Our time in Verin was low-key, but we did undertake some modest exploring in Verin!! I rather like this: “One city, two countries. That is the philosophy and pride of Verín, twinned with the neighboring Portuguese town of Chaves in the category of ‘Eurocity of Water’. Its inhabitants are entitled to the ‘eurocitizen’ card, which allows them to access public and social services in both municipalities, with economic benefits and savings in equipment and costs.”1
The town
The Parador was high above the town, and we took the car down the hill to explore. Verin is Mediaeval in original, but, as with many of these old towns, the area has been inhabited for thousands of years. We wandered through the streets of the old town, noting walls, old mansions, coats of arms
Exploring in Verin along the river
There is a very pleasant walk along the river from the centre of the town and out into the countryside. The river, the Tamega river, starts somewhere near Verin and flows southwards into the Douro. It is a protected ecosystem in Galicia, but the interest in protecting the environment seems to continue in Portugal.
“The Ecovía del Támega and del Corgo is the Cross-border Ecological Corridor that connects, always on the banks of the river, Chaves and Verín.”2 It is a route of 32kms and part of the close relationship between Verin and Chaves, Spain and Portugal, in this area.
it sounds as though this could be a very nice long-distance walk…
Octopus & squid!
We went down to the town on the evening of the wedding feast, to the Casa do Pulpo, but sadly the photographs of the octopus feast have disappeared. I am sure there will be more photographs of octopus to come! After one of the river walks a little refreshment felt a good idea and A Pexeiria, on the Praza Garcia Barbon, obliged with chaperones – very good.
The few days in Verin were very enjoyable but as always there was much more to discover – a museum, the churches, and the thermal springs!