly

AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY AND FRUIT TREE FAIR (2 nd weekend of April)

MEDIEVAL MARKET OF THE FREIXEIRO PARK (2 nd weekend of July)

18 Detail of the products from the bird fairs

Honey fair Second hand market fair

FAIR OF HONEY AND ECOLOGICAL PRODUCTS (2 nd weekend of October)

OTHER CELEBRATIONS AND PILGRIMAGES On the 23 rd of November, Narón ’s Day is celebrated. Since 1993 this date has coincided with the first official act from 1837. Narón ’s Day is a local holiday, just one of the many dates that fill the town ’s calendar of holidays, traditions and other leisure activities. Procession of the Virgin of the O , held in the parish of Pedroso on the second Sunday of May . Procession of Santa Margarida , celebrated around the church of O Val, although over recent years, it has become a parish holiday.

19 The O Trece Horse Fair is a classic amongst horse fairs in Galicia

Medieval Fair Machinery Fair

GASTRONOMY O COUTO PEPPER This variety of the pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) with Protected Geo - graphical Indication, originates from the region of Ferrolterra. Its name comes from the O Couto convent where the monks began to select and grown these peppers. The production zone consists of the entire Fer - rol region, made up of the towns of Ferrol, Narón, Valdoviño, Cedeira, Moeche, As Somozas, San Sadurniño, Neda, Fene, Mugardos and Ares. On the last Sunday of the month of July, the Narón City Hall celebrates the Holiday of the O Couto pepper, helping to spread the word about this gastronomic product of excellence. As testimony to its fame, a number of restaurants in the Ferrol region include the " pemento do Couto " in their menus. +info: www.cooperativaoval.com

SANTIAGO BLACK TOMATO This ancient local tomato variety had almost disappeared but was the object of intensive recovery work conducted by the Mabegondo Cen - tre of Agricultural Studies, and subsequently disseminated by Galician

20 Fountain of Santa Margarida, near the hermitage The O Couto pepper, star product gardens receiving a great public response. Since 2012 , it has been grown and sold by the cooperative of O Val in Narón, making a true ef - fort to return this variety to the market. It is a seasonal variety whose fruit is enjoyed almost exclusively in the summer months. Its characteristic shape and colour and its irregular and whimsical appearance makes it a tomato that holds its secret on the inside: an incredible tomato that is "how they used to taste". This variety has been so widely accepted that its producer, the Coop - erative of O Val, has multiplied its crop growing surface area by three for this variety and its production is growing in a spectacular manner .

NARÓN TODAY AUDITORIUM After the consolidation of Narón as a reference point in Galician public cultural management, the City Hall of Narón, along with its Department of Culture, inaugurated the new Auditorium in 2008. It is the second largest auditorium in Galicia welcoming large cultural events while also serving as headquarters for the Professional Theatre School and dance and music schools of the Cultural Patronage. It is responsible for most

21 The stage of the Auditorium is one thousand square meters and it seats nine hundred

of the programming including that was previously held in the Munici - pal Auditorium of Narón, which has become too small for this task over the years. It includes a café-theatre that holds up to 80 people and in which more intimate events and shows may be held . Narón Cultural House St./ Holanda - Urb. Ciudad Europa · T: 981 391 144 Telephone line: 981 102 897 (from 11 to 13:30 and from 18 to 20 h)

LEISURE Cinebox Narón (12 halls) Pol. Industrial da Gándara, s/n. Centro Comercial Dolce Vita Odeón www.cinebox.es · T: 902 221 622 · Day of the viewer: Thursday

Campomar golf course Lg. Vilacornelle, s/n. O Val · 15541 Narón T: 981 453 910 / 663 123 398 ·"www.clubcampomar.com

Mobile home service area Pol. Río del Pozo (43 ° 31' 59.41" N - 8 ° 11' 44.44" W) Recreational Camping Area of Pedroso (43 ° 31' 16.66" N - 8 ° 06' 40.03" W)

22 Golf lovers can enjoy the perfect space in the Club Campomar facili.es

Routes "Biking through Narón" http://www.turnaron.es/paxinas/es/rutas-en-bici-por-naron.php Narón-Ferrol bike stations · T: 981 312 331 · [email protected] www.ferrolenbici.es

NARÓN COMMERCE Local stores in the surroundings of Narón are many and quite diverse, with establishments in which quality and personalized treatment stand out, resulting in a Narón that progresses while not losing sight of its origins . The commerce has been quite strong since the beginning of the decade with the implementation of two large commerce areas, services and leisure: Centro Comercial Narón Carretera de Castilla, 224-226 · 15570 Narón · T: 981 392 309

Centro Comercial Dolce Vita Odeón Pol. de la Gándara s/n · 15570 Narón · T: 981 397 940

NARÓN INDUSTRY The growing and thriving Narón of our days, in which a strong business network has been created, is due, among other things, to the develop - ment of a magnificent infrastructure for both industry as well as serv - ices, with three top of the line industrial parks: that of Río do Pozo , one of the largest in Galicia, as well as those of Gándara and As Lagoas .

23 Tradi.onal commerce has a major influence in Narón, even in the urban centre

NARÓN BY NIGHT Bars / Pubs / Discos One way of enjoying the leisure and nightlife of the different neigh - bourhoods and areas of the city. Narón is well known in the region for its "nightlife" since along the Castilla highway, passing by Xuvia and Piñeiros, there are tons of pubs, cafes, discos and bars that are filled with people every weekend.

Castilla highway Bars and pubs fill one of the most well known routes of Narón, a large number of venues where it is possible to enjoy friendly conversations and dance until the wee hours of the morning.

A Gándara The newest feel of the city can be found in this neighbourhood that is situated parallel to the estuary and that becomes one of the biggest leisure areas in Narón every weekend .

PHONE NUMBERS OF INTEREST Local police: 092 · 981 387 700 Ambulances: 061 Narón Civil protection -Emergencies: 981 390 000 Women ’s Help Line: 016

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Praza de Galicia, s.n. 15570 Narón T: 981 337 700 · F: 981 337 701 · [email protected] · www.naron.es ENGLISH