On the hill above Verín, visible from almost everywhere in town, the castle complex of Monterrei is one of the finest medieval fortifications in Galicia. Three concentric rings of walls enclose a precinct that includes the 14th-century Torre da Homenaxe (the great keep), the Torre das Damas, a 13th-century church (Igrexa de Santa María), a Renaissance palace built by the Counts of Monterrei in the 16th century, and the ruined hospital of San Pedro. The view from the parapets reaches across the Monterrei wine valley and south to the Portuguese border.
The Renaissance palace has been converted into the Parador de Monterrei, a state-run heritage hotel — non-guests can wander the grounds during the day, and a small museum in the keep covers the castle's history. The hike up from Verín takes about 30 minutes on foot; by car you can park near the gate. Sunset from the walls is the highlight of an evening in Verín.