The castle of Monterrei, on a hill above Verín, is one of the most impressive fortified complexes in Galicia. Three rings of medieval walls enclose a 14th-century keep (Torre da Homenaxe), a 13th-century Romanesque church (Santa María de Monterrei), a Renaissance palace built by the Counts of Monterrei, and the roofless shell of the Hospital de San Pedro. The whole ensemble is remarkably intact and the views from the parapets take in the entire Monterrei wine valley to the Portuguese border in the south.
The Renaissance palace is now the Parador de Monterrei — a state heritage hotel where you can stay inside the castle walls. Non-guests can walk the grounds and visit the keep museum during opening hours. The climb from Verín on foot takes about 30 minutes; the path is well-signed from the town centre. Sunset from the castle is the obvious reason to stay in the valley for the evening.