The Queen of the Valley. Valdés

The Queen of the Valley. Valdés

The Queen of the Valley. Valdés

2026-08-30 00:00:00.000

Cadavéu

Event declared Festival of Tourist Interest

Cadavéu hosts the singular celebration of The Queen of the Valley or The Riégala that takes place on a magnificent promontory over the Cantábrico.

It is a large outdoor festival that takes place in the Campo de La Garita, located at the foot of the hermitage of this Virgin. It begins in the morning in the Rapa neighborhood with a parade of decorated carriages that carry the branches of alfiladas (flour and nut buns) and flowers. There, the proclamation is read, the Danza prima is danced, and after the Solemn Mass, the procession with the Virgin of Riégala begins.

After these acts, a country meal takes place, leaving the dances and the traditional alfiladas lottery for the afternoon. Although the Virgin has a legendary origin (which would date back to the time of the wars against the Muslims), her festival was created in 1931 by a prominent local figure, Father Galo Fernández.