The French Way takes its name from the fact that it begins on French territory, and enters Galicia along a steep path that reaches its maximum height in the O Cebreiro highlands. On the Galician part of the route walkers can enjoy the hospitality of the people, a wealth of varied, delicious gastronomy, the considerable artistic heritage, and a country that warmly welcomes the traveller.
French Way
Day 1
O Cebreiro - Beginning
Hotel Cebreiro - Casa Valiña
O Cebreiro - Beginning
This is an old village house, which was restored in 2000, respecting the traditional structure of the building. It is located next to a ninth century hermitage and is surrounded by “pallozas”, which are round thatched buildings used as dwellings and for keeping cattle.
Day 2
O Cebreiro / Triacastela – Stage 1 (25.6 Km)
The walker leaves O Cebreiro peak (where the Santa María a Real do Cebreiro sanctuary and the old ninth century pilgrims’ hospital are located). The route runs through Liñares, Hospital da Condesa, Padornelo, where the Order of St. John of Jerusalem was originated and the hospital was created to attend to walkers, Puerto de O Poio, the highest point on the French Way, Fonfría, O Biduedo, Fillobal, Pasantes and Ramil, finally arriving at Triacastela.
Casa Pacios
Triacastela / Stage 1
This is an old seventeenth century rural house located in Vilavella. Medieval pilgrims used to pass through this village and gather limestone, which they then took to the lime ovens in A Castañeda in Arzúa, thus contributing their part towards building the Cathedral in SantiagoCathedral in Santiago.
Day 3
Triacastela / Gorolfe – Stage 2 (14.4 Km)
From Triacastela the Way runs through Renche, San Martiño do Real, Samos, where walkers can visit the Benedictine monastery founded in the sixth century, one of the oldest in the West, and the Capilla del Salvador (Chapel of the Saviour), also known as the Chapel of the Cypress because of the tree growing there which is more than a thousand years old. After a rest at Samos, the Way continues on to Gorolfe, the final destination of the second stage.
Casa de Díaz
Samos / Stage 2
This house was restored in 1997. It combines the modern with the more traditional elements typical of rustic buildings: old ovens, a dovecot, a nineteenth century church, a swimming pool and a parking area.
Day 4
Gorolfe / Ferreiros – Stage 3 (24 Km)
After leaving Gorolfe, the next places on the walker’s route are Perros and Sarria. Then walkers cross the A Áspera bridge, arriving at the Romanesque church of Santiago de Barbadelo, Domiz, Lavandeira, A Brea, Morgade, and finally Ferreiros and its twelfth century Romanesque Santa María church.
O Foilebar
Paradela / Stage 3
This is an old centenarian wolf-hunting lodge. In the rustic dining room you can savour meals prepared from typical local products.
Day 5
Ferreiros / Lestedo - Stage 4 (28,5 Km)
The next stage starts in Ferreiros and continues on to Mirallos, A Pena, Rozas, Moimentos, Mercadoiro, Moutras, A Parrocha, Vilachá, where the descent towards the Miño river begins, and Portomarín, where you can taste the local aguardiente liqueur, one of the most renowned in Galicia. The route continues through Gonzar, Castromaior and its Romanesque church, Vendas de Narón with its La Magdalena Chapel, A Previsa, Lameiros and its chapel dedicated to St.Mark, Ligonde, Eirexe, Portos, a village located in the vicinity of the Romanesque church of Vilar de Donas, belonging to a monastery that was originally for women (hence the name Donas for Doñas, meaning ladies), and was later used by the Order of Saint James, finishing the last stretch of stage 4 in Lestedo.
Casa Roán
Monterroso / Stage 4
This rural accommodation is made up of two former farmhouses from the mid- 18th century and renovated in 2006, conserving the distinguishing features of Galician rural architecture: “eras” (threshing floors), “hórreos” (raised granaries), inner courtyards where the country chores were undertaken, thick stone walls, slate roofs, chestnut beams and ceilings, stone ovens,…
Day 6
Lestedo / A Castañeda – Stage 5 (27.4 Km)
Leaving Lestedo the route continues along Os Valos, A Brea, O Rosario, Palas de Rei, where walkers can visit the church of San Tirso, Campo dos Romeiros, a meeting place for pilgrims, San Xulián do Camiño, O Mato, Casanova, Porto de Bois, Couto, the first village on the A Coruña stretch after leaving Lugo, Leboreiro and its Romanesque church, Disicabo, Furelos with its medieval bridge, Melide, where you can visit the Terra de Melide Museum, and admire its gothic “cruceiro” , Santa María, O Raído, Boente and its church dedicated to St.James, finally arriving in A Castañeda. Here, there are said to be limestone ovens, which were used to build the cathedral de Santiago.
Pazo de Sedor
Arzúa / Stage 5
This manor house was built towards the end of the seventeenth century. It was recently renovated and equipped with up-to-date facilities. There are large bedrooms and reception rooms. It provides complete tranquillity, and service with a personal touch.
Day 7
A Castañeda / Santa Irene – Stage 6 (22.1 Km)
Leaving A Castañeda travellers reach O Pedrido, Ribadiso and the old pilgrim’s hospital that has been converted into a hostel, Arzúa, where the Church of St.James and the gothic A Magdalena chapel are located, Raído, Cortobe, Ferreiros, Boavista, A Salceda, A Brea and lastly Santa Irene, with its bridge and unusual church.
O Muíño de Pena
O Pino / Stage 6
This is an old mill and sawmill, which is over 200 years old. It is located next to the Mera River, in the O Pino area. You can also visit the ethnographic museum here.
Day 8
Santa Irene / Santiago – Stage 7 (22.4 Km)
For the last stretch to Santiago, walkers depart from Santa Irene, continuing their journey through A Rúa, the last village before Arca, the capital of O Pino, which is the last town before Santiago. Walkers pass through A Lavacolla, where pilgrims traditionally washed their bodies in the river. After leaving A Lavacolla, you reach Monte do Gozo (Mount of Joy), which bears this name because from this point you can admire the Cathedral towers for the first time. The old quarters of the city can be reached by following Os Concheiros street, which leads on to Rúa de San Pedro, Porta do Camiño, Casas Reais, Cervantes square, A Acibechería and finally, the Cathedral. If it happens to be a Holy Year, walkers choose to enter the sanctuary by the Porta Santa (Holy Door), which is only opened to celebrate this special year.
Price
The route is 165 kilometres, which is covered in 8 days / 7 stages with the Bono Iacobus.. At the end of each stage, walkers are collected from the last stretch of their route and taken by car to nearby rural accommodation, where they spend the night, following a well-deserved homemade supper cooked with local products.
In the morning, after a filling breakfast, the pilgrim can once again be taken by car to the beginning of the route for the day.
Optional services:
- Picnic lunch for each day’s journey.
- Taxi luggage transfer service.
Price (dinner and breakfast included)
- 1 Person (single room) 675 € (VAT included)
- 2 Persons (double room) 970 € (VAT included)
The BONO IACOBUS can be reserved all year long except Easter and the month of August either individually, for couples or groups.
For further information about the BONO IACOBUS please call us on (+34) 902 190 160 / +34 981 568 521 or send us an e-mail: info@galiciaincoming.com.
(*) Distributed through legally authorised Travel Agents.
How to arrive at Pedrafita
- Transfer Santiago – Pedrafita do Cebreiro by bus daily; journey takes approximately three and a half hours. Timetable: Monday to Saturday: 08:00 - 09:45 - 14:00 – 21:30 - 23:15 – Sundays: 08:00 – 09:45 – 14:00 – 23:15
- Bus company: ALSA - Tel.: +34 902 422 242 - Web: www.alsa.es
- Santiago Bus Station: C/ San Caetano, s/n – Tel: +34 981 542 416 - Web: www.tussa.org
The information concerning operating days, timetables and journey times are GUIDELINES only, and should be confirmed with the company operating the service.
