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General description
You only have to remember that Ourense is also known as Cidade das Burgas, in honor of the thermal spring that flows at high temperatures right in the center of the historic center. Many are the legends that are told around these sources: from the existence of a dormant volcano in the area to relate the properties of the waters with the Holy Christ of the cathedral. What is clear is that the term "burga" defines a hot water spring.
What is clear is that the term "burga" defines a hot water spring.
The springs that flow at this point were already used by the inhabitants of the area before Romanization, although most of the surveys correspond to Roman times. Thanks to excavations in the area it is known that there was an important spa complex, which had a use both related to health and for social gathering and religious (as shown by different votive altars, votive offerings and inscriptions, dedicated to water-related divinities).
The Spas were used as a place for health and social gatherings (as shown by different votive altars, votive offerings and inscriptions, dedicated to water-related divinities).
As a curious fact, note that, in addition to the use for relaxing and therapeutic baths, throughout history the heat of the waters of As Burgas was also harnessed for use in cottage industries: heating bakery ovens or in the work of tanners, triperos or laundresses. But let's go back to the thermal uses.
- The fountains of As Burgas that we know today were built between the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries. This group of fountains is composed of three different ones: Burga de Arriba, Burga do Medio and Burga de Abaixo(dismantled in 1985, it was located near the Mercado de Abastos). The complex was listed as Conjunto Histórico-Artístico in 1975 and Bien de Interés Cultural in 2007.
- The Burga do Medio, the best known, is immersed in public gardens and with a clearly neoclassical style (dating from the 19th century). At this point, the water gushes at 67ºC. and, for this reason, it is known as Fervedoiro ("hotbed", in Galician). The high temperature is not the only curious fact: from this source flow more than 300 liters of water per minute. Due to its characteristics, the water is silicate, fluoridated, lytic and hyperthermal.
- The Burga de Arriba is a small monument, erected around the middle of the 17th century. The water flows through two spouts and with temperatures close to 65ºC, with a flow rate of 0.05 liters per second. It is located at the entrance of the thermal pools and next to four replicas of votive altars dedicated to the deities of these waters. Of course, the large thermal pools - of more than 200 square meters - are free of charge and have changing rooms and lockers. These pools are divided into two zones, where the water is at different temperatures, but both are around 38ºC-40ºC, which makes it perfect for a pleasant swim. It is very curious in the cold winter to see people in swimsuits in the pools, while passers-by are warm to the eyebrows!
As Burgas Interpretation Center and archaeological area
Near these springs is the As Burgas Interpretation Center. This is the ideal place to, over five rooms (to which are added a reading room and an audiovisual room), learn all about the history of the hot springs and how these medicinal waters are formed. Next to the As Burgas Interpretation Center is the As Burgas pedestrian boulevard. It is a green space full of archaeological treasures: the sanctuary pool dedicated to the local god Revve Anabaraego (1st century), the Roman structures of the As Burgas bathhouse, a medieval tomb, etc.
Description of the Balneario
Group bath, Roman sauna (moist heat) with changing rooms, toilets and lockers.
- Monday closed
- Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 13.00 and from 17:00 to 21:00.
Type of waters
The waters are hyperthermal of medium mineralization, radioactive, alkaline, bicarbonate, sodium, lithium, fluoride and silicate.
They are indicated for dermatological and locomotor system disorders.
Find out more about the thermal waters of Ourense
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