Allariz is a town and municipality (Galician: Concello) in the province of Ourense, in the autonomous community of Galicia, Spain.
In the twelfth century a royal fortress of the Galaico-Leonese dynasty was built on the hill overlooking the modern town.
In 1446 Juan II of Castile gave the town to the Count of Benavente, who wanted it for his designs of dominating Galicia.
The period of desamortization (19th century) ruined the Monastery and was the cause of the destruction of the castle and the town walls, whose stones were used to build the road to Ourense.
We must mention the chapel of San Bieito and the Real Mosteiro de Santa Clara, with one of the largest cloisters in Spain.
The highlight of the town is doubtlessly the area around the Arnoia River, which has been converted into a parkland with paths following the riverbanks under ancient oak trees.
The Jewish community tried to ruin the procession of Corpus Christi when it was crossing their street on the way to the Church of Santo Estevo.
Supposedly the Jews insulted the people, made fun of the religious symbols and provoked the priests and monks.
In memory of this happening, every year during the festival of Corpus Christi, garlanded oxen run through the streets of the town.