Mountains, meadows & rural heritage
Xermade, between mountain ranges and meadows
In Xermade, you’ll discover a place that preserves the rural essence of A Terra Chá in its purest form. Between gentle plains and the A Carba and A Loba mountain ranges, the landscape unfolds in endless greens, stone-built hamlets and winding paths that invite you to slow down and wander. Here, nature and tradition walk hand in hand: mills,
churches and ancient hillforts whisper of a living past, while the present is felt in the rhythms of farm life and the warm hospitality of its people. Xermade is a destination to pause, reconnect with what truly matters, and let yourself be embraced by the serenity of a Galicia that still beats to the pulse of the land.
To see
Before stepping into its trails and landscapes, it’s worth pausing to explore the heritage that shapes Xermade’s identity. Across its parishes, you’ll find traces that speak of centuries of history: the
Cruceiro do
Cristo Enxoito
In the centre of Xermade, next to the Town Hall and beside the Church of Santa María —whose atrium is graced by a magnificent tree— stands the unique Cruceiro do Cristo Enxoito, a truly singular piece of Galician heritage. Its cross, sheltered by an unusual stone “hat” designed to protect the carved figures from sun and rain, makes this cruceiro one of the most original treasures in A Terra Chá, and an essential stop for anyone who enjoys discovering the small gems that enrich every journey.
Escuela Habanera de Roupar
Built in the early 20th century by emigrants who wished to offer their neighbours the education they themselves never had, the remarkable school building blends elegance with memory —and today it remains alive as a vibrant social and cultural centre.
Church of Santo André de Lousada
The Church of Santo André is an unexpected gem in Xermade’s rural landscape. Designed by architect Rodolfo Ucha, this modernist 1960s temple —originally intended for Ferrol— stands out for its striking multicoloured mosaic and its avant-garde character, uncommon in the Galician countryside. Its presence feels as unusual as it is captivating: a piece that breaks all conventions and turns Lousada into a destination for the curious and for lovers of distinctive architecture.
Remains of the former church of Cabreiros
In Cabreiros, the remains of the old parish church are preserved in a small square that keeps its memory alive. The surviving arches and fragments of the altar belong to the original temple, built between the 16th and 18th centuries.
Sotavento
On the border between Xermade and Monfero rises the Sotavento Experimental Wind Farm, a leading reference in Galicia for renewable energy. This space brings together education, research and sustainability, offering guided visits that allow you to see firsthand how wind is transformed into energy. Come closer and let it surprise you.
& plains
Xermade is a land of contrasts: from the wide, silent plains characteristic of A Terra Chá to the peaks that dominate the horizon from the Serra da Carba. Its landscape, protected within the Terras do Miño Biosphere Reserve and the Natura 2000 Network, blends fertile lowlands and wetlands with mountains that rise to spectacular heights.
In the lower areas, life unfolds quietly among rivers, meadows and places like the Charca de Patelos, where thermal waters emerge; while higher up, the Miradoiro de Castelo de Goía offers an immense panorama where sky and earth meet. Xermade is balance: the calm of the valley and the power of the mountain wind.
Castelo de Goía Viewpoint
& Recreation Area
Culture, taste & celebration
In Xermade, life is celebrated through fairs, gatherings and good food. In the parish of Momán, the old monthly fair comes to life every third Sunday of the month —a tradition dating back to 1760, when buyers from across the region would arrive to trade and sell livestock and farm products. In the centre of Xermade, another local fair is held on the first Thursday of each month. But the event that truly stands out is the Encontro Internacional de Torneiros da Madeira, an international gathering that every year turns Xermade into a meeting point for woodturners and wood enthusiasts from around the world, with workshops, exhibitions and live demonstrations.
Gastronomy here is rooted in local products and traditional Galician recipes, prepared with the comarca’s exceptional quality meats, fresh vegetables, country-style bread, cured meats and homemade desserts.
In Xermade, life is celebrated through fairs, gatherings and good food. In the parish of Momán, the old monthly fair comes to life every third Sunday of the month —a tradition dating back to 1760, when buyers from across the region would arrive to trade and sell livestock and farm products. In the centre of Xermade, another local fair is held on the first Thursday of each month. But the event that truly stands out is the Encontro Internacional de Torneiros da Madeira, an international gathering that every year turns Xermade into a meeting point for woodturners and wood enthusiasts from around the world, with workshops, exhibitions and live demonstrations.
Gastronomy here is rooted in local products and traditional Galician recipes, prepared with the comarca’s exceptional quality meats, fresh vegetables, country-style bread, cured meats and homemade desserts.
In Xermade, cultural life also thrives thanks to the drive of its neighbours. Associations such as the one in Cabreiros keep creativity and community spirit alive with initiatives like the Invernada de Cine, which each year turns winter into a celebration of cinematographic art. An initiative that reinforces Xermade’s role as a cultural reference point in A Terra Chá.
In Xermade, cultural life also thrives thanks to the drive of its neighbours. Associations such as the one in Cabreiros keep creativity and community spirit alive with initiatives like the Invernada de Cine, which each year turns winter into a celebration of cinematographic art. An initiative that reinforces Xermade’s role as a cultural reference point in A Terra Chá.
Come and discover Xermade
Come and discover Xermade
