Located in the northern interior sector of the province of Lugo, Terra Chá constitutes the largest comarca in Galicia and encompasses the municipalities of Abadín, Begonte, Castro de Rei, Cospeito, Guitiriz, Muras, A Pastoriza, and Vilalba. From a geographical point of view, the territory stands out for its flat terrain, featuring a landscape dominated by agricultural lands and pastures framed by mountainous elevations that define its natural borders: the Cova da Serpe and the Serra da Loba to the west; the Serras da Carba, O Xistral, and A Toxiza to the north; and the Cordal de Neda and the foothills of the Serra de Meira to the east.

 

Regarding its natural heritage, the territory is part of the Terras do Miño Biosphere Reserve, with its river course becoming a central axis. Terra Chá hosts a large area of wetlands, both mountainous (notably the moist heaths and blanket bogs of Xistral) and sedimentary basin (the so-called Terra Chá wetland complex, including the lagoons of Cospeito, Caque, Riocaldo, Seixas, O Toiral, Santa Cristina, and the Espiñeira meadows, along with karstic lagoons like Fonmiñá). These ecosystems host a significant number of species protected by the European Directives of the Natura 2000 Network, mainly concentrated in the Parga Ladra Támoga Special Conservation Area.

 

In terms of cultural heritage, Terra Chá features archaeological sites ranging from the Paleolithic to the late Castreño period. Outstanding examples include shelters such as Pena do Inferno in Muras, Pena Grande de Bordelle, the roza das modias, the Buriz necropolis, the castro of Saa, or the castro of Viladonga, considered a formal model of an inland castro.

 

Terra Chá incorporates a large number of historical assets, including fortresses like the Andrade’s in Vilalba, the Torre de Caldaloba in Cospeito, the castle of Parga in Guitiriz, and religious heritage sites like the church of Bretoña, Santa María de Abadín, Santa María de Vilalba, or the Vilares, Labrada, or San Alberte in Guitiriz. This cultural heritage is complemented by examples of popular architecture related to the traditional use of natural resources (granaries, caneiros, mills). Additionally, UNESCO recognized the Northern Way as a World Heritage Site in 2015, crossing the destination through the municipalities of Abadín, Vilalba, and Guitiriz.

 

Within intangible heritage, for its tourist relevance, it is worth highlighting the festivals mainly related to religion, crafts, and the exaltation of local products, such as San Ramón in Vilalba, the Miracles of Saavedra, the San Simón cheese fair, the Vilalba capon fair, Expogrelo, and the Gontán Saints Fair, the Muras foal fair, the Insua flax festival, the Begonte Electronic Nativity Scene (declared a Festival of Tourist Interest in Galicia) or the international turners’ meeting in Xermade.

 

HIGHLIGHTS OF TERRA CHÁ

  1. CASTRO DE VILADONGA IN CASTRO DE REI
  2. ANDRADE TOWER IN VILALBA
  3. COSPEITO LAGOON
  4. SAN XOAN DE LAGOSTELLE SPA AND WATER ROUTE IN GUITIRIZ
  5. BEGONTE ELECTRONIC NATIVITY SCENE
  6. FONMIÑÁ LAGOON IN A PASTORIZA
  7. MURAS STARLIGHT VILLAGE
  8. SOTAVENTO EXPERIMENTAL WIND FARM IN XERMADE
  9. NORTHERN WAY
  10. SERRA DO XISTRAL