Baiona. The A Ramallosa marshlands

About this heritage

The rivermouth of the Miñor river forms a marshland, which has been declared as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) (Zona de Especial Conservación ZEC), given its high ecological value, included in the Red Natura 2000, ZEC A Ramallosa.

This estuary covers the area from A Xunqueira, in Nigrán, and extends through the parish of A Ramallosa, known as A Foz do Miñor, where it enters the bay of Baiona. This is where the Miñor river and other waterways meet and flow into the bay. The complex ecosystem forms a long stretch of sand where the beach of Ladeira and a camping ground constructed on top of the old dune system, can be found.

The protected area covers a surface area of 92 hectares and serves as a boundary between Baiona and Nigran. But the combined ecosystem area extends about 200 hectares, through dunes, marshes, reedbeds, lagoons, rivers and gallery forests. Fishing and aquatic sports are practiced along various points along the marsh.

There is a walkway skirting the marsh which runs from Baiona, crosses the bridge along which, back in the days, a tram used to travel, and continues through Ramallosa. Alongside the footbridge is the 12th century ancient Romanesque bridge of A Ramallosa.

The walkway has ornithology stations for the purpose of observing the diversity of both migratory birds as well as nesting birds that exist on the estuary; grey herons (Ardea cinérea), egrets (Egretta garzetta) curlews (Numenius species.), anatidae and a variety of seagull species and other marine birds, such as the cormorant (Phalacrocorax sp.).

Raptors, such as the Western marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus) and the common buzzard (Buteo buteo), can also be sighted.

The marsh holds a multitude of flora linked to damp environments, such as grasslands, where marine cordgrass (Spartina marítima), typical of the intertidal banks and different species of rushes (Juncus sp.). Common eelgrasses (Zostera marítima) also draw interest.

The wetland is rich in fauna, with mollusks, such as cockles (Cerastoderma edule), Palourde clams (Ruditapes decussatus) and peppery furrow shells ( Scrobicularia plana), which live in the sand. Also characteristic of these wetlands are reptiles such as the Iberian cross adder (Vipera seoanei), Iberian wall lizard (Podarcis hispánica), and the European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis. Most sighted in the fresh water areas are amphibians, particularly the Iberian frog (Rana iberica), or the golden-striped salamander ((Chioglossa lusitánica), as well as mammals such as the European otter (Lutra lutra).

The St. James’ Coastal Way passes through the vicinity, making it possible to wend one's way from the centre of Baiona to Panxon beach, traversing most of the beaches along the Miñor Valley.

To learn more

The Miñor river starts in the mountains of Galiñeiro at 400 metres altitude, a small stream 16Km long, which collects its water from the Zamáns river, as it flows through the town of Gondomar.

The river runs through three municipalities which define the region of Val Miñor: Gondomar, Nigran and Baiona. It flows through the parishes of A Ramallosa and Santa Cristina da Ramallosa, pertaining to the councils of Nigran and Baiona, respectively.

The Roman bridge of A Ramallosa, one of the most beautiful medieval bridges which still stands in Galicia, is located where the two districts meet. This Romanesque style bridge built in the 12th century probably replaced another bridge of Roman origin, given that it is set along the route of the Roman Via XX (per loca marítima) of the Antonine Itinerary.

A small altar was raised in the middle of the bridge, with a cross and an image of San Telmo and scenes of souls burning in purgatory.

Up until a few decades ago, fertility rituals were held on this bridge. According to tradition, a woman who is unable to bear children, needed to pour water from the river over her stomach. To be effective, this ritual had to be done at midnight, and the first to cross the bridge post ritual, would be the father of the child. In 2011, a pilgrim shell was placed on the north edge of the bridge, given that the Portuguese Coastal Way passes through there.

To know it better

A marsh is a damp ecosystem which is formed from by herbaceous plants which grow in the water. In this case, the formation of this marsh is due to the tides of the Miñor river, together with the Groba and Belesar streams. Different species of birds, such as seagulls, cormorants and herons, can be sighted in these marshes of A Ramallosa, also known as the A Foz Estuary,

The marshes situated in A Ramallosa, in Nigran, are “Sites of Community Importance” (Lugar de Interés Comunitario (LIC)), protected by the Nature 2000 Network, and cover a surface area of 92 hectares. The main species that can be found in these waters and the European eel, sea bass and the odd salmon.

Furthermore, the Miñor river runs under the Romanesque bridge of a Ramallosa, dividing the towns of Nigran and Baiona. This structure has ten arches and a cross in the centre with the image of Saint Telmo, patron saint of navigators.