25/6/21

Castle of Catoira (Pontevedra)

Eastern view of the indoor enclosure of the castle


The reconstruction of the ruins of the ancient fortress Castellum Honesti was carried out during the ninth century, during the reign of the Leonese monarch Alfonso III, the Great. In the twelfth century by order of Archbishop Diego Gelmírez the defenses were expanded, with the mission of avoiding the Norman and Saracen expeditions to Compostela, leaving its design as a large elliptical outer enclosure surrounded by a wall and inside another enclosure armed with seven towers, highlighting in its center a large homage tower. Also known as West Towers, they were declared a National Monument and exhibit its grandeur with a large annual Viking pilgrimage.

Half point arch door to the outer enclosure

Remains of the structures of the outer enclosure east

View of the front door to the castle from the indoor

Basis of the barbican tower (Lugo tower) that protected the entrance 

Remains of the east indoor wall of the outer enclosure

Basis of the south-east outer wall

Basis of the south-west outer wall

Indoor wall that protected the castle on the eastern side

I walk between walls

Remains of the east wall of the castle

Basis of the north-east tower of the castle

Remains of the north wall of the castle next to the north-east tower

Basis of the homage tower

South esplanade of the parade ground

South-west tower of the castle

Detail of the window of the south-west tower

Indoor view of the south-west tower

South-east view of the castle

Remains of a possible postern in the south-east wall

South-east tower of the castle

Detail of the window of the south-east tower

Battlements of the south-east tower

Indoor of the south-east tower

Chapel of James the Apostle indoor the castle

Entrance door to the chapel

Remains of the old jetty on the west bank of the castle

Drakkars moored to the current jetty used in the annual Viking pilgrimage

Catoira

Town Hall


Catoira is a municipality in the province of Pontevedra in the Autonomous Community of Galicia. It is located at the mouth of the river Ulla, at the bottom of the Arousa estuary. The history of Catoira was intimately linked to the strategic importance of the Oeste military complex. Here the culture of the castros settled through a town of the Iron Age, the Roman occupation in the time of the Pax de Augusto and from the beginning of the Middle Ages it served as a defensive shield to Galicia until the reign of the Catholic Monarchs. 

Church of San Miguel de Catoira

Cruiser of O Outeiriño

Old Bridge of medieval origin over the river Catoira

Bridge Mill

Pedras Miúdas windmill

Location of the castle of Catoira