Viking invasion in Catoira

In summer there are thousands of gastronomic or historical festivals that fill the people of Galicia with people to enjoy each one of them. The Viking pilgrimage of Catoira, in which a unique spectacle of the Viking invasions suffered a thousand years ago, is one of them. It is celebrated year after year on the first Sunday of August and since 1960 the inhabitants of Catoira, disguised as Viking warriors, represent the pirate attack on the town.

The party begins in the morning with popular Galician music at the venue of the celebration, the Torres del Oeste. They are a fortified group of the ninth century that preserves remains of two towers and a hermitage dedicated to the Apostol Santiago. At midday the main course of the day arrives, the landing.

On board the imitation of a Viking ship from the 11th century, the invaders arrive from the north to the coast in order to take over the towers. Therefore, the inhabitants of Catoira try to resist and the simulated battle takes place where they all end up drenched in wine. At the end of the "struggle" everyone enjoys a country meal of fraternization enlivened by Galician music and gastronomic products of the land.

The Viking pilgrimage was held for the first time in 1960 with the intention of recalling the importance of Catoira in the defense of Galicia against the attacks of the Norman and Saracen pirates that took place in the ninth and tenth centuries in the river lands. Ulla. It was declared a Festival of National Tourist Interest in 1988 and a Festival of International Tourist Interest in 2002.

If you come to Galicia this summer in August, Catoira is waiting for you!