Walk through the forest, breathe its pure air and connect with nature It is something that you want at any time of the year, but In autumn, it also becomes a visual spectacle.. The forests are dyed in red, brown, yellow and orange tones, which mix with the green of the evergreen trees, creating a beautiful multicolored tapestry.

If you are in Galiciaor you are going to visit it in autumn, you cannot miss one of its most spectacular natural wonders, a lush forest full of ancient trees.

A centuries-old forest

At outskirts of Lalín (Pontevedra)halfway between Santiago and Ourense, and in the heart of Galicia, there is a magical forest protected since 2000 as Natural Monument for its landscape and natural value: the Fraga de Catasós.

With his majestic chestnut trees and centuries-old oaksnatural giants that seem to defy centuries of storms and changes in the landscape, the Fraga de Catasós is a natural sanctuary testimony to the deciduous forests that once defined the Galician landscape. It is a forest famous both for its exceptional biological wealth and for the almost mystical atmosphere that is breathed.

Over the years, Fraga de Catasós has resisted various threats, such as conversion to agricultural land and timber extraction, which decimated many other ancient forests in the region.

A novel setting

Beyond its great natural beauty, Fraga de Catasós is also a setting for a novel.

Emilia Pardo Bazanone of the most important Spanish writers of the 19th century and defender of women’s rights, had a strong connection with this site from her marriage to José Antonio de Quiroga (a descendant of the owners of the Quintela manor) and it is said that she was inspired by this landscape to set part of her most famous work, The mansions of Ulloa.

Some of the tallest trees in Europe

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La Fraga de Catasós is known for housing some of the tallest and oldest oaks and chestnuts in Europe. There are specimens that exceed 200 years old and reach the 30 meters highin addition to about 5 meters in circumference.

While in spring and summer the forest appears green and lush, In autumn the gigantic chestnut and oak trees are dressed in golden and copper tones and the paths are covered with their fallen leaves and the capsules that house the chestnuts that crunch underfoot.

The undergrowth is composed of ferns, mosses, ivy and hollieswhich thrive in the region’s humid, temperate climate.

In the unique ecosystem of this ancient forest they find refuge various animals: birds (woodpeckers, sparrows…), invertebrates and small mammals.

A simple route through the Fraga de Catasós

One of the best ways to get to know the Fraga de Catasós is with a short and easy circular routeof approximately 1.2 kmwhich can be easily done in an hour.

The route begins in Quintelain the parish of Catasós, four kilometers from Lalín towards Ourense on the N-535 highway. It is well signposted and of low difficulty, suitable for all audiences. On the path, which winds through the trees, you will find information panels about the different species and the history of the forest that will help you delve deeper into the natural wealth of the place and make your experience much more enriching.

A walk among the gigantic trees of this spectacular forest that will help you connect with nature and, if you do it in autumn, it will surprise you with the beautiful tones of the leaves that change color.