Villafranca del Bierzo - O’Cebreiro

(S) Depending on where you’re staying, walk through the village. At the signpost, turn right to pass in front of the Château de los Marqueses de Villafranca.

(1) Turn right at the^second tower to continue along Rue Salinas against the flow of traffic. At the right-hand bend, go straight on down the wide staircase. Walk a few metres along Avenue Calvo Sotelo until you reach the small staircase in the bend.

(2) Go down these steps and continue straight ahead into the small cobbled alleyway, Ruelle Rinconada Salinas. Continue until you reach the Hotel Las Doñas del Portazgo.

(3) Turn left and climb the few steps to reach a large statue, facing the medieval bridge of Villafranca. After crossing the bridge, continue straight on along Calle Concepción, following the signposts for the Camino de Santiago. Please note: here you can also turn right onto an alternative route through the woods, which is longer and involves more of an uphill climb. It’s up to you, depending on your fitness level! Walk past the Convent of the Purísima Concepción before leaving the town. Walk on the right-hand side of the road, keeping an eye on the traffic, until you reach a wide left-hand bend in front of the Fuente de los Colmenares.

(4) Continue along the bend, then head south until you reach the Stop sign at the junction with the N-VI.

(5) Cross this road carefully, then turn right and continue along a footpath running parallel to it. Walk along between the N-VI and the River Valvaire, occasionally skirting the A6 motorway, until you reach a bridge carrying the motorway.

(6) Continue along the footpath and pass under the motorway again before reaching a junction.

(7) Leave the N-VI and turn right onto the small road that climbs gently. Continue through the woods until you reach the small village of Pereje, near the cemetery.

(8) Walk through the village; at the fork, keep right and continue until you are back on the N-VI.

(9) Cross carefully and continue to the right along the footpath. Carry on until you reach another bridge carrying the motorway.

(10) Carry on, passing under the motorway, and continue to a picnic area.

(11) Staying on the footpath, continue to the next picnic area and pass once more under the motorway to reach a junction.

(12) Cross carefully and leave the N-VI to follow the small road to the right. After a stretch through the woods, you arrive at the village of Trabadelo in front of the Albergue Crispeta.

(13) Walk the length of the village: you can stock up on supplies in a small grocery shop in the centre of the village. Leave Trabadelo following the signposts and continue to the fork.

(14) Continue along the left-hand track, which slopes gently downwards, and proceed to the fork. Turn left, cross the small bridge and continue until you find yourself facing the bridge supporting the motorway,

(15) Take the path on the left, go under the motorway and carefully cross the N-VI, then turn right and continue along the footpath that runs alongside it. Please note: go under the motorway on the path that branches off to the left. This is not clearly signposted! Walk along the road on your right and cross the Rio Valcarce twice before reaching a junction towards Barjas.

(16) Continue straight ahead (north-west) and cross the Rio Valcarce twice more before reaching the bridge supporting the motorway.

(17) Go under the motorway, then over the Rio Valcarce and continue to go under a bridge and reach a junction.

(18) Follow the signs for La Portela, passing a petrol station: solar panels are mounted above it on the hill. Continue straight on, staying on the N-VI, passing a large hotel, then cross carefully to enter the village of La Portela.

(19) Ride through the village, past the Church of San Juan Bautista, then continue to the Stop sign at the junction with the N-VI opposite a petrol station.

(20) Continue westwards. Go under a bridge and carry on to the fork at a silo.

(21) Turn left towards Vega de Valcarce on the N-006A. Pass the Albergue Camynos and continue to the village of Ambasmestas.

(22) Walk through the village, keeping in the direction of Vega de Valcarce. On leaving the village, take care on the N-006A and continue until you enter the village of Vega de Valcarce.

(23) Walk through the village, pass under the Valcarce Viaduct, then continue to the Church of Santa Maria Magdalena: you can stock up on supplies at the Supermercado Claudio just before the church.

(24) Carry on straight ahead (west) to leave the village and continue to the Stop sign at the junction with the N-VI.

(25) Carry on straight ahead to reach the village of Ruitelan. Cross the village, staying on the N-VI.

(26) Leave the village, continuing carefully along this road, and carry on to the village of Las Herrerias, where you will arrive at the Albergue Paraíso del Bierzo.

(27) Walk through the village and continue to the fork.

(28) Turn left towards La Faba on the gently sloping road to the Roman Bridge over the River Valcarce.

(29) After the bridge, at the fork next to a small river, turn right into the village of Las Herrerias on the CV-125/1. Leave the village and continue to the fork.

(30) Continue straight on to enter the village of O'Hospital. Carry on to the fork at the village exit.

(31) Turn right towards La Faba on the CV-125/1, to begin a steep climb. Cross the Rio Das Lamas, then a series of tight bends, before reaching a small path marked by a boundary stone with a shell.

(32) Leave the CV-125/1 and turn left onto a small stony path towards La Faba. Continue the climb to the village of La Faba and carry on to the Stop sign.

(33) Carry on straight ahead to cross the village along Chemin Iglésia, then leave the village to continue through the woods at first, then through meadows and farmland. Carry on to the junction with the CV-125/1 at the hamlet of La Laguna.

(34) Turn left, pass a bar, then leave the hamlet. Walk for about fifty metres until you reach a stony path after a metal barrier.

(35) Turn left onto a small stony path. Pass the sign marking the entrance to Galicia before reaching a fork.

(36) Continue straight on (north-west) until you reach the cross at the junction with a tarmac road.

(37) Turn left, pass a statue sitting on a low wall and continue to the village of O’Cebreiro (E) to find a quiet, restful spot or a lodge to spend the night.

Alternative route: after the medieval bridge, you can turn right to reach Mataredonda between the points (3) and (4). By taking this alternative route, you avoid 12 km of tarmac but extend the route by 3 km with a steeper gradient. It’s up to you, depending on the weather and your fitness level.

Refreshments: in Villafranca (S), in Trabadelo (3), petrol station, in O’Cebreiro (E) (small grocery shop on the outskirts of the village).
Camping: no campsites; find a place to camp on the spot.
Accommodation:
Casa Valiña. Tel: +34982367182
Venta Celta. Tel: +34671788148
Casa Antón. Tel: +34638350753 https://hostal-meson-anton.negocio.site/
O Cebreiro Municipal Hostel. Tel: +34660396809
ALBERGUERIA frade.
Hotel San Giraldo de Aurillac.

You have less than 200 km left to go: remember to book your return ticket and a lodge in Santiago de Compostela

(23) Vega del Valcarce has preserved its two castles, Veiga and Sarracin, which belonged to the Knights Templar in the 12th century; the Sarracin castle, in its current state, dates from the 14th century (Charles V stopped there on 20 March 1520). Ruitelan has a chapel dedicated to San Froilan, who became Bishop of León. Las Herrerias has a Roman bridge rebuilt in the 18th century.

(33) The village of La Faba is home to the Church of San Andrés, which dates from the 18th century and whose door is adorned with a scallop shell. Laguna de Castilla (1,200 m) is the last village in the province of León; here one finds the first thatched-roof pallozas of Galicia.

(E) O Cebreiro is a place of great significance, both literally and figuratively... A place of deep spirituality and rich in history and prehistory. Pilgrims have found shelter here since the 9th century. Note its pallozas, characteristic of traditional Galician dwellings: the roofs of these huts, a legacy of prehistoric times, are made of rye straw (olmo) bound with broom twigs (retama). They cover low walls of flat stones, featuring heavy stone lintels and very small windows.