Casa grande de Cima de Vila

Casa Grande de Cima de Vila is an 18th-century manor house in the village of Trasalba, in the municipality of Amoeiro, in the province of Ourense, Galicia. The building was constructed in 1764, and its history is closely tied to the life of one of the most important Galician writers of the 20th century.

Why does this house matter to Galician culture?

Casa Grande de Cima de Vila, also known locally as Casa Grande de Cimadevila, was the family residence of Ramón Otero Pedrayo, a writer, historian and essayist, and one of the leading figures of the Xeración Nós, a generation of intellectuals who shaped modern Galician cultural identity in the first half of the 20th century. Otero Pedrayo spent much of his life here and wrote a substantial part of his work within these walls.

He left no direct descendants. Before his death, he bequeathed the estate for cultural purposes, which determined the building's later fate: rather than passing into private hands, it became a public site dedicated to preserving his memory and legacy.

What can visitors see today?

The building now houses the headquarters of the Fundación Otero Pedrayo along with a house-museum dedicated to the writer. Visitors can view the rooms where he lived and worked, along with objects and materials connected to his literary output and public life. The house itself retains the layout typical of Galician rural manor houses from the period — a solid stone structure characteristic of the region's noble residential architecture of that era.

What else is worth seeing nearby?

Casa Grande de Cima de Vila stands in Trasalba, a village that forms a small but noteworthy historic ensemble on its own. Right next to it are the parish church of Trasalba and the Pazo do Campo, also known as Pazo de Gayón, another historic manor house typical of this part of Ourense province. Together, these buildings let visitors take in the architecture and history of Galicia's rural nobility in a single, compact area.

The municipality of Amoeiro lies close to the city of Ourense, which makes it a convenient day-trip destination for travelers based in the provincial capital who want to experience rural Galicia and its literary heritage firsthand.

Who should visit?

This is a stop mainly for those interested in Galician literature and history, as well as fans of the region's manor-house architecture. Given its low-key setting away from the main tourist routes, visitors can expect a quiet, genuine experience without the crowds found at Galicia's better-known attractions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Casa Grande de Cima de Vila located? It stands in Trasalba, in the municipality of Amoeiro, in the province of Ourense, in the Galicia region of northwestern Spain.

When was the house built? The manor house was built in 1764.

Who is this building associated with? It was the family residence of Ramón Otero Pedrayo, a writer and historian and one of the leading figures of the Galician intellectual movement Xeración Nós.

What can you see inside today? The building now serves as the headquarters of the Fundación Otero Pedrayo and as a house-museum dedicated to the writer, displaying rooms and memorabilia connected to his life and work.