The most emblematic monument of the town. This Castle is situated on a height at the foot of the ancient Roman road from where the entire town can be overseen and a wide horizon can be contemplated. In the center of the town of Castro Caldelas, we find its castle, which belonged to the Counts of Lemos to defend their domains. Although it is possible to reach the vicinity by car, we can leave the car in Plaza del Prado and walk up through the old town. Although it seems that the castle occupies the site of an earlier construction, the current one was built in the 14th century by D. Pedro Fernández de Castro. Like most Galician castles, it was partially destroyed in the mid-15th century during the Irmandiña Revolt and later rebuilt. It retains a double wall. Its walls are very thick. The outer wall has three attached towers. The inner wall is topped with battlements. We access the castle through a door above which we can see the coats of arms of the Counts of Lemos (on the right, the wolves of the Osorio; on the left, at the top, the castle and rampant lion of the Enríquez, and at the bottom, the six roundels of the Castro). To the left of the door, a reproduction of a catapult can be seen. As soon as we enter, we find the courtyard of arms. At the back is the cistern (rainwater collection system for the castle’s use) and next to it a pottery kiln. From here, you can climb to the walkway of the inner wall. At the end of the stairs, we see the Clock Tower, which is the oldest. It retains the machinery that operates the clock. The Keep is defending the main gate. It was the symbol of lordly power and the last stronghold in case of siege. From the terrace, a beautiful view of the Sil Valley can be seen. In the 16th century, it was transformed into a palace with a great hall. Windows with parladoiros were opened in its walls, and a large corridor was built. During the War of Independence, the locals, in retaliation against the French, set it on fire in 1809. In the 18th century, the County of Lemos, through distant kinship, passed to the House of Alba. The building was inhabited until the 19th century by Sol Stuart, a relative of the Dukes of Alba.

In 1991, it was ceded in usufruct to the town council of Castro Caldelas, becoming the cultural center of the entire region. Inside, it houses the tourist office, the municipal library, an auditorium, and the ethnographic museum.

ETHNOGRAPHIC MUSEUM OF CASTRO CALDELAS

Located in the 16th-century palace built inside the castle, this museum occupies two floors with very varied material, as it combines remains found in the castle with all kinds of objects related to the way of life of the medieval era. The variety ranges from looms, ceramic pieces, farming tools, or small jewels to a wooden bed warmer, wooden crutches with leather supports, or a wake table.