A forest that remembers the Tertiary
The Fragas do Eume is a temperate rainforest, one of the last and best-preserved examples of the forests that once covered coastal Atlantic Europe. Located in a deep canyon carved by the Eume River, the park's 9,000 hectares create a unique microclimate. The steep slopes, some dropping 300 meters, shield the ecosystem from climatic extremes, allowing it to persist as a refuge for species that disappeared from the rest of Europe during the Pleistocene glaciations.
This forest is a living museum of Tertiary period flora. The constant high humidity and stable temperatures have preserved several species of relict ferns. Among these are Woodwardia radicans and Culcita macrocarpa, whose ancestors thrived millions of years before the ice ages. The park contains at least 28 distinct species of ferns. The dominant trees are the native oaks (Quercus robur) and chestnuts (Castanea sativa), which form a dense canopy that often blocks out the sun. This environment supports a diverse understory of laurels, hollies, and hazel trees, while the forest floor and tree trunks are coated in over 200 species of lichens and mosses.
A landscape of water and stone
The forest's unique biology is inseparable from its geology. The Eume River and its tributaries have sculpted a terrain of steep gorges and rocky outcrops. This terrain protects the forest but also creates diverse habitats for its fauna. The park hosts 41 species of mammals and 103 species of birds. Species like the Iberian wolf and wildcat still roam the more remote areas. The clean, fast-flowing streams are critical for 13 of Galicia's 15 native amphibian species, including the golden-striped salamander (Chioglossa lusitanica), an animal particularly sensitive to environmental changes.
Humans have also left their mark within the forest's deep green shade. Located on a rocky spur is the Monastery of San Xoán de Caaveiro, a stone structure with origins in the 10th century. Founded around 936 AD by Saint Rudesind, the monastery grew from a simple hermitage into an influential religious center that shaped the region for centuries. Its Romanesque and later Baroque architectural elements chart a long history of human presence inside this ancient woodland. Today, it is a restored historical monument, offering views over the forest canopy.