Ourense

On the banks of the Miño River there are some thermal springs that have been appreciated since ancient times. In Roman times, a city was founded that was called Auriense. During the migration of peoples, the Suevi made it the capital of their empire. Under Moorish rule, the city was almost meaningless. Only in the 19th and 20th centuries did the city regain some of its importance. The connection to the rail and road network made a particular contribution to this.

Its population of 105,000 (2019) accounts for one third of the population of the province and makes it the third largest city of Galicia. One third of the population always speak in Galician, one sixth always speak in Spanish, and the rest use both interchangeably (2018).

• Turismo de Ourense. (updated Jan 2022)

Although mainly a town of services, Ourense is not without its tourist sites. The town has three parts: the medieval, the area of 19th-century expansion, and the modern perimeter. The medieval quarter, with its narrow streets and tiny plazas is full of typical restaurants and bars patronized by the university students of the town. The Plaza Mayor is the centre of city life with its arcaded shops and the Town Hall.

• 🌍 Ponte Romanaor Ponte Vella (Old Bridge). The Miño is crossed at Ourense by the Ponte Vella. With Roman foundations, it was reconstructed in 1230 but frequently repaired since then; it has seven arches and a central span of 43 m. 

• 🌍 Cathedral of San Martin. M-Sa 11:30-19:30, Su 13:00-19:30. The Cathedral is a national cultural monument in Spain and a mixture of different architectural and artistic styles, the oldest parts date from the transition 12th/13th century. The tour is accompanied by an audio guide, which is available in Spanish or English. Romanesque in structure, but with a mixture of Romanesque and Gothic styles, it is rather hidden away but, contains a façade with the Door of Paradise in imitation of the Door of Glory of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. You must visit the impressive Capilla del Cristo, or Christ's Chapel (16th century), which contains a crucifix venerated throughout Galicia. €5. (updated May 2018)
• 🌍 Santa Eufemia. Built in the 17th century as the monastery church of a Jesuit monastery. 
• 🌍 As Burgas. Thermal fountain, the water comes out of the fountain at 67°C. (updated Jan 2022)

Thermal baths:

• 🌍 Termas A Chavasqueira. They are near the fire station and the main entrance to the city, surrounded by green areas and the Miño river. Its waters flow at 63 °C and are bicarbonated, fluorinated, and sulfurized with medium mineralization. (updated Jan 2022)
• 🌍 Termas de Outariz (near the Pozas do Muíño da Veiga, 4 km from the city). They have two different parts separated by a pedestrian bridge that connects the OU-402 road with the enclosure: at the top are the Pozas de Outariz hot springs and at the bottom the Burgas de Canedo ones. The waters of this enclosure are low-mineralized, fluorinated, silicated and bicarbonated. The temperature at which these waters flow is 60 °C. 
• 🌍 Termas do Muino da Veiga (3 km from the city, next to an old renovated mill). The space has a large main hot spring of 200 m², a second of 130 m² and two others of 55 and 45 m² respectively. Its waters flow at a temperature between 65 °C and 72 °C. They are low-mineralized, fluorinated, silicated and alkaline waters. 
• Fonte do Tinteiro. It's a manual traction fountain that expels low-mineralized, alkaline, sulphurous, fluorinated and mesothermal waters, located just 500 m from the A Chavasqueira thermal area, at a 43 °C temperature. 

Ourense is a well known producer of European chestnuts.

• 🌍 Hotel Carris Cardenal Quevedo, C/ Cardenal Quevedo, 28-30, ☏ +34 988 375 523. 4-star hotel. 
• 🌍 Hotel NH Ourense, Celso Emilio Ferreiro, 24, ☏ +34 988 601 111. 
• 🌍 Gran Hotel San Martin Ourense, Curros Enríquez, 1, ☏ +34 988 371 811. 4-star hotel. 
• 🌍 Hotel Francisco II, Bedoya 17, ☏ +34 988 242 095.