This area, declared as a SAC (Special Area of Conservation) covering 10,699 hectares, is shared with the municipalities of Beariz, Forcarei, O Irixo, and Silleda. In the municipality of Lalín, it includes part of the parish of Vilatuxe and the entirety of Zobra.



The Sierra de O Candán forms mid-mountain landscapes with a special orography where we can highlight peaks such as Monte Coco (969 m), Uceiro (1004 m), or Alto de San Bieito, the latter being the highest at 1015 meters.



In this mountain range, the Lérez and Umia rivers originate on the western slope, and numerous streams flow eastward into the upper course of the Deza river, forming beautiful waterfalls. This river, along with the Arnego and Ulla, defines the idiosyncrasy of the Deza region.



The characteristics of the mountain range favor the existence of flora and fauna species of great ecological value. In its narrow valleys grow the largest forests in the province of Pontevedra, formed by native trees such as oaks, holly, and hazelnuts. Alongside them, smaller species like blueberries or butcher’s broom, as well as various endemic species, thrive. On the higher slopes, the vegetation consists of low scrub (heather, gorse, broom…). Noteworthy are also the peat bog areas, where high botanical value plants like sundew or arnica grow. This entire ensemble offers a spectacular range of colors that change throughout the year.



Among the fauna, we can highlight emblematic species such as the wolf, wildcat, or eagle owl, which have very few pairs in Galicia. Ornithologists find a great wealth of birds in the Sierra de O Candán, with the presence of the kingfisher, dipper, robin, oriole, Azara’s eagle, European honey buzzard, merlin, hen harrier, or the Eurasian scops owl, among many others. Numerous reptiles and amphibians like the green lizard, common salamander, or Iberian painted frog are also present in this Sierra.



The orography, with narrow and deep valleys through which streams flow, crossed by stone or wooden bridges, hindered agriculture. Therefore, various trades and activities developed, such as charcoal burners, weavers, flax cultivation and spinning, or beekeeping. As a testament to the ancient beekeeping activity, one of the largest concentrations of ‘albarizas’ (apiaries) in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula is preserved in the area, with honey being one of its most recognized products today.



Subsequently, the exploitation of tin mines made the town of A Trigueira one of the most prosperous in the municipality at the time, being one of the first to have electric light. Constructions from those times are still preserved today, repurposed for tourism use.