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Courel

Para ver as montañas, para ver unha montaña marabillosa, hai que gardar un certo estado de gracia,
un resto de inocencia primeira dese estar abertos que lles permite aos nenos entrar no Mundo e
quedarse cunha imaxe para sempre.
Ese é o estado que debera levar calquera visitante que se achegue ó Courel.

UXÍO NOVONEYRA

Serra do Courel

The Serra do Courel is Galicia’s great natural sanctuary: a land of exceptional beauty and deep human memory, spanning over 20,000 hectares across eastern Galicia along the border with El Bierzo and León. An isolated and remote territory, O Courel is a place where untamed nature thrives alongside a sparse and declining population—scarcely 1,000 inhabitants scattered across some 40 traditional villages.

The mountain range is an enduring presence in the work of Uxío Novoneyra, who was born in the village of Parada at Casa da Fonte, where he lived for extended periods. With his debut collection, Os Eidos, the poet elevated his homeland into a mythical, symbolic space—a “wondrous mountain” of solace and inspiration.

Novoneyra, alongside figures such as Ánxel Fole, María Mariño, Carlos Oroza, and other writers, has established O Courel as one of the most compelling literary landscapes on the Iberian Peninsula: a territory to be discovered through the written word.
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Discovering
O Courel

The mountains of O Courel cover a vast territory of 193.4 km²—over 21,000 hectares dominated by wild landscapes. Its exceptional biodiversity has led numerous community groups and conservationists to advocate for years for its designation as a Natural Park. The range is recognized as a UNESCO Global Geopark, forms part of the Natura 2000 network (SAC/SCI), and since 2021 has been designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve alongside Ribeira Sacra and the Serra do Oribio.

O Courel is a rugged land of sharp contrasts. Its highest peaks rise above 1,600 metres (such as Formigueiros and Pía Páxaro), while just three or four kilometres away, the Lor River basin plunges to altitudes below 400–500 metres. It is a terrain of dramatic peaks and deep valleys, fed by streams and waterfalls (pincheiras), and dominated by dense woodland teeming with wildlife and centuries-old chestnut trees. A Devesa da Rogueira, nestled in the heart of the mountains, is among its most celebrated landmarks: a primary forest nourished by the iron-rich waters of Fonte dos Cervos.

This natural and geological wonder coexists with a rich human heritage that dates back to Roman times. The range is dotted with traces of ancient gold mines and Iron Age hillforts (castros), alongside traditional stone villages that preserve ancestral farming ways of life and vernacular architecture.

The best way to experience O Courel is on foot. A network of hiking trails winds along ancient paths, connecting hillforts, mountain summits, and hamlets. The Uxío Novoneyra Route sets off directly from the Foundation in Parada, reaching Moreda at the foot of A Devesa while traversing Monte Cido and the hillfort of Torre Cabreira. Alternative routes also branch out from Parada, linking up with the trails to Devesa da Rogueira and the glacial lagoon and high meadows of A Lucenza (Lagoa e Campa da Lucenza).

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The Uxío Novoneyra Foundation is dedicated to promoting the cultural and natural heritage that converge in O Courel. We invite you to venture into these mountains and visit us at the Parada homestead. Below you will find resources and information on the mountain range, its hiking routes, and ideas for planning your visit: