Discover 4 Castles in Galicia

Galicia is synonymous with history, culture, architecture and magic. The castles in various cities hide all this in great architectural works. These are our 4 favourite Galician castles — but there are dozens to know.

A way to know medieval Galicia — walking within these castle walls, you can imagine the life of those who lived here six centuries ago. Well-preserved monuments help you understand it all.

You can also do driving routes between castles — a great trip with friends or partners across many hours of road.

4 castles in Galicia to visit

Galician castles are an experience of history, art and culture — museums to know all that was lived during medieval Spain.

San Antón Castle

The San Antón Castle is in our top 4 for its historical importance. In A Coruña — a fortress built in the 16th century. Its museum function is fairly new — inaugurated in 1968 and declared a historic-artistic monument in 1994.

Before that it was a prison and defensive building from the 16th to the 18th century. Later it served as isolation for sailors arriving with infectious diseases.

Today you can find protohistoric goldsmithing, Bronze Age and megalithic items. Also aspects like Castro culture and Romanisation.

Maceda Castle

In Ourense — a Site of Cultural Interest and Spanish historic heritage. Remodelled several times, including for residential use.

This castle now works as a hotel-monument — recommended for visiting with children. Dating from the 11th century, unlike others that looked like defensive fortresses, it has the characteristics of a residential palace. You can see traces of 15th-century firearms.

Monterrei Castle

One of the most imposing. In the Verín region, Ourense province. The best-preserved in Spain, in the highest part of the Verín valley — called "the watcher".

Not just a castle but a walled city — a medieval mini-city with several preserved buildings.

Among them: an old pilgrim hospital, a palace, the dwelling of those who lived in the castle, a church dedicated to Santa María de Gracia, plus several dwellings in the lower part. Other spaces are preserved in the walled city.

It has elements from the reign of Alfonso IX — considered the largest acropolis defending the border with nearby Portugal.

Visiting hours: Monday to Friday 8:00–15:00; guided tours Wednesday to Sunday 12:30–16:30.

Moeche Castle

In Ferrol, originally of the Andrade family. It keeps an 18 m keep. From the 14th century.

The castle was central to the Irmandiños revolt — celebrated yearly. Every night a symbolic act takes place in the keep, which is permanently closed.