Verín is a
town
A town is a human settlement. Towns are generally larger than villages and smaller than cities, though the criteria to distinguish between them vary considerably in different parts of the world.
Origin and use
The word "town" shares an o ...
and
municipality
A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate.
The term ''municipality'' may also mean the ...
in the southeast of the
province of Ourense,
autonomous community of
Galicia,
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = '' Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, ...
. The population of the municipality is about 14,433. It is located 70 kilometers east of the provincial capital of
Ourense and 15 kilometers north of the
Portuguese city of
Chaves. The
Tâmega River flows through the town. In the
Middle Ages
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...
it was known as Santa María de Verín.
[Rebeca Blanco-Rotea, Sonia García-Rodríguez, Alberto Rodríguez-Costas and Anxo Rodríguez Paz (2008)]
"Análisis y recuperación de un paisaje urbano fortificado en la villa de Verín (Orense, Galicia)"
''Arqueología de la Arquitectura'' 5: 223–42.
The town is linked with Madrid and Ourense by the four-lane A-52 (Autovia das Rias Baixas) and by the N-525. The main railway line linking Ourense to Madrid passes through mountains north of the town, but the nearest station is at La Gudiña, 31 km to the east.
Verín is a town of services with declining agricultural activity. There is a denominated
wine region
This list of wine-producing regions catalogues significant growing regions where vineyards are planted. Wine grapes mostly grow between the 30th and the 50th degree of latitude, in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres. Grapes will sometimes ...
—Monterrei—located in the surrounding area. There are also three
mineral water bottling plants in the town: Cabreiroá, Fontenova and Sousas.
Carnival here is one of the most original in Spain with the Cigarrón, masked figures running through the streets brandishing
whips and making an interesting sound caused by
cow bells tied to their waists (See ''
zanpantzar'' for a similar tradition in the
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees (; es, Pirineos ; french: Pyrénées ; ca, Pirineu ; eu, Pirinioak ; oc, Pirenèus ; an, Pirineus) is a mountain range straddling the border of France and Spain. It extends nearly from its union with the Cantabrian Mountains to ...
). Everything has a medieval air, with little influence from the
Brazilian-style carnival, which has become popular in other Spanish and Portuguese cities.
Verín has one major tourist sight, which is
Monterrei Castle, a huge complex looming over the rather non-descript urban area. To reach the
castle you drive about two kilometers in the direction of Ourense on the old highway, turning off on the right to climb two kilometers, passing a winery on the left. There is a
parador next to the castle.
Monterrei Castle played an important role throughout the Portuguese-Spanish wars, having been strategically built on the frontier for the purpose. It was more than a castle since included within the perimeter were a monastery, a hospital and a small town which was abandoned in the 19th century. The castle itself is more impressive from afar than at closer look, but the view from the heights is worth the drive up. At night it is lit up and you can see it for miles on clear nights, even from the hills of Chaves in neighboring Portugal.
Notable residents
*
Eloy Luis André - psychologist, philosopher, educator and Galician writer
*
Pedro Vásquez
Pedro Vásquez, OP, also known as Peter Vásquez, (1591 – 25 August 1624) was a Roman Catholic missionary from Spain. He was beatified in July 1867 by Pope Pius IX.Fros SJ, Henryk "Book of names and saints", pp. 423–37, 2007
Early life ...
- Dominican (Order of Preachers) Priest and Martyr of Japan
References
External links
Concello de VerínMap of Verín by MapQuestFotografía Panorámica de Verín en ALTA DEFINICIÓN - Desde "Pozo do Demo"
{{DEFAULTSORT:Verin
Municipalities in the Province of Ourense