This is the entrance of the Camino Francés into Galicia. The stage starts in O Cebreiro, a village of prehistoric origin at about 1,300 metres above sea level, between the O Courel and Os Ancares mountain ranges, and ends with a descent to Triacastela. It is a mountain stage, with short but demanding climbs and a long final descent.
Map and elevation profile
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The route, section by section
- O Cebreiro – Liñares4.5 km · medium-high difficulty · 55 min
From O Cebreiro there are two options: a path that climbs beside the albergue, or the traditional route, which goes down to the road and follows it to Liñares.
- Liñares – Hospital da Condesa2.4 km · medium-high difficulty · 30 min
After the Romanesque church of Liñares, a stone path climbs to the Alto de San Roque (1,270 m), where a statue of a pilgrim looks out over the valley. Then the route runs beside the road to Hospital da Condesa.
- Hospital da Condesa – Padornelo2.8 km · medium-high difficulty · 35 min
You leave behind a plain Romanesque church and walk beside the road and along a track parallel to a stream to Padornelo. Yellow arrows and waymarkers every 500 metres show the distance to Santiago.
- Padornelo – Fonfría3.8 km · medium-high difficulty · 45 min
A steep slope leads to the Alto de O Poio (1,337 m), the highest point of the Camino Francés in Galicia. From there the route continues to Fonfría.
- Fonfría – O Biduedo7.2 km · medium-high difficulty · 1 h 25 min
On leaving Fonfría, take the central branch, over slate, which enters the municipality of Triacastela and continues along a straight track to O Biduedo.
- O Biduedo – Triacastela1.6 km · medium-high difficulty · 20 min
A downhill section with views of the O Courel mountains and Monte Caldeirón. Along stone paths you pass through Fillobal and Pasantes until you reach Triacastela.
What to see
- O Cebreiro and its pallozas, traditional thatched-roof houses.
- The Alto de San Roque and the pilgrim statue.
- The Alto de O Poio, the high point of the Camino Francés in Galicia.
- The views of O Courel on the descent to Triacastela.
Tips for this stage
- This is a mountain stage: check the weather, because fog, wind and cold are common even in summer.
- Save some energy for the final descent; it is long and stony.
From O Cebreiro to Santiago de Compostela there are about 154.9 km left. If you start here, the distance is enough for the Compostela when you add the 25 km of the Vía de los Andes (minimum 75 km in Spain). In the last 100 km it is advisable to stamp your credential at least twice a day.
Before you set off
- Check the condition of the path and the albergues for the day; services change with the season.
- Carry water, sun protection and something to eat, especially on stretches without villages.
- Stamp your credential at albergues, parishes or shops along the way.
Distance, difficulty and duration data: official Camino de Santiago in Galicia website (Xunta de Galicia). Texts by the Círculo Chileno.
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Back to the French Way (Camino Francés) · Versión en español