10 groups of hórreos (traditional raised granary)

We are probably used to seeing hórreos one by one, near houses or churches, but sometimes we find groups of hórreos in airy areas, on slopes, near roads, almost on the seashore… In some villages, the houses are very close together, and this is a formula for the products to be preserved to have enough ventilation. Often, these fields of hórreos, the eirados, worked with a system of shifts, as happened with the mills. On other occasions, when the hórreos were no longer in use and due to changes in the urban planning of the villages, they were donated by the neighbours to save space and prevent their deterioration. In all cases, they are a valuable witness to our tradition.

But where are the largest groups of hórreos to be found? There are good examples in all four provinces. Here are 10 of them:

1. A Merca (Celanova, Ourense). This is the largest concentration of canastros, as they are called in the area, in Galicia. Until you see them in front of you, it is hard to imagine them, as there are no less than 34 of them, a whole forest of They are on a slope on the Camiño da Feira. In this case, the arrangement as a whole is due to the donation of the neighbours in the 70s of the last century. They have been restored and, for years, we have been able to enjoy the recreational area and children’s playground installed next to them.
2. Combarro (Poio, Pontevedra). In Combarro there are a lot of hórreos, known locally as Almost all of them are scattered around the village, but right on the coastline, bathed by the Pontevedra estuary, we find a number of them, so close to the edge that, at high tide, the water wets their feet. About 30 of them are arranged in this way. If we add them to the rest of the village, so well preserved, we have a memorable sight.
3. Piornedo (Cervantes, Lugo). These horros (the hórreos there) are in the middle of the mountains, in Os Ancares, at more than 1,000 metres, in the parish of San Fiz de Donís. Here, traditionally, the old houses (pallozas) have a horro. In this area they are square in shape, raised on four pillars, with a wooden chamber and thatched roof. They are similar to the Asturian ones, except that the latter have a gallery. In addition to storing grain, they were also used to store pork, bread, clothes…
4. Quins (Melón, Ourense). These are located on a hill in the centre of the village. There are 24 canastros, the name of the area, arranged in a group of 10 and another of 14, next to a Way of the Cross and the church. Between the two groups, there are two cruceiros, reminiscent of the crosses of Calvary. The baskets are mixed, made of wood and stone, some of them four feet and others six. The roof is tiled, and no crosses or decorations have been preserved.
5. Amoeiro (Ourense). In the square of O Campo da Igrexa, in front of the church and the rectory, on the other side of the road, next to the cross, 12 canastros are grouped together. They are not all the same, some have a mixed structure, with stone and wood, and others have an all-wooden chamber, and there are some with stone vines and others with feet. On the other hand, some are restored and others are very deteriorated.
6. Zorelle (Maceda, Ourense). Here we talk about cabaceiros. There are 7 of them next to the church of Santiago de Zorelle. All of them have stone feet and a wooden chamber, except for one, which also has a stone chamber. The gabled roof is made of local tiles. Most of them have been restored.
7. Barroso (Avión, Ourense). In a well-ventilated area in the parish of Santa Baia, in the village of Barroso, there are up to 29 hórreos. They are all made of stone and wood. Unlike most of them, the gabled roof is also made of granite. There is no fresher pantry!
8. Eira Grande (Cercedo-Cotobade, Pontevedra). In the parish of Santo Estevo de Pedre, with a tradition of stonemasons, as we can see from the name, we find this group of 8 canastros, next to the Baroque church and the cruceiros. They are all made of stone and wood, with a tile or stone roof. They are hórreos of the amaián type, with a mixed chamber and supported by cepas (blocks of stone). Near this threshing floor is the Eira do Pallal, with 5 more canastros, where the rye was crushed.
9. Eira da Ermida (Cercedo-Cotobade). Without leaving the municipality of Cercedo-Cotobade, in the valley of the river Queireza, near the church of Los Remedios, the fountain, the stone cross and the remains of a dovecote, we find this group of 12 baskets.
10. Bornalle (Muros, A Coruña). In the parish of Abelleira, there are 22 hórreos in small groups. They are in a field a short distance from Bornelle beach, sheltered from the sea breeze. Almost all of them are of the Noia type, with granite ashlars and horizontal grooves. Most of them lack ornaments on the top of the roof.