The galician horreo: the pantry of our ancestors

From ancient times, the horreo is a key point in the architectural, economic and cultural context of holiday houses in Galicia. It is a place used to store and protect the harvest of the year, basically corn.

In Galicia it is possible to distinguish two kind of horreos: one made of wood and one made of stone. Although wood granted mildness in winter and freshness in summer it is much fragile than stone, and it was therefore the stone made the one which received much more use. It is set out in a rectangular form on top of pillars in order to move it further away from animals and rodents and to keep it as dry as possible. It has one door in one of its sides, gable roof and it is very well aired. There are several theories about the origins of the galician horreo but the most convincing says that it has celtic origins and suffered roman adaptations as, for instance, the pillars.

The horreos in the west area of Galicia are particular well known: in Carnota, Lira or in Araño. They are the biggest in Galicia. The one from Lira is 36 metres long!. In the province of Pontevedra, in Combarro, it is possible to enjoy a wonderful landscape, full with horreos, by the seaside.