Brazil
Argentina
Bolivia
Chile
Colombia
Ecuador
Guyana
French Guiana
Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
Paraguay
Peru
Suriname
Uruguay
Venezuela
Germany
Austria
Belgium
Croatia
Denmark
Finland
France
Greece
the Netherlands
Hungary
Ireland
Iceland
Italy
Luxembourg
Norway
Poland
Portugal
the United Kingdom
the Czech Republic
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
the United States
Mexico
the Dominican Republic
South Africa
Australia
Fiji
Fortress · Baiona, Galicia
Fortaleza de Monterreal
Fortress that surrounds the Monterreal peninsula, rebuilt in the 16th century by the conde de Gondomar, with walls, towers and a rampart walk by the sea; inside it houses a historic parador.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Fortaleza de Monterreal
The Monterreal fortress occupies the peninsula that closes off Baiona’s bay. The site has been a coastal defence point since very early times, and at the top of the peninsula there are remains of a castro. The walls and towers visible today come from a long history, with constructions from the 12th to the 16th centuries.
The Catholic Monarchs granted the place a charter of settlement so that two hundred families would live inside the walls, with the same privileges as the residents of Baiona. In the 15th and 16th centuries Baiona experienced its commercial peak, when King John II of Castile granted it and A Coruña the privilege of being the only Galician ports allowed to trade with foreign countries. The current appearance comes from the 16th-century reconstruction by Diego Sarmiento de Acuña, conde de Gondomar, who named the fortress Monterreal in honour of the Catholic Monarchs.
Since 1966 the interior has housed a state parador, the Parador Conde de Gondomar. Visiting it does not depend on staying there: a roughly 3 km rampart walk follows the walls along the sea, passing towers such as the Clock, the Prince and the Tenaza, with views over the bay, the Cíes islands and the ocean.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
From 1 to 1h30, including the full circuit of the walls.
Best time
Late afternoon for the sunset over the sea, or early in the morning when it’s less busy.
How to get there
The entrance is at the start of the peninsula, about a 5-minute walk from the harbour and Baiona centre.
Tip
Do the circuit in the direction that leaves the open sea to the end: the view of the Cíes islands on the west side finishes the walk nicely.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Fortaleza de Monterreal
Who rebuilt the Monterreal fortress?
Diego Sarmiento de Acuña, Count of Gondomar, in the 16th century, who gave it the name in homage to the Catholic Monarchs.
Do you need to be staying at the inn to visit?
No. The enclosure and the wall walk (chemin de ronde) can be visited; access may require a fee.
How long does a walk around the walls take?
About 1 hour on foot, on a route of roughly 3 km.
What can you see from the walls?
The bay of Baiona, the Cíes islands, the Atlantic Ocean and the town.