The environment

The Os Ancares Biosphere Reserve is located in the eastern region of the province of Lugo, covering the territories of three municipalities: Cervantes, Navia de Suarna and Becerreá. It is one of the most extensive and significant natural spaces in Galicia, highlighted for its rich biodiversity and its crucial role as a refuge for the brown bear in these Galician lands.

This ancestral and remote territory has been inhabited since prehistoric times, maintaining its character intact until recent times due to its difficult access. Its valleys sandwiched between imposing peaks up to 2000 meters high are home to small towns and villages that have preserved their traditional way of life. Among its hallmarks are the pallozas, ancient circular straw huts where humans and animals shared space. Today some of them have been converted into ethnographic museums that show the cultural wealth of the region.

In Os Ancares, forests of oak, chestnut, beech, holly, hazel and birch dominate the landscape, coexisting harmoniously with heather and genista meadows. The fauna of the area includes a wide variety of species such as wild boar, deer, chamois, foxes, roe deer and wolves, providing an unparalleled experience for lovers of nature and wildlife observation.