Set in the Tea's Valley on the left-hand side of the river that shares the same name, is Mondariz- Balneario. A small town of approximately 700 people whose history is closely linked to that of its mineral medicinal waters.

Don Enrique Peinador Vela’s revolutionary ideas about thermal healing and the declaration from the Republican Government that the public could use the mineral waters, earmarked its development as a town. This announcement heralded important changes for the town and its people reaching a peak with the opening of the spa.

Close to the spa is the fountain of gandara, which is shielded by the huge granite pavilion designed by the famous architect Antonio Palacios. This is linked to the second of the water springs of Troncoso by the beautiful promenade running alongside the River Tea.

The death of Peinador halted work on the hotel/spa and also on the tramway linking the town with the nearby city of Vigo. Although Peinador’s descendants continued the work, the spa building started to deteriorate after the Spanish Civil War and in April 1973 a big fire destroyed the building.

The fire marked the end of an era and the beginning of another. This is reflected in the statue of Peinador, which has its back to the old building and faces the new hi-tech, highly impressive hotel, which stands on the site where the old hospital used to be.

Mondariz-Balneario has been brought back to life from the ashes and has everything needed to attract tourists. Not only are there the thermal waters but a host of other activities await: canoeing, fishing, walking – visits to the old spa and San Pedro’s chapel are highly recommended – horse riding, cycling and golf– on the recently completed 18-hole championship course.

MONDARIZ A HEALTH RESORT

Don Enrique Peinador Vela – who built the Balneario and unveiled the Fountain of Gandara – arrived in Mondariz between 1870 and 1872. The construction of the symbolic Grand Hotel was completed in 1898. The structure of the building consisted of three parts: central one and two sides that formed a huge “E”. The central staircase gave access to 250 bedrooms, an 800-seater dining room and a large function room.

The hotel boasted its own printers, publishing the popular weekly edition of “La Temporada” (from June to September) and the monthly edition of “Mondariz” as well as a number of promotional guides.

The hotel even had its own currency – “Peinadores” – for use within the hotel and “Escorial Gallego” was a meeting point for illustrious intellectuals, writers and characters of the time. One of them the Nobel Prize winner Echegaray said this of Mondariz: “This is not a spa – this is the Palace of the Waters.”

Grand Hotel
Peinador’s Statue
Statue of Gandara
Fountain of Troncoso
Chapel of San Pedro
Promenade of the River
River’s Beach, Town Exhibition Centre
Town’s Museum of Water.

Historic buildings in the health resort: Grand Hotel (work of the architect Genaro de la Fuente) and its gardens. The hospital building, the Baranda building and the old bottle factory ( which were restored according to the proyect of Antonio Palacios), in which now the Meliá Balneario de Mondariz hotel stands. Peinador´s statue. Besides, the recently-built Museum of Water.

The Water Square with its fountain and the sculpture made byBuciños.

Thermal springs:The fountain of Gándara, work of architect Antonio Palacios, and the fountain of Troncoso. San Pedro´s chapel,the cross and dolmen of Pedras in thesame area.

Promenade along side the river Tea and the river´s beach.

Golf Course.Town´s Museum of Waterand exhibition gallery.

Besides the upper part of the River Tea, included in Natura 2000 due to its outstanding ecological interest, and where you can practise fishing or canoeing, you can also visit the castle of Sobroso, at the nearby place of Vilasobroso (3 Km.), the Roman bridge of Cernadela, Mondariz (2,5 Km.) or the Celtic settlement of Troña, at Pías, Ponteareas (3 Km.).

TOWN HALL:
Rúa Constitución, 1
Tel. 986 656 136 (www.mondarizbalneario.es)

TOWN´S MUSEUM OF WATER:
Rúa Constitución, 1 Tel. 986 656 136

BATHS: Plaza de Fundadores Tel. 986 656 156
DOCTOR´S: Avda. Vilasobroso, 2
CHEMIST´S: Avda. Villasobroso, 2. Tel. 986 656 485
EQUESTRIAN CENTRE CEMAR:
Constitución 66. Tel. 986 662 377

RESTAURANTS

ATALAYA: Enrique Peinador. Tel. 986 622 337
REGATO VALDECIDE: Enrique Peinador, 1. Tel.986 656 619
REFUXIO C.I.T.: Playa Fluvial. Tel. 986 622 266
LA BARANDA DE BALNEARIO: Enrique Peinador, 12. Tel.986 656 648
RESTAURANTE DO HOTEL MELIÁ: 15 de Octubre, 1. Tel.986 656 156
CAFETERÍA LOURDES: Constitución 10. Tel.986 662 412
PUB YAGOS.(ENGLIS PUB ): Ramón Peinador, 19

Hotels:
HOTEL MELIÁ BALNEARIO MONDARIZ:
15 de Octubre, 1. Tel.986 656 156 (www.balneariomondariz.com)
HOTEL CEMAR: Constitución 66.Tel.986 662 377 (www.hotelcemar.com)

Guest houses:

FORNOS: Constitución, 16 Tel. 986 656 473
Apartments to rent:
APARTAMENTOS MONDACLARO: Ramón Peinador, 5 Tel. 649 320 042
APARTAMENTOS LAS CAMELIAS: Domingo Blanco Lage, 2. Tel. 986 662 150

POUSADA DO CUCO. Cabadas, 1 (Vilar, Mondariz, 1,8 Km.). Tel. 986 656 604 (www.pousadadocuco.com)

CASA DAS PÍAS, C/ Cotobade, 11 Pías Ponteareas. Tel. 986 697 465 | 639 662 067 1 | Fax: 986 697 465 (www.casadaspias.agatur.org)

CAMP-SITE:
"A Freixa" nearby Ponteareas

GOLF
18-hole golf course. Café and restaurant, golf shop. Golf lesson. material to rent. Tel. 986 656 200

TOURIST INFORMATION
C.I.T. (Centro de Iniciativa Turística) Town Hall (ground floor)

RECREATIONAL AREAS:
As Pedras, Barrio de San Pedro (pic-nic spot by the river Xabriña)
Fial, Barrio de Pazo (pic-nic spot by the fountain Fial)

DISTANCES
FROM THE HEALTH RESORT TO:
PONTEVEDRA: 40 KM.
PONTEAREAS: 8 KM.
PORRIÑO: 15 KM.
VIGO: 35 KM.
TUI: 34 KM.
SALVATERRA (a frontier town with Portugal): 20 Km.