In the north-east of Spain in Galicia, not far from the town of Ribadeo, on the shores of the Cantabrian Sea (as the Bay of Biscay is called in Spain) is Praia de Augas Santas or Holy Water Beach. Tourists, however, call it a little differently: the Beach of the Cathedrals.
How did the beach come about?
Despite such a loud name, there are no Christian churches here. All the buildings located here – stunning in beauty and grandeur – were created by a brilliant architect named Nature. As a sculptor, she cut off everything superfluous from the mountain ranges in order to leave unique architectural masterpieces.
Under the influence of the salt water of the Atlantic Ocean and strong winds, soft rocks were washed out and weathered over time. As a result, the rocks took on such a shape that they really began to resemble Gothic cathedrals. They rise above the water like giant giants – to a height of more than 30 meters.
However, in all its splendor, this miracle of nature appears to travelers only at low tide. Then the water of an amazing turquoise color (as in tropical lagoons) recedes, and before the astonished audience they appear, like “33 heroes” from the well-known Pushkin's fairy tale, amazing monuments and towers, giant vaults of arches, mysterious caves and labyrinths.
Actually, only at the time when the water moves away from the coast, this place can be called a beach, and only then you can walk along it. Travelers wander with great pleasure along the wet white sand between the rocks, looking into the most hidden corners, and take pictures to capture themselves against this amazing background. The rocks are so bizarre that each of them individually would make any beach in the world unique, and in this place – for some reason unknown to anyone – they are all gathered together in a not too large area.
The most beautiful places
The most interesting section of the Beach of the Cathedrals stretches for about 300 meters. In order to calmly get around it and see everything well, there will be enough time, but it’s not worth it to rest here: the low tide will very soon be replaced by high tide, and so swift that you will have to flee: you may not even have time to collect your things.
Those who are afraid to get their feet wet are advised to consider the beach from the shore of the cliff. There is a specially laid observation path, fenced with a low parapet – so that tourists do not accidentally fall down. Those who found themselves on the Beach of the Cathedrals at low tide (then only the peaks of the arches are visible from the water) or when there is strong excitement on the sea (the same parapet protects from splashes – to be wet from head to toe only turn out to be on this path) great desire).
Of course, it is better to take a walk along the coast – between the gigantic columns, but if you are unlucky, the view from above can be a consolation: it is just as fantastic as it is from below. Rocks are a favorite haunt of seabirds. White gulls against the background of dark gloomy rocks are also an amazing sight that will not leave anyone indifferent.
One of the most photographed places in the world
At the end of the beach, one after the other, there are 3 arches that make one doubt their natural origin: these structures of water and wind look so man-made. Immediately behind the arches are colonies of bivalve mollusks, also worthy of getting into traveler's photo albums.
By the way, Praia de Augas Santas is very often chosen for filming by professional photo artists: the views are such that everyone who has seen their reports feels an irresistible desire to visit this extraordinary place. The Beach of the Cathedrals is one of the most photographed places in the world.
What to see
The beach is worth going from start to finish and be sure to look into all the caves and grottoes, even if you can’t see the exit from them: the caves are small, so you won’t get lost. But in any cave and any grotto, everyone will find something unusual and amazing for themselves. You can climb one of the not too high cliffs (this is not forbidden here): from a higher point, the landscape will look a little different, which will allow you to look at it from a different angle and take slightly different pictures.
You can not go back to the stairs, which went down – if, of course, there was no car left in the parking lot. Moving forward all the time, you can go to another beach – Reinante. Behind the natural arches and columns, the area is not so impressive, but there will be an opportunity to observe the inhabitants of the sea, which are found here in abundance, and to swim at the end of the path. By the way, the water in the Bay of Biscay is not very warm, but it’s still worth taking swimwear with you. In addition, there are many tide pools and grottoes on the beach of the Cathedrals, where the water is much warmer.
Travel Tips
One of the main tips: while in this place, you need to watch the water level all the time in order to have time to return to the stairs or go to another beach until the water covers the whole land, otherwise you can find yourself in a quandary (remember, the tide here very fast). However, lovers of scuba diving will like the time of high tide – divers also have something to see here.
National Natural Monument
Cathedral Beach is a National Natural Monument. Experienced travelers have heard about him before, but now – with the development of telecommunications – he has gained worldwide fame. At the same time, absolutely everyone is amazed by the selectivity of nature: after all, having driven away from this place quite a bit, you will no longer find anything like it.
That is why thousands of tourists come here to admire the daily spectacle: every time the sea recedes, people feel like they are in a grandiose scenery created by nature itself, and are amazed at the harmony of incredible power and beauty. According to the results of international opinion polls, the coast of Playa de las Catedrales is recognized as the most beautiful beach in Europe. This place is one of a kind and definitely worth a visit.
When to go and how to get there
Do not forget that Galicia is the northwest of Spain, so even in summer the weather can be changeable. The best time to travel is July and August. In addition, it is better to familiarize yourself with the tide schedule in advance in order to see this place in all its grandeur.
Travelers are accepted by 3 airports in the cities of La Coruña, Vigo and Santiago de Compostela (the capital of Galicia), but there is no direct flight connection to this region from Moscow, so you will have to transfer either in Madrid or Barcelona. From Madrid to Santiago de Compostela (480 km), the journey takes approximately 1 hour 15 minutes, from Barcelona – 1 hour 30 minutes. You can get to Playa de las Catedrales by car.
You can get to the beach from Ribadeo, a regular bus runs. Moreover, the schedule is drawn up in such a way that the arrival time does not coincide with the tide. For a trip, adults will have to pay 2.5 euros, children – 1.5 euros. There are approximately 25 hotels in the area of the Beach of the Cathedrals.
Arriving at their destination, tourists find themselves in a parking lot at the top of a cliff. Down – to the sea – a staircase leads. By the way, you can go down even at high tide – below there is a piece of land that the water does not flood (at least at normal tide). But it should be borne in mind that this piece is very small, it is located next to the stairs.
What else to see
Galicia, above all, attracts people interested in culture and ecology. The capital of Galicia – Santiago de Compostela – one of the most beautiful Spanish cities, which is the center of pilgrimage for Catholics from all over the world. In terms of attendance, it is not much inferior to the famous Barcelona: tourists from all over the world come to the walls of the Cathedral located here. In the city you can find historical monuments of various eras and cultures. The cities of Lugo, Pontevedra are also widely known due to the preservation of the historical zone.
Village tours and food tours are very popular in the region.