Camino de Invierno from Ponferrada to Santiago

Ponferrada is located in the province of León and is the capital of the Bierzo region. Even if remains of the Roman period can be seen, the real ascent of the city happens with the pilgrimage to Santiago, from IX. In the historical center stands out the castle founded by the Templars, which is also closely linked to the Jacobean route. The entire region is known for its rich gastronomy with typical dishes such as Botillo and above all for its wines with its own designation of origin. Arrival on your own.

Difficulty level: medium to difficult.
Our path begins with advancing south. This variant was created in the Middle Ages to avoid bad weather conditions on the French way in winter. The climb to Villavieja will be the biggest hurdle we have to face that day. There is a difference in altitude of 240 meters over 3 km, which, however, is compensated for by the beauty of the hike. At the end of the stage there is a second ascent to the Las Médulas, which is much easier. The unique landscape of Las Médulas has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Difficulty level: medium.
It is a fairly easy stage that descends from the Médulas through the Valdebría valley. We are already on the border with Galicia, which we will enter in today’s stage. For most of the trip, the River Sil will accompany us and we will approach a new area, the area of ​​the Valdeorras wines.

Difficulty level: easy
It is one of the simplest, shortest and most pleasant stages of the route, which leads past many wineries, archaeological sites and caves of Roman origin. The Sil river continues to accompany us and guide our journey.

Difficulty level: medium
In this stage we will again cross a noteworthy wine region and deal with the magic of the Ribeira Sacra, which the Council of Europe recognized in 2003 as a very interesting travel route. The only difficulty of the stage compared to the previous day will be the length, but we hike with a hardly noticeable difference in altitude on a comfortable route and with an exceptional view of the River Sil, which includes the valley.

Difficulty level: high
The effort of this stage is highly rewarded by the incredible beauty of the landscape through which it runs. We leave the Sil river bed but meet other important rivers like the Lor. This stage of the winter path ends in Monforte de Lemos, the capital of the Terra de Lemos region and the Ribeira Sacra. The old town of Monforte, a relic of its historical relevance, has been declared a place of cultural interest.

Difficulty level: high
The Ribeira Sacra is an area of ​​monasteries and vineyards. During most of this stage we are accompanied by the characteristic vineyards laid out on terraces that hang almost vertically above the Miño River. The incredible beauty will make up for the effort of the 300-meter climb. Apart from the height, it is also a long stage.

Difficulty level: high.
We have another difficult stage ahead of us. The strenuous climbs of this stage of the winter path are rewarded with the Monte Faro viewpoint and its impressive panoramic view over Galicia. When the weather is nice you can see the highest point in Galicia, Peña Trevinca, and other mountain towns such as Os Ancares, O Courel and Cabeza de Manzaneda. We will end this stage in the Pontevedra province.

Difficulty level: medium.
After a few days in the wine country we made our way to the capital of the “Cocidos”. The stage runs through a beautiful rural setting in the middle of the geographical center of the Galician community.

Difficulty level: easy to medium.
This short and pleasant stage of the winter path leads through fairly flat areas and also through many paved areas, so that the pilgrims are not faced with any major challenges. On this day we cross the beautiful medieval bridge from Taboada over the Deza river.

Difficulty level: medium.
In today’s stage we will enter the province of A Coruña. The greatest difficulty awaits us at the end of the descent to Puente Ulla, which is quite exhausting for the legs. The Ulla and its numerous bridges make the effort really worthwhile.

Difficulty level: easy.
A very pleasant stage due to its low difficulty and the reward to reach the destination, since we will arrive at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela today.

We will pass near the mythical holy peak associated with the legend of the apostle’s “traslatio”. The entrance to Compostela is through the densely populated Sar district, where we pass the magnificent Santa María la Mayor y Real church.

After we have climbed a rather steep hill, we enter the historic old town through the only door that is left of the old medieval wall, that of Mazarelos. Finally the Plaza del Obradoiro and the well deserved personal satisfaction of having reached this point. Accommodation in Santiago.

Buen Camino and see you next time!