top of page

Geopark

The name chosen for the inclusion of this territory in the UNESCO World Geopark project proposal, "Montañas do Courel" , alludes to the mountainous environment that functions as a symbol of identity for the residents of the entire region.

 

The " Montañas do Courel " are synonymous in Galicia with nature and traditional culture. Of a way of life adapted to the environment and focused on its defense and responsible use.

The term Courel could come from the Latin word Courellum . A word composed of the pre-Latin roots " Cau -" or " Co -" meaning cave or stone respectively, followed by the Latin suffix "- ellum ", with diminutive connotations.  La Popular tradition says that the place name comes from the Latin word aurum , which means gold, and is due to the large number of gold mines from Roman times that are distributed throughout the territory that the geopark occupies.

 

The “ Montañas do Courelterritory is the perfect showcase to observe a part of the geological history of planet Earth, specifically the lower and middle Paleozoic, and to a lesser extent also the end of the Tertiary and Quaternary.

¿Dónde estamos?
Where we are?

The geopark area is located in the province of Lugo (Galicia). The limits have established according to the territory occupied by the municipalities of  Folgoso do Courel , Quiroga and Ribas de Sil._cc781905-5cde-3194-bb3b5cf-1386bad

More information

Planifica tu visita
plan your visit

The geopark has a wide range of possibilities: mining, geology, landscape, ethnography...

The possibilities, within such a rich territory, are enormous. Little by little we will incorporate proposals that you can add to yours. On this website you will find a lot of information about what can be seen and how to access the different routes and places. In the Documents tab, you will find books, brochures and other documents that you can download.

We leave you here the direct link to the route designed to be done in one day (geolodía20). 

Download Galician brochure

Download Spanish brochure

¿Qué es un geoparque?
What is a geopark?

According to the Spanish Geoparks Forum :

Un geoparque  es un territorio que contiene tanto un patrimonio  geológico singular como una estrategia  de  desarrollo_cc781905- 5cde-3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ propia .  Tiene  unos  límites  claramente_cc781905-5cde-3194 -bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ definidos  y  una  superficie suficiente  para  que  pueda  generar  su  propio  desarrollo_cc7 81905-5cde-3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ económico.  No  es  una  figura_cc781905-5cde -3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ de protección  geológica  ni  lo  pretende_cc781905-5cde-3194-bb3b -136bad5cf58d_ –aunque  desde  los  geoparques  se  pueda_cc781905- 5cde-3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ contributor  a  the protection of geological heritage–; in fact, geoparks are interested in both the quality of life of their inhabitants and their geological wealth. 

 

The geological, mineralogical, geophysical, geomorphological, paleontological or geographic resources, specific to each geopark, are intended to be used as a basis for the promotion of geological heritage to:

  • Promote education in geological and environmental aspects,

  • ensure sustained development based on geotourism, and

  • contribute to the protection of threatened geological sites.

 

El  concepto  actual  de  geoparque  integra_cc781905-5cde-3194 -bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ diversas  facetas,  tanto  naturales  como culturales, para alcanzar sus objetivos de development of a territory

  • Education.

  • Geoscience research.

  • Cultural heritage that reflects regional identity, through its tangible and intangible components.

  • Communication between the geoparks themselves (“networking”) and with society.

  • Diffusion of science.

 

A geopark is based on its geological peculiarities, but it is not only about geology. Although a geopark must demonstrate that it contains a geological heritage of international relevance, its objectives must explore, develop and promote the relationships between its geological heritage and all other heritage aspects – whether natural, cultural or intangible – present in the area.

Red europea de geoparques
European Network of Geoparks

La Red Europea de Geoparques (European Geoparks Network, EGN) se creó en 2000 como  resultado  del  desarrollo_cc781905-5cde-3194-bb3b -136bad5cf58d_ de  un  proyecto  LEADER , siendo  español uno  de  sus  cuatro  miembros fundadores, el Maestrazgo turolense, a través del Parque Cultural del Maestrazgo. En 2014 agrupa a  64  geoparques  de  22 países europeos; se  trata  de  una  organización  voluntaria_cc781905-5cde-3194 -bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ that,  from  its origins, aspires to be integrated into the structure of UNESCO_cc781905-5cde-3194-bb3b - 136bad5cf58d_orgeuropeangeosparks www. .

In April 2001, the EGN  signed an agreement with the Division of Earth Sciences of UNESCO according to which the geoparks are under the auspices of this organization.

En  2004 y tras un segundo acuerdo con UNESCO, se  creó  la  Red_cc781905-5cde-3194 -bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ Global  de  Geoparques  (Global  Geoparks  Network,  GGN),  a partir  de  17_cc781905-5cde-3194-bb3b- 136bad5cf58d_ geoparques  europeos  y  de  8  geoparque_cc781905-5cde- 3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ Chinese._cc781905-5cde-3194-bb3b-136b ad5cf58d_ La  GGN  incluyó  así  a  la_cc781905-5cde- 3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ own EGN, although maintaining its management structure. In 2015, the Global Geoparks Network International Association was finally established.

In 2015, UNESCO approved the International Program of Earth Sciences and Geoparks, recognizing the geoparks of the Network as UNESCO Global Geoparks.

Red global de geoparques
Global Network of Geoparks

The Global Geoparks Network (GGN), to which UNESCO World Geopark Worldwide, is a legally constituted non-profit organization financed with the annual fee of its members.

Founded in 2004, it is a dynamic network, in which its members are committed to working together, exchanging ideas and participating in common projects to raise the quality standards of all the products and practices of the Global Geoparks from UNESCO.

 

The members of the GGN  meet every two years, working through regional networks, such as the European Geoparks Network, which meets twice a year to develop and promote joint activities.

 

The GGN continues to grow, drawing on new experiences and insights from different cultures spread across the globe. Continuously developing models of best practices and establishing high quality standards for territories that integrate the preservation of geological heritage in their strategies for sustainable regional economic development.

Foro español de geoparques
Spanish Geoparks Forum

In  the countries that have  geoparks,  the World Network of Geoparks is represented by forums or national committees of geoparks.

The thirteen Spanish geoparks, together with individual members of the GGN, make up the Spanish Forum of Geoparks to coordinate the work carried out at the national level related to the Global Network and UNESCO, in addition to dealing with the correct dissemination and information Suitable for new projects.

The geoparks that make up the Committee are:

  • The Natural Park of Cabo de Gata-Níjar in Andalusia.

  • The Natural Park of Sierras Subbéticas in Andalusia.

  • The Sobrarbe Geopark in Aragon.

  • The Geopark of the Basque Coast in the Basque Country.

  • The Natural Park of the Sierra Norte de Sevilla, Andalusia.

  • The Villuercas-Ibores-Jara Geopark in Extremadura.

  • The Central Catalonia Geopark in Catalonia.

  • The Molina-Alto Tajo Geopark in Castilla-La Mancha.

  • El Hierro Geopark in the Canary Islands.

  • The Lanzarote Geopark and the Chinijo Archipelago in the Canary Islands.

  • The Geopark of La Loras in Castilla León.

  • The Conca Tremp Montsec Geopark in Catalonia.

  • The Courel Mountains Geopark.

bottom of page