En un regard
Le château en bref
Manzaneda Fortress refers to what remains of the defensive structure of a medieval village in the east of the province of Ourense, in the tourist area of the Ribeira Sacra. The enclosure measured about 400 m, with walls nearly 5 m thick at the base and up to 10 m high; around one hundred metres remain visible, the rest having been absorbed into houses or dismantled. The most striking feature is an isolated barbican-shaped structure that controlled access to the village, with arrow slits and fragments of coats of arms. The Sarmiento family, counts of Ribadavia, built it in the 16th century on the site of a medieval tower demolished during the Irmandiños revolt. The neighbouring building known as the "Cárcere dos Sarmiento", decorated with a coat of arms bearing thirteen shields, has been restored and now hosts cultural activities. Visitors may explore the village's streets freely.