Parque-Xardín Botánico e Carballeira de Caldas de Reis

The Parque-Xardín Botánico e Carballeira de Caldas de Reis is a historic botanical garden and oak grove stretching along the banks of the Umia River in Caldas de Reis, in the province of Pontevedra, right on the Portuguese Way to Santiago. It stands as one of Galicia's oldest and most valuable public gardens, combining the role of a town park with that of a living arboretum.

How did this park come to be?

The story begins in the 1860s, when the growing popularity of the local thermal spa encouraged the idea of a promenade for both bathers and residents. The plan became concrete in 1883, when mayor Antonio Román López carried out the expropriation of a plot known as La Torre, owned by the Count of Canillas, paying 25,000 pesetas for it. The following year, on 12 February 1884, agronomic engineer Francisco Alcaraz, director of the Provincial School of Agriculture of Pontevedra, drew up the design for a landscape-style garden with geometric touches. That plan gave birth to a park meant to serve both recreation and education from the very start.

What can you see inside the park?

The site is really two complementary spaces in one: a botanical garden holding trees and shrubs brought from all five continents, and, adjoining it, the carballeira — an oak grove of roughly 200 oaks, many of them centuries old. This stand of trees has been registered as a "group" in the Catalogue of Singular Trees of Galicia. Altogether the park holds around 400 tree specimens across 71 species, each selected and labelled according to scientific criteria, turning a stroll through the grounds into something close to an open-air natural history lesson. A particular highlight is the camellia collection, which includes two large, centuries-old specimens of Camellia japonica "Mathotiana Alba". Along the riverside promenade you'll find rest areas, fountains and a children's playground, which makes the park equally appealing to plant lovers, families, and pilgrims taking a break on the Camino.

When to visit and how to get there?

The park sits right in the centre of Caldas de Reis, a small town famed since Roman times for its hot springs, so a visit pairs naturally with exploring the historic centre and trying the thermal waters nearby. Getting there is straightforward: Caldas de Reis lies on the main roads connecting Pontevedra with Santiago de Compostela, and the town is also a well-known stage on the Camino Portugués, meaning the park regularly sees pilgrims passing through on their way to Santiago. The garden can be visited year-round, but spring and autumn are especially rewarding, when the foliage of both native and exotic trees shows its full range of colour, while the camellias tend to bloom around the turn of winter into spring.

Why does this place hold heritage status?

Owing to its outstanding landscape and botanical value, the park was granted protected status on 5 September 1962, becoming a Bien de Interés Cultural (Asset of Cultural Interest) as a "picturesque site and historic garden." At the time it was considered one of the most beautiful parks and gardens in all of Spain, and that recognition still stands today, underlining its place within Spain's national garden heritage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is entry to the park free? Yes, it is a public municipal space, open every day at no charge to residents, tourists and pilgrims alike.

How much time should I set aside? A relaxed walk through the garden and the oak grove, taking time to admire the tree collection and the camellias, takes between 45 minutes and an hour and a half, depending on your pace.

Are there facilities for families with children? Yes, the park includes a children's playground, benches and fountains, and the flat, easy riverside promenade along the Umia also makes it comfortable for visitors with strollers.

Does the park connect to the Camino de Santiago route? Yes, the park lies directly on the Camino Portugués, the Portuguese Way to Santiago, which makes it a popular rest stop for pilgrims passing through Caldas de Reis.