Location. Parish of San Salvador de Baños de Molgas. Monument type. Thermal fountain. Interest: Historical, architectural value, ethnographic and spa tourism. DatedModern Era. 19th Century DescriptionA Burga de Baños de Molgas is a hot spring fountain. The Romans were the first to build baths for recreation and enjoyment of these waters, which they named “Ad aquas salientes” (salted waters). Its waters gush out at temperatures between 28 and 45 degrees. The water is particularly suitable for the treatment of rheumatism, arthritis and gout. The current fountain, built in granite ashlar in 1896, has a triangular wall and situated at a very low height, a barrel, from where the water falls into a sink. There are two large stone basins protected by a metal shelter with a glass roof, which allows visitors to take the waters in any weather conditions, and provides two convenient places in which to wash. The fountain is located between the Balneario de Molgas spa and the “Ponte vella” (Old Bridge), alongside the river Arnoia. Cataloging. Inventory of Heritage Assets of the Government of Galicia.

They are placed in a prairie between Bouzas and Presqueira, two villages of Baños de Molgas. The petroglyphs have a concentric and snake-like shape. On the rock where most of them are found, we can see a crossroad with the Agony’s Angel and crucified Christ. A few metres away, there is a small baroque chapel from the 18th century. It is thought that all of them must have made this place sacred. On the other side of the road, around 50 metres away, we find another two concentric circles. It is thought that there may be more in these area but they extracted rock from here to build the sanctuary of Os Milagros on the 18th century. They are in bad conditions because they don’t have any kind of protection against natural events or wear caused by humans.

Location. Monte Medo. Parish of San Cibrao de Lama Má. Type of monument. “Mámoa”, megalithic item from the pre-Celtic era. Interest: architectural, historical, ethnographical. Dated. Unknown. The megalithic culture of the Neolithic extends between fourth and third millennia BC; other Galician mámoas are dated to prior to the fourth millennium, like the “Chousa Nova”, in the municipality of Silleda. Description. We find two “mámoas” (Neolithic monuments) in the same forestal area, about 70 meters apart from one another. They are low in profile, with a diameter of about 20 to 25 metres. Considered to be burial chambers similar to dolmen. Inside them there are walls and ceilings formed by large boulders and slabs, which were then covered with soil. Their dating varies, and advances in dating techniques have lead to changes in this regard. Most experts agree these monuments date back to the Neolithic. “Mámoas” are very common in Galicia, and as megalithic monuments, are characteristic of the North-western peninsular. This abundance has given rise to several denominations: medorra, medoña or modorra; are the most common monikers. These names gave rise to names of places and people, and to ethnonyms originating from these locations. The mámoas have a characteristic form […]

Location. A Chaira. Parish of San Salvador de Molgas. Type of monument. Petroglyph. Megalithic item. Interest: architectural, historical, ethnographical. Dated. The Bronze Age (2nd millennium BC) Description. In “Insuiña” or “Ansuiña”, three petroglyphs are located about 100 meters from each other. Their location is easy to find because they are outside the football field of Baños de Molgas. • Petroglyph 1, features a herringbone or plant, with stem and by ending in cups. • Petroglyphs 2 and 3, are a set of cups with indeterminate representations; very common in this municipality. What is a petroglyph? A petroglyph is any shape or form made on a stone or rock. Their function is thought to have been ritual and symbolic. However, even in the Bronze Age the practice of farming were already widespread, hence we believe that they were used for important rituals in the life cycles of the people or year. Their use and symbolism is not absolutely known, but there was almost certainly a magical significance connected to the territory, animals and even to people; and were perhaps used in initiation rituals or hunting. In Galicia and north-western peninsular there are three types of common themes: naturalistic (represent human beings […]

Location. Santa Eufemia de Ambía. Parish of Santo Estevo de Ambía. Type of monument. High middle Ages Chapel. Interest: Architectural, artistic, historical and ethnographical. Dated. 9th century. Beginning of the High Medieval Period. Description. Pre-Romanesque style chapel from the 9th century with Mozarabic influences. Chronologically linked to two other chapels of the same style in the Province of Ourense: Santa Comba (village of Bande) and San Miguel (in the grounds of the current Monastery of San Rosendo in Celanova). Such a concentration of architectural heritage can be found in few places in the Iberian Peninsula. The chapel dates back to the beginning of the European Middle Ages, with peninsular peculiarities of style and influences of the Mozarabic culture. The floor plan is of a single nave with a rectangular apse. Three windows with two horseshoe arches are preserved, corresponding with the three inner chapels that were divided in the original nave, preserved at the base of the arches they formed. Inside are one altar stone with Roman origins (Roman Empire) and a crucified Christ wood-engraving of Medieval-Romanesque origins. Next to Santa Eufemia, from the time of Romanisation, is located a fountain called the “Fonte das Ninfas” (The Nymph Fountain) from […]