Information about Olveiroa
Olveiroa is a small village that belongs to Dumbría and has been gaining importance as the Jacobean route has grown, its link with the route is really intimate. It presents points of great interest as its Olveiroa bridge and an idyllic rural environment to get lost in it, to make a stop along the way. In this perfectly preserved traditional Galician village where you can breathe the purest air, taste the traditional gastronomy and find pilgrims from all over the world who stop to enjoy its charms.
What to see and do in Olveiroa
The centenary granaries
Since Olveiroa is a small village with few inhabitants, it spent many years a bit abandoned and this affected its main heritage, aged by the passage of time. However, today it is an example of good conservation. The heritage of this town is restored and cared for, and one of the most valuable attractions of the area is the number of centenary granaries that it has, perfectly preserved for the enjoyment of tourists and walkers. These buildings are typical of the area and are often in poor condition, a walk through Olveiroa will be the opportunity to see them in their fullness.
The Fervenza Reservoir
The Fervenza reservoir creates a landscape worthy of a film that you can enjoy during your stay in Olveiroa, a real privilege. It has an important extension of 1250 hectares and was built in 1996. In its route you can find three hydraulic dams: Olveiroa Bridge, Castrelo and Santa Uxía. You can see one of the most beautiful natural assets of the area, the river Xallas.
The Olveiroa Bridge
This bridge is located in the impressive setting of the Fervenza reservoir, but it has its own visual and historical value, so it is well worth a look. It was in this location where the confrontation between the Galician peasants and the troops of Naopéon Bonaparte took place at the beginning of the 19th century. A point to be taken into account and to be repaired, it provides a context of relevance in addition to the beauty of the place.
The Ézaro waterfall
In this charming and small place you can find a landscape of enormous beauty with international importance, as it is the best known waterfall in Europe for being the only one that flows into the sea. An anomaly that attracts curious people of different nationalities within reach of anyone passing through Olveiroa. The water flows over a total of 40 meters of impressive height. Near the indispensable Ézaro waterfall is also the viewpoint of Ézaro, which allows you to enjoy the fall of the waterfall and the meeting of the water of the river Xallas with the immense Atlantic Ocean.
The dolmen of Pedra da Arga of Regoelle
Once in Olveiroa it is easy to go to the village of Regoelle to visit the dolmen of Pedra da Arga. An interesting construction that dates back to no less than the third millennium BC. It is one of the biggest dolmens of all the Galician territory and it is located at a height of 318 meters. Located in what dominates a chaira, formed by a conglomerate of beautiful meadows of grass. The state of preservation of this antique is really good, a unique opportunity to soak up pristine history without the need to access a museum, in the middle of nature and in its natural habitat.
Valuable gastronomy
This area is marked by the Galician gastronomic tradition and by the delicacies of the sea. In Olveiroa you can find fresh fish and seafood of great quality and you can immediately notice a special talent when it comes to preparing the dishes par excellence of this area: the caldeiradas marineras (seafood stews). As it is a village of extensive pastures, it also has good meat, and it is an area with the denomination of origin of Arzúa cheese. If you are looking for a good dessert, at this point you can already taste an excellent traditional Santiago cake.
