Parque Etnográfico do Río Arnoia

Parque Etnográfico do Río Arnoia is an ethnographic park stretched along both banks of the Arnoia River in Allariz, in the Ourense province of Galicia, Spain. It brings together riverside walking paths, gardens, and a handful of restored industrial buildings once powered by the river itself.

What is this park about?

The park was created in 1995 to preserve the traditional crafts that shaped Allariz's economy for generations — above all leather tanning and grain milling. Rather than a single museum building, the site is a scattered open-air complex on both sides of the Arnoia, linked by footpaths, small bridges, and green areas.

What will you see?

Three restored workshops form the core of the visit:

• The "Do Burato" mill, which ground grain into flour using water power until the early 1960s.
• "O Fiadeiro", a former spinning and weaving workshop showing traditional textile techniques.
• Fábrica de Curtidos Familia Nogueiras, a former tannery run by the Nogueiras family, dedicated to the leatherworking process.

A combined ticket also opens the door to Allariz's wider cultural network: the Leather Museum (Museo do Coiro), the Do Burato mill, the weaving museum, an iconographic museum, the Vicente Risco Foundation, and the Toy Museum — six sites in total. Along the riverbanks, visitors will also find gardens, small docks, and viewpoints built around the old water-driven industries.

How to get there?

The park sits right in the historic centre of Allariz, an easy drive from Ourense (about 25 km away) or from Vigo. The riverside promenade (paseo fluvial) runs directly through the park grounds, so the most natural way to explore it is on foot, starting from Allariz's old town.

When to visit?

The park can be visited year-round. Spring and autumn tend to be the most pleasant seasons for the riverside walk, with lush greenery and mild temperatures. It's worth checking each museum's opening hours in advance, since they vary by season and day of the week.

How much does it cost?

A single admission costs €2, while groups of more than 10 people pay €1 per person. A combined ticket covering the ethnographic park, the Toy Museum, and the Leather Museum costs €3. Children under 4 enter free of charge.

Frequently asked questions

How much time should I plan for the visit? Walking through the park along the river takes about an hour, but visiting the interiors of the mill, the weaving workshop, and the tannery is worth budgeting two to three hours in total.

Is the park suitable for children? Yes. The open riverside setting and the nearby Toy Museum make it a popular stop for families travelling with children.

Do I need a separate ticket for each museum? No — a combined ticket covering the ethnographic park, the Toy Museum, and the Leather Museum is available, which works out cheaper and more convenient than buying individual entries.

How can I contact the park's management? Information and bookings can be arranged through +34 988 440 859 or cultura@allariz.com, run by Allariz's municipal culture department.