Santa María de Brandoñas, a place name of pre-Roman origin, was an inspiration for Eduardo Pondal and, through the magic of poetry, the bard from Bergantiños turns this toponym into a brave, sturdy and strong Celtic warrior.
To the south it borders the Fervenza reservoir on the Xallas River, which flooded a large part of its lands, and to the west it borders the parish of Baíñas, belonging to the municipality of Vimianzo. It has a low population density, partly because several of its hamlets were left under water when the reservoir was built (1965). In 2015 it had 85 inhabitants.
Within this parish, special mention should be made of the parish church of Santa María de Brandoñas, located in the highest area of the village of Gris. It is a church of great architectural simplicity, whose most interesting feature is the façade, which shelters a stone image of the Virgin, patron saint of the parish, probably Baroque, from the 18th century. Inside, what stands out most are two stone altarpieces (18th c.), placed on either side of the nave in its first bay, with clearly Baroque features.
As for the stone cross (cruceiro) in the village of Gris, a short distance from the church façade and set in a small square in the middle of the settlement, it is notable for its long shaft. It is difficult to place its sculptures within a specific artistic style or period. It may date back to the 18th century. This cruceiro should be appreciated as a classic naïve work by an anonymous rural stonemason or sculptor. Its charm lies in the simplicity and schematic lines of the figures.
This is a parish rich in burial mounds (mámoas); among them we highlight A Mina do Cotón, in Os Currais, as it is the largest mound in the municipality and one of the best preserved.
