Other Types of Architectural Heritage Along the St. James Way

The whole of Galicia is dotted with ancient structures. Many have survived the passing of time, while for a range of different reasons others were abandoned. The ruins that pilgrims see on their journey evoke nostalgia for the past, and for the people who once lived there.

Soutomerille, located close to Castroverde on the Primitive Way, was an important population center of which only ruins remain today. Galicia's lush vegetation has taken over the ruins in what is one of the most magical corners of the entire St. James Way.

Next to the Primitive Way is the only building of its type in the world: the Roman temple of Santalla de Bóveda. Its original use is shrouded in mystery, and it is considered to be a unicum (the only example in the entire Roman Empire). The paintings inside the building are exceptionally well preserved, and are among the oldest in the Iberian Peninsula.

The very essence of traditional Galician architecture, hórreos are structures built on pillars for storing food and protecting it from damp and animals, to keep it in the best possible condition for consumption. Today, they are extremely valuable pieces of heritage.

They were used across large parts of the northern Iberian Peninsula. Most are found in Galicia and part of Asturias, although there are also examples of them in the provinces of Leon and Zamora, in Cantabria, and in certain parts of the Basque Country and northern Portugal. Winter, with its cold, wet weather, arrives earlier in this part of the country, so crops are harvested earlier in the year.

Many hórreos have little slits in the walls for ventilation. In some areas, such as this one in Olveiroa (A Coruña), they are grouped around the church, resulting in a charming, attractive architectural complex for pilgrims to look at.

Depending on where you are in Galicia, you'll see different kinds of hórreo with different local names. This one, in O Cebreiro, is similar to the ones found in Asturias. It is large and square-shaped. Today, it is used as a shop.

There are several well-known examples of defensive and military structures along the St. James Way. These include walls (such as the ones in Lugo), towers (such as the Andrade tower), and castles (such as the Castle of Pambre). Let's take a look at some other fortifications that are found along the different routes of the St. James Way. While less well-known, they are no less significant, each one with its own exciting history.

Although it is known as the Castle of San Carlos (St. Charles), this small defensive fortification in Fisterra is actually the remains of an 18th-century military fortress. Its construction was ordered by Charles III of Spain for the defense of Corcubión and its estuary. Today, the castle houses the Museum of Fishing.

The remains of the walls around Betanzos are another outstanding example of a fortification. There is evidence of their existence in the 13th century, and they were rebuilt several times over the centuries that followed. Most of the structure was demolished in 1872 as part of the work to widen the entrance to the town. Its remains were used in the construction of several buildings at the time.

Every lighthouse in Galicia has its own stories to tell, whether they are tragic tales of shipwrecks, or incredible feats to protect boats. They are popular tourist attractions, symbolizing the starting point of many of the routes of the St. James Way (although conversely, the Finisterre Way ends at a lighthouse).

The small lighthouse at Mera has a strategic position overlooking the Gulf of Artrabo. This is the most important natural port in northeastern Spain, and is formed of three estuaries: A Coruña, Ares and Betanzos. In the background is the Tower of Hercules, a Roman lighthouse that stands in A Coruña, one of the two Galician towns that mark the beginning of the English Way.

The great storyteller, Álvaro Cunqueiro (originally from the town of Mondoñedo) somewhat exaggeratedly described Galicia as the land of 10,000 rivers. Although the true number is rather smaller, it is a fact that the Galician landscape has an abundance of rivers, and the bridges over them are many and varied. The Miño River in the city of Ourense, for example, has eight bridges built between the Roman era and the 21st century.

The Rande bridge connects the banks on either side of the Vigo Estuary. Built in 1981 to carry traffic traveling along the Atlantic Highway, it is not accessible to pedestrians. However, it provides pilgrims with a spectacular view over the estuary, in which nature and technology coexist in perfect synchronicity. 

The Roman bridge in Lugo was built in the 1st century. It was part of a Roman road connecting Lucus Augusti (the Roman name for Lugo) with Braga. It is almost 330 feet long, and 13 feet wide.  It has been rebuilt several times but still retains the essence of the original structure. It is now a footbridge and a glorious place for a stroll across the Miño River.

Pilgrims on the St. James Way will cross countless bridges, each one beautiful and unique in its own way. These structures, weather beaten and full of charm, hold the stories and legends of the thousands of people who have crossed them, such as the ancient O Pasatempo bridge in Mondoñedo.

Numerous other types of unique, fascinating, and unusual structures can be found along the St. James Way. Muíños, for example, which is a neighborhood in the town of Mondoñedo, is crisscrossed by several canals, and also has a dozen mills, small bridges, communal washing places, and fountains.

The varied structures of Galician architectural heritage tell the story of the stones used to build them, and of the people who built them and lived in them. Look around you as you walk along the St. James Way, and you'll see Galicia's history in every building you pass.