The river as flag
The sacred forest, from the Latin word lucus from which Lugo is derived, cannot be understood without the river Miño, revered as a father until the present day. The Biosphere Reserve stretches from the northern mountains to the south of the walled city (Lugo). In total it covers 40 % of the province, which also has two other reserves recognized by UNESCO, where more than half the population lives.
We are in the high but not rapid basin. We are able to enjoy the path in peace. First, Fonmiñá, engraved on our school memory as being the birthplace of the river Miño, is worthy of a visit which goes on to the highest springs of the Meira mountains, such as the Pedregal de Irimia. Here, we will find a modest stream among great masses of rock, the accumulation of glacial origin.
The waters soon form a pool on the flat lands of the region of A Terra Chá. Other rivers join the watercourse and the lagoons gain importance. It then approaches the city of Lugo, with its two thousand years of history concentrated on the Roman walls (World Heritage) which can be covered in their totality by the adarve. But ten minutes away from the walls the soft murmur of the waters reach us as we go in search of the sacred forests and other natural wonders such as the river islands.
The water routes connect and use the roads to Santiago de Compostela: the French Road, on the southern limit of the reserve; the Camiño Primitivo, which crosses the city of Lugo; and the Camiño do Norte, from the Cantabrian Coast. Hundreds of kilometres that show the historical coexistence between nature and traditional human activities of agriculture and cattle raising.