Ourense from River to River, from the Barbaña to the Miño with a Guide and Photographer

Ourense was not born beside the Miño, but beside a smaller river, the Barbaña, which flows down from As Burgas until it meets the Miño beneath the Millennium Bridge. This mid-morning walk follows that river from beginning to end and then crosses the Miño to the Roman bridge. It is led by Rosa Veiga, an official tourist guide and professional photographer, under the Milhistorias brand, and leaves on Mondays.

Where it goes

You meet at the As Burgas fountains area, at the foot of the steps on Rúa Calpurnia Abana. From there:

• It follows the Barbaña from the Roman origins of the city: the remains of a bridge recently found next to As Burgas, the Caldas viewpoint, parks, street art and the abutment of a medieval bridge.
• It reaches the mouth at the Miño, beneath the Millennium Bridge.
• It crosses to the other bank, to the O Puente district, the most urban thermal area, and ends at the great medieval bridge of Roman origin.

The return to the centre is on foot or by city bus, on your own. It is three and a half hours at a walking pace, with long stops to tell the history: it is not a sporting hike, but it is a whole morning on your feet.

Market days

The guide recommends doing it on the 7th and 17th of each month, when there is a market. On those days the route passes among the stalls and ends at the market grounds, where you can try the octopus of the pulpeiras. For those dates you need to check beforehand and book. On Mondays without a market, the walk ends near the Roman bridge.

Price, places and booking

The guided visit costs €20 per adult, from age 16; the website does not publish a price for minors. There is a plus option, at €35, which adds a photography class during the route: useful if you travel with a camera and want to come back with more than souvenir photos. It runs with a minimum of two people booked and admits up to 35. Book on the website itself, choosing the ticket, or by calling 629 88 23 91; also by email at [email protected]. For groups they prepare rates and route changes.

To round off the morning

If you end at the Roman bridge, the bridge is the starting point of the Miño thermal walk. If the afternoon is for water, the paid hot springs of Outariz are downstream; the public pools, however, remain closed until spring 2027.