Camelias en Galicia

In 1731 the chapel was constructed at this same time thet the gardens and the use of the water was initiated. It can be seen how the water is distributed permitting domestic exploit, use for farming and decorative arrangement flowing charmingly to the "barroca de los estanques" river .

In later years new modifications were made. The famous french garden designer, Francisco de Vie, most likely reddsigned the main part of the garden called the "carrera of tilos", amongst others changes, the building called the "Swiss house" was built over what was the mill by the river that was the trend in gardens af that time. Fortunately another addition was built with stones and was called the "Capellan´s house". The mill had a generator installed and for may years supplied electric power for this estate.

Different family mergers taht took place over time have altered the ownership of the "Pazo de Oca" giving to the Duke of Medinacelli and the actual Duchess XVIII of Medinacelli, María Victoria Eugenia Fernández de Córdoba and her descendants the Dukes of Segorbe, Ignacio de Medina and Fernández de Córdoba and his wife María of Gloria the Princess of Orlenas-Braganza .

It was declared a National Monument of Spain in 1982 and is governed today by the House Ducal of Medinacelli Foundation. There are 14 hectares that are made up of ornamental gardens, buildings of the Pazo, small rivers, ponds, vegetables gardens inside and outside of its walls and forests.

This location over a period of time and the influence of the historical happenings has acquired its own singular identity such that its originality has become an outstanding example in the entire world of gardening. The first characterization that defines it is its eccentricity. But it is an ordeed eccentricity where the garden with its varying styles from differents periods and smaller gardened plots have formed a congregation that is unique and well defined for its broad ornamental appeal.

The diverse garden was created by a continuous effort of its formation. It has exixted for many years and these years passed, the garden was subjected to the styles and preferences of each landlord also to wars, to good times and bad times and as well too the natural development of variety of vegetation planted, (when some of the flora was planted it wasn`t known if some of them would grow or what were the needs of these plants).

The gardens of the state can be visited and the entrance is a large access from the hallway where mounted on the walls are the coats of arms of the Neira and Luaces families. Passing through we arrive at a splendid aperture where we first encounter a stairway thet permits access to the second level and a gardener patio with an ornamental three tiered baroque fountain, that is encapsulated with XIX century glass which maintains a mild climate during the winter.

It is during these winter months that the beautiful and mature camellias flourish in the garden of this Pazo and presents it manifestation of floral colors in front of this gallery some of them such as the great japanese bicolor camellia next to other varying camellias are celebrities of this magnificent landscape with "buxus sempervivens" , highlighting the three tiered fountain of the Pazo Oca that has been the subject of many paintings and photographed on numerous occasions..

Completing the enclosure of this gardened patio is the wing of thr estate that gives it its "L" form of this Pazo. On top the "talking stone" can be found which has inscribed on it the word "PROSI-GA" (continue) and the date of 1746. It is request of Andrés Gayoso to his descendants to continue building on to this estate. His descendants could not follow his requests. The end of this century brought times of political upheaval and the XIX century commenced with intentions of war in Europe. The existing royalty disappeared with the french revolution and changed the world in a such revolutionay wy that it did not allow the royal classes of thr XVIII century to be restored to their previous splendor.

From the patio there are entress to the gardens and farmland, a beautiful gallegan "horreo" (grain storage shed) can be found. Also between the enclosed patio and the wall of the chapel a very special garden is found, "the laberynth of bushes" the layout of this estate is exceptional with its hedges the fountain and the labyrinth of bushes, the winding hedged pathways that lead to the farmlands, the geometric structure of thr gardens, the animated representations of thr "nudos garden" and the "mona garden", the long hedges for the "patway of tilos" has the beautiful borders of the picturesque gardens and trimmed forms of many of the plants. All of this is the result years of continous effort to create this esthetic beauty.

A stroll through the differents parts of these gardens can started by walking down the terrace steps enclosed by hedges and having shaded covering of a row of fruit trees on either side. On the right side the beautiful "horreo" can be found wiyh its sustaining agricultural tools, and on the left the labryrinth of shrubs with its greenhouse that is identical to that of the Pazo de Santa Cruz de Ribadulla.