Pazo de Lobagueiras

Pazo de Lobagueiras is an 18th-century manor house standing on the boundary between the municipalities of Touro and Boqueixón, in the province of A Coruña, Galicia. It is one of the more distinctive pazos (traditional Galician noble estates) in this part of the region, known mainly for its Baroque façade and its long family history.

Where is it located?

The building sits in open countryside, right on the boundary line between Touro and the neighbouring municipality of Boqueixón, in A Coruña province. The surroundings are classic rural Galicia: small hamlets, farmland, and the valley of the Ulla river, which runs through Touro and gives the whole area its green, pastoral character. Because the pazo stands away from the main tourist routes, it tends to be seen as a stop along a wider trip through the area rather than a destination in itself.

What will you see?

Pazo de Lobagueiras was built in the 18th century in the Baroque style. Its current rectangular layout is the result of later additions to what was originally a smaller building. The façade is dominated by a stone staircase leading up to the main floor, alongside a second, separate access path that gave direct entry to the so-called noble floor — a layout typical of the larger Galician pazos. The most recognisable feature is the coat of arms of the López de Nodal family, carved in stone and set centrally above the entrance, a lasting mark of the estate's original owners.

The house is private property, so there is no access to the interior. Visitors view it from the road or the surrounding land — worth noting are the proportions of the façade, the stonework around the windows, and the staircase itself, the most photogenic part of the building.

What is the history behind it?

The estate originates with the López de Nodal family. In 1797, Joaquina López de Nodal married José María González-Pardo y Losada, which brought the property into the hands of the González-Pardo family. Through further generations and marriages, the pazo later passed to the Velón family. One notable figure from this period is César Augusto Velón y González-Pardo, a doctor of law who served as a judge in the Philippines, Cuba and Haiti, and who died in Manila in 1899. In 1913 the estate was acquired by the Fenollera family, who remain its owners today.

How to get there?

Pazo de Lobagueiras lies within the rural interior of the Touro municipality, so the most practical way to reach it is by car, whether approaching from Santiago de Compostela or from Ourense, depending on the direction of travel through Galicia. It's worth combining the visit with a drive through the Ulla valley, taking in other villages and landmarks in the Touro area along the way.

When is the best time to visit?

Spring and summer offer the best conditions for viewing the façade and its surroundings, when the fields and the Ulla valley are at their greenest and the days are long and bright. In autumn and winter the landscape can turn misty, which has its own charm but makes it harder to make out the architectural details.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you go inside Pazo de Lobagueiras? No. The building is privately owned by the Fenollera family and is not open to visitors — it can only be seen from the outside.

How old is the building? It was built in the 18th century in the Baroque style, and its current rectangular shape is the result of later extensions.

Who has owned the pazo over the years? The estate passed successively through the López de Nodal, González-Pardo, and Velón families, and since 1913 has belonged to the Fenollera family.

What is the most distinctive feature of the building? The stone coat of arms of the López de Nodal family on the façade, together with the grand staircase leading up to the noble floor.