The magnetism of abandoned places is in itself enough to undertake any path, but if we add to this the beauty of the wild nature of Galicia , the result is absolutely fascinating. The Route of the abandoned paper mills combines these two qualities, as it runs along the Ría de Muros-Noia (A Coruña), bordered by the old Brandía paper mills.
There, on the banks of the San Xusto and Vilacoba rivers, are the ruins of these old factories, today covered with ivy and moss . They were built in the area due to the extraordinary quality of the water, an essential quality, at that time, for the manufacture of paper. Today, the hiker will discover them little by little through a walk full of surprises.
THE ROUTE
The route starts at San Mamede Park , where it is easy to be amazed by the granite formations ("granite bowling"). After this passage, the old Brandía litter bins appear before the walker, next to the San Xusto River, in a landscape dotted with many of the large forest masses that exist throughout the picturesque Concello de Lousame. This beautiful green presence turns the paths into authentic passageways in some of its areas.
Throughout the entire section, on the banks of the Vilacoba, waterfalls, while, in other areas, it circulates gently. "The hiker will not only be in intimate contact with nature, but will also discover and learn about the history of the past, the hydraulic devices that are part of the popular culture of other centuries. Bins, canals and mills make up a system of ecological use of the water", explain those responsible for Tourism of the Ría de Muros-Noia.
Once we reach the upper part of the route, we will reach the San Finx Mines, "an obligatory stop", according to the institution, since the restoration of the town and its mining museum offer an extensive sample of how the tungsten "seekers" lived and worked.
"These mines were of great importance during the different wars, since this ore and tin were essential in the arms industry. The German and English markets were their main consumers; in times of war, they were subject to enormous changes in prices, which which meant that, as with gold, one could speak of a true 'wolfram fever' ', they point from the organism. They also tell us that the City Council organizes guided tours to see the rooms where old tools are displayed, a spectacular model of the wells, the compressor room... To register, just call 679583332 or 981820494.
THE DATA
The entire route is close to 20 kilometers. However, it is possible to walk alone one of its sections , about seven kilometers counting the round trip.
The layout is Suitable for the whole family , despite being listed as medium difficulty : "It is not because of the unevenness, since there is only one appreciable climb to see the views from Mount Culou, which does not reach 500 meters. This medium difficulty is granted because the sections of trails that are attached to the rivers are narrow, and at some time of the year, somewhat slippery", they explain to Traveler.es from the Department of Tourism.
ABOUT LOUSAME
The Concello de Lousame, to the southwest of A Coruña, has around 3,500 inhabitants distributed in villages that do not exceed 250. "Within the Ría de Muros Noia, the peculiarity of Lousame is that it is the only one of the five municipalities without exit to the sea", report those responsible, who emphasize its mining past, its rural character and its exuberant vegetation , "which maintains an impressive green color throughout the year".
"The forest mass, with a large population of native specimens, is a constant. Beautiful specimens of royal fern and lichens and mosses of all varieties also stand out," they continue. They also point out that water is very abundant "Rivers, bridges, waterfalls and pools are very common in this territory."
For all this, from the organism they recommend us to look at the lookout recently built on the highest mountain in Lousame: "Its particularity is that it allows a 360º view towards the estuaries and islands, or inland, towards Santiago de Compostela", they conclude.
A path full of mystery