ACTIVITIES

O Barco de Valdeorras combines the passion for cycling with natural beauty, wine culture and surprising nearby places to discover such as Manzaneda or Las Médulas.

Bicycle routes

O Barco de Valdeorras is an exceptional destination for mountain biking (MTB) lovers. It stands out for its variety of routes, from gentle trails to challenging climbs. It is also known for its impressive landscapes. The routes will take you through lush forests, green valleys, and panoramic views. Do not miss the spectacular views from the surrounding hills and mountains.

Also, if you are a wine enthusiast, you will be delighted to know that O Barco is part of the Valdeorras wine route. You can combine your passion for cycling with visits to local wineries and wine tastings. A unique experience!

The following bicycle routes are available for download:

Places to visit in the surroundings

Serra da Enciña da Lastra

The Serra da Enciña da Lastra is Galicia’s natural eastern boundary. Its limestone summits are a rarity in the Galician countryside, where granite predominates.

With a surface area covering 3151.67 Ha. this wilderness area forms part of the Concello de Rubiá, in the Valdeorras region, bordering el Bierzo (León).

To get there you have to cross the Natural Park via Covas, the N-120 Ponferrada-Ourense highway and the railway tracks.

Las Médulas

Declared a World Heritage Site it is a must see area thanks to its great beauty and archaeological riches. It was the largest gold mine of the Roman Empire and in this red landscape it is easy to see the historic footprint of the Romans.

Camino de Invierno

The Camino de Invierno a Santiago, which deviates from the French Way in Ponferrada to bypass the steep climb up Piedrafita –especially in winter–, arrives in Santiago after passing through El Bierzo to the south, Valdeorras, la Ribeira Sacra, Deza and finally, after joining the Ruta de la Plata in Lalín, leads you to the capital of Galicia. This route is very old and it has been documented that it was well used by pilgrims who preferred a relaxed alternative with a generally mild climate in winter. The Camino de Invierno covers a distance of 30 kilometres

Trevinca

The mountain range of AS TREVINCAS rises up from a level of 1000 metres over the lands of Valdeorresas (Ourense), La Cabrera (León), and Sanabria (Zamora).

There are three main peaks – Peña Trevinca Sur (2.127m), Pena Negra (2123m) and A Survia (2112m). They are composed of slate mixed with quartzite and sandstone and it is this that gives the mountains their abrupt and complex relief.

Peña Trevinca has facilities for skiing and holds the honour of being the highest mountain in Galicia.

Manzaneda

Covering an area of approximately 2000 hectares its location means it is an ideal spot in both summer and winter, as it has everything you’ll need for a range of mountain sports including skiing, hiking, climbing, mountain biking, etc.

Manzaneda has Galicia’s largest ski resort with over 15 km of pistes, modern lifts and rentals as well as a heated pool, tennis courts and facilities for horse riding.

Ribeira Sacra

The Cañón del Sil is a steep-sided valley created by tectonic movement. It is located between Ourense and Lugo and is 35 km long and covers an area of 5914 hectares. Some of the walls of the valley are more than 500m high in places. The canyon’s steep slopes provide an awe-inspiring landscape with their mix of whimsical shapes created by erosion of the rocks, artificial terraces created to cultivate the vines and the reservoirs on the river which generate hydroelectric power.

Vía Nova

One of the most important tourist trails along the Vía Nova can be found in Valdeorras. Along the way you’ll locate some of the stations which are cited in the Antonine Itinerary: Foro in Valdeorras and Gemestrario in the Sierra de la Enciña da Lastra. These stations covered all the needs of those travelling along the route. They were an accommodation network offering food and lodgings, repairs, change of animals and so on. They were distributed along the route at distances calculated as that which a person could cover in one day.