Guided Visit to the Cistercian Monastery of Oseira

Oseira is an inhabited Cistercian monastery, hidden in a valley in the San Cristovo de Cea mountains, 28 km north of Ourense. What surprises you on arrival is the size: an enormous stone complex for such a small village, with a church among the largest of the Cistercian order in Spain. You enter only on a guided visit, in groups that leave at fixed times, and the visit lasts about 45 minutes.

Eight centuries in a few lines

According to the community's own account, the story begins in 1137, when a few monks withdrew to live in solitude in this valley; in 1141 they joined the Cistercians, under the authority of Clairvaux. The church was built between the end of the 12th century and the beginning of the 13th. A fire in 1552 destroyed everything except the church, and the community rebuilt on the same site. In the 19th century came the expulsion of 1820, the looting and the disentailment of 1835, which left the building empty for almost a hundred years. The Cistercian monks returned on 15 October 1929, serious restoration began in 1966 and in 1990 the monastery received the Europa Nostra award.

The visit tours the monastery with a guide. It is not a museum: a community of monks lives here, and so silence is requested and photos and video are not allowed.

Opening hours and tickets

The schedule in force from 25 October 2026:

• Monday to Saturday: slots at 10:30 and 12:00 in the morning, and at 16:00 and 17:30 in the afternoon.
• Sundays and public holidays: a single morning slot, around 12:45, after Mass; in the afternoon, the same slots as on weekdays.

Admission costs €4; under-9s don't pay. Groups of more than 25 people who book beforehand pay €2.50 per person and write to [email protected] or call 988 28 20 04. If you go on your own you don't need to book: buy the ticket at least five minutes before the slot. You cannot visit freely outside the guided groups.

Getting there and what to keep in mind

From Ourense, take the N-525 towards Santiago and leave it at the Cea turn-off; in the centre of Cea, follow the signposted turn-off, about 8 km more to Oseira. The website gives no information on buses to the monastery.

The route has stairs on several levels and no ramps, so it is not wheelchair accessible. Animals are not allowed. The monastery also has a guesthouse for those who want to spend a few days on retreat. For the rest of the day, go back to Ourense: the cathedral is open in the afternoon until 19:00.