Puntos de Interés
Culture
Penedos do Castro
Atop As Trapas mountain, at an altitude of over 600 metres, lie the remains of the Penedos do Castro hillfort. Its privileged location offers visitors the chance to enjoy, in addition to the archaeological remains, an impressive panoramic view of the area. From this point one can see the Monastery of Santo Estevo in its entirety and observe the confluence of the River Sil with its tributary, the River Cabe.
The settlement dates to the Iron Age. Although today only the remains of the stone walls are preserved, one can only imagine the height this fortification once reached. Following the paths surrounding the ruins, vestiges of a wall with a moat and the bases of various internal buildings can be distinguished.
Among the stones of the castro is an inscription that has aroused the interest of historians and archaeologists: + LEOVIGIL / DUX. Based on the legible name, the inscription may originate from the 6th century. In AD 585 the Visigothic King Leovigild conquered the Suebi kingdom, and it is possible that someone inscribed his name in the rock for posterity.
As for the toponym, Penedos do Castro is closely related to its location. In Galician, penedos means "cliffs" or "crags", referencing the imposing views offered by this site.