Monastery of Caaveiro
A 10th-century monastery hidden deep in the Fragas do Eume Natural Park—one of the best-preserved Atlantic rainforests in Europe. The monastery sits in a magical setting of ancient oaks, ferns, and rivers. Founded in 937 AD, it was declared a Historic-Artistic Monument in 1931.
The monastery of San Xoán de Caaveiro stands on a rocky spur in the heart of the Fragas do Eume. A monastery is documented here from the year 790: first hermits, then Benedictines and, from the late 11th century, Augustinian canons regular who made it a collegiate church. Its power came from the couto (jurisdiction) granted by King Alfonso VII in 1117. From the medieval fabric survive the Romanesque apse of the Santa Isabel church (late 12th c) and the base of the bell-tower, finished as a Baroque tower in the 18th century; the rest is the restoration funded by Pío García Espinosa between 1891 and 1896. Declared a Historic-Artistic Monument in 1975, it now belongs to the A Coruña Provincial Council and, after years of restoration, has been a museum since 2011. You reach it on foot through the woods from the Ombre car park; at weekends and in summer car access is restricted. Free guided visit.
Practical info
Hours and access change with the season and road conditions; confirm before you go.
