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Camino de Santiago

The Pilgrimage Routes to Santiago de Compostela

Camino de Santiago
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Home→Camino Francés (French Way)→25. From Villafranca del Bierzo to O Cebreiro

25. From Villafranca del Bierzo to O Cebreiro

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  • The portion between Villafranca del Bierzo and O Cebreiro is more difficult, firstly because it spans over 30 kilometers and secondly because the last part of the journey consists of a 600 meters ascent.

    Before leaving Villafranca del Bierzo make sure to stock up on supplies as, depending on the route you take, you might not find another settlement for the next three hours. Some pilgrims prefer to split this day as the last part might be too difficult to undertake in the afternoon. Do the camino in the way that is most comfortable and most pleasant for you.

    There are two possible routes you can take in the first part of the day. The first one follows the main road and passes through Pereje before reaching Trabadelo and the second one is a more difficult, albeit a more scenic route where you climb and descent.

    After leaving Trabadelo you will find many villages on your way where you can get water and food. These last villages in the province of Leon are very small, often with less than 50 inhabitants. They are in this order: La Portela de Valcarce, Ambasmestas, Vega de Valcarce, Ruitelan, Las Herreias de Valcarce, La Faba, La Laguna de Castilla.

    The road will start its ascent after the village of Las Herreias de Valcarce but there are albergues in all these villages.

    La Laguna de Castilla is the last village in the province of Leon and O Cebreiro is the first village in Galicia. It is a bigger village than the ones you encountered today and has most things a pilgrim needs.


  • The distance between Villafranca del Bierzo to O Cebreiro is  27.8 km and here are the stops you are going through today: Pereje, Pradela, Trabadelo, La Portela de Valcarce, Ambasmestas, Vega de Valcarce, Ruitelán, Las Herrerías, La Faba, Laguna de Castilla. See below the map:

    Route 1,072,056 – powered by www.wandermap.net


  • You can follow this link to book online a hostel or room in O Cebreiro or to search for accommodation on your way!

    camino de santiago stay

    Click here to Book Your Stay!

  • 1. There are two routes from here - the scenic high-level route and the easier road route.
    1. There are two routes from here - the scenic high-level route and the easier road route.
    2. The split yellow arrow on the pavement is the only indication of the route dividing
    2. The split yellow arrow on the pavement is the only indication of the route dividing
    3. A steep climb out of the town
    3. A steep climb out of the town
    4. Then it goes on and on uphill
    4. Then it goes on and on uphill
    5. Looking back at Villafranca
    5. Looking back at Villafranca
    6. A French pilgrim who had walked from Le Puy
    6. A French pilgrim who had walked from Le Puy
    7. The new motorway far below with the scars made constructing it
    7. The new motorway far below with the scars made constructing it
    8. Walking up the hill
    8. Walking up the hill
    9. The top in sight at last
    9. The top in sight at last
    10. Keep going
    10. Keep going
    11. A personal waymark
    11. A personal waymark
    12. Descending through chestnut groves
    12. Descending through chestnut groves
    13. A tree
    13. A tree
    14. Amazing nature
    14. Amazing nature
    15. Yellow arrows on the post and on the road
    15. Yellow arrows on the post and on the road
    16. First view of Trabadelo at the foot of the mountain
    16. First view of Trabadelo at the foot of the mountain
    17. Very well signed at the road crossing
    17. Very well signed at the road crossing
    18. Entrance to village
    18. Entrance to village
    19. Old roof
    19. Old roof
    20. Meson as Callelas which gave me a very good meal even though it was a bit early
    20. Meson as Callelas which gave me a very good meal even though it was a bit early
    21. Old and new in the village
    21. Old and new in the village
    22. An old house with two balconies jettied out
    22. An old house with two balconies jettied out
    23. A more elaborate stone roof with a dormer
    23. A more elaborate stone roof with a dormer
    24. The camino runs alongside the road for a bit
    24. The camino runs alongside the road for a bit
    25. All the traffic now goes on the motorway so it is very quiet
    25. All the traffic now goes on the motorway so it is very quiet
    26. Waymark
    26. Waymark
    27. One pair of boots which never got to Santiago!
    27. One pair of boots which never got to Santiago!
    28. A beer stall put out of business by the motorway
    28. A beer stall put out of business by the motorway
    29. Countryside road
    29. Countryside road
    29. The river Valcerce accompanies the camino for much of the day
    29. The river Valcerce accompanies the camino for much of the day
    30. The old road through the village of La Portela
    30. The old road through the village of La Portela
    30. View from the road
    30. View from the road
    31. Herrerías Spanish pilgrims at the fountain
    31. Herrerías Spanish pilgrims at the fountain
    31. Saying goodbye to the N-VI, now just a country road anyway
    31. Saying goodbye to the N-VI, now just a country road anyway
    32. Cyclists to the right, walkers to the left to start the long ascent up to O Cebreiro
    32. Cyclists to the right, walkers to the left to start the long ascent up to O Cebreiro
    32. One never escapes from politics - some people in Bierzo do not want to be part of Galicia, some people in Leon do not want to be part of Castile, etc, etc
    32. One never escapes from politics - some people in Bierzo do not want to be part of Galicia, some people in Leon do not want to be part of Castile, etc, etc
    33. An empty house for sale
    33. An empty house for sale
    33. More shade in the late afternoon
    33. More shade in the late afternoon
    34. Shady walk uphill through the woods
    34. Shady walk uphill through the woods
    34. The maker of staffs for pilgrims
    34. The maker of staffs for pilgrims
    35. Steep ascent
    35. Steep ascent
    35. Street scene with motorway bridge halfway up to the sky
    35. Street scene with motorway bridge halfway up to the sky
    36. Meson Las Rocas in Vego de Valcarce
    36. Meson Las Rocas in Vego de Valcarce
    36. Traffic jam on the Camino - cows going back to pasture
    36. Traffic jam on the Camino - cows going back to pasture
    37. Beds in a new refugio
    37. Beds in a new refugio
    37. Landscape
    37. Landscape
    38. A nice newly opened refugio
    38. A nice newly opened refugio
    38. Landscape with distant motorway bridge
    38. Landscape with distant motorway bridge
    39. A very early start (7.30 am)
    39. A very early start (7.30 am)
    40. A nice dawn (7.50 am)
    40. A nice dawn (7.50 am)
    41. Other pilgrims in the dawn light
    41. Other pilgrims in the dawn light
    42. Beehive building
    42. Beehive building
    43. More steep ascents
    43. More steep ascents
    44. Fontain
    44. Fontain
    45. More steep ascents
    45. More steep ascents
    46. The first of a long helpful series of kilometre and half-kilometre stones which tell you exactly how slowly you are walking!
    46. The first of a long helpful series of kilometre and half-kilometre stones which tell you exactly how slowly you are walking!
    47. View
    47. View
    48. Lonely tree
    48. Lonely tree
    49. Entering the province of Lugo in Galicia
    49. Entering the province of Lugo in Galicia
    50. O Cebreiro - The refugio
    50. O Cebreiro - The refugio

Camino Routes »

  • Other Caminos
  • Camino Francés (French Way)
    • 1. From St.-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Roncesvalles
    • 2. From Roncesvalles to Zubiri
    • 3. From Zubiri to Pamplona
    • 4. From Pamplona to Puente la Reina
    • 5. From Puente La Reina to Estella
    • 6. From Estella to Torres del Rio
    • 7. From Torres del Rio to Logroño
    • 8. From Logroño to Nájera
    • 9. From Nájera to Santo Domingo de la Calzada
    • 10. From Santo Domingo de la Calzada to Belorado
    • 11. From Belorado to San Juan de Ortega
    • 12. From San Juan de Ortega to Burgos
    • 13. From Burgos to Hontanas
    • 14. From Hontanas to Frómista
    • 15. From Fromista to Carrión de los Condes
    • 16. From Carrión de las Condes to Sahagún
    • 17. From Sahagún to El Burgo Ranero
    • 18. From El Burgo Ranero to Mansilla de las Mulas
    • 19. From Mansilla de las Mulas to León
    • 20. From León to Villadangos del Páramo
    • 21. From Villadangos del Paramo to Astorga
    • 22. From Astorga to Rabanal del Camino
    • 23. From Rabanal to Ponferrada
    • 24. From Ponferrada to Villafranca del Bierzo
    • 25. From Villafranca del Bierzo to O Cebreiro
    • 26. From O Cebreiro to Sarria
    • 27. From Sarria to Portomarín
    • 28. From Portomarín to Palas de Rei
    • 29. From Palas de Rei to Arzúa
    • 30. From Arzúa to Santiago de Compostela
  • Camino de Finisterre & Muxia
    • 1. From Santiago de Compostela to Negreira
    • 2. From Negreira to Olveiroa
    • 3. From Olveiroa to Finisterre
    • 4. From Finisterre to Muxia
    • 3a. From Olveiroa to Muxia
  • Camino Aragones
    • 1. From Somport to Jaca
    • 2. From Jaca to Arrés
    • 3. From Arrés to Ruesta
    • 4. From Ruesta to Sangüesa
    • 5. From Sangüesa to Monreal
    • 6. From Monreal to Puente la Reina
  • Le Puy Route
  • Camí de Sant Jaume
  • Camino de Madrid
  • Camino Ingles
    • 1. From Ferrol to Pontedeume or Miño
    • 2. From Miño and Pontedeume to Betanzos
    • 1a. From Coruña to Bruma
    • 3. From Betanzos to Hospital Bruma
    • 4. From Bruma to Sigueiro
    • 5. From Sigueiro to Santiago de Compostela
  • Camino Primitivo
    • 1. From Oviedo to San Juan de Villapañada
    • 2. From San Juan de Villapañada to Salas
    • 3. From Salas to Tineo
    • 4. From Tineo to Pola de Allande
    • 5. From Pola de Allande to La Mesa
    • 6. From La Mesa to Grandas de Salime
    • 7. From Grandas de Salime to A Fonsagrada
    • 8. From A Fonsagrada to O Cádavo
    • 9. From O Cádavo to Lugo
    • 10. From Lugo to San Román da Retorta
    • 11. From San Román da Retorta to Melide
  • Camino Portugués
    • 1. From Porto to Vilarinho
    • 2. From Vilarinho to Barcelos
    • 3. From Barcelos to Ponte de Lima
    • 4. From Ponte de Lima to Rubiães
    • 5. From Rubiães to Tui
    • 6. From Tui to Redondela
    • 7. From Redondela to Pontevedra
    • 8. From Pontevedra to Caldas de Reis
    • 9. From Caldas de Reis to Padrón
    • 10. From Padrón to Santiago de Compostela
  • Tunnel Route
    • 1. From Irun to Hernani
    • 2. From Hernani to Legorreta
    • 3. From Legorreta to Segura
    • 4. From Segura to Salvatierra
    • 5. From Salvatierra to Estibaliz
    • 6. From Estibaliz to La Puebla de Arganzon
    • 7. From La Puebla de Arganzon to Briñas
    • 8. From Briñas to Santa Domingo de la Calzada
  • Via de la Plata
    • 1. From Sevilla to Guillena
    • 2. From Guillena to Castilblanco
    • 3. From Castilblanco to Almaden de la Plata
    • 4. From Almaden de la Plata to Monesterio
    • 5. From Monasterio to Fuente De Cantos
    • 6. From Fuente de Cantos to Villafranca de los Barros
    • 7. From Villafranca de los Barros to Torremejía
    • 8. From Torremejia to Merida
    • 9. From Merida to Alcuéscar
    • 10. From Alcuéscar to Cáceres
    • 11. From Cáceres to Embalse de Alcántara
    • 12. From Embalse de Alcántara to Galisteo
    • 13. From Galisteo to Caparra
    • 14. From Caparra to Baños de Montemayor
    • 15. From Baños de Montemayor to Fuenterroble de Salvatierra
    • 16. From Fuenterroble de Salvatierra to San Pedro de Rozados
    • 17. From San Pedro de Rozados to Salamanca
    • 18. From Salamanca to El Cubo de Tierra del Vino
    • 19. From El Cubo de Tierra del Vino to Zamora
    • 20. From Zamora to Montamarta
    • 21. From Montamarta to Granja de Moreruela
    • 22. From Granja de Moreruela to Tábara
    • 23. From Tábara to Santa Croya de Tera
    • 24. From Santa Marta de Tera to Rionegro del Puente
    • 25. From Rionegro del Puente to Puebla de Sanabria
    • 26. From Puebla de Sanabria to Lubián
    • 27. From Lubián to A Gudiña
    • 28. From A Gudina to Laza
    • 29. From Laza to Xunqueira de Ambía
    • 30. From Xunqueira de Ambía to Ourense
    • 31. From Ourense to Cea
    • 32. From Cea to A Laxe
    • 33. From A Laxe to Outeiro
    • 34. From Outeiro to Santiago de Compostela
  • Camino del Salvador
    • 1. From León to Buiza
    • 2. From La Robla to Buiza
    • 3. From Buiza to Pajares
    • 4. From Pajares to Pola de Lena
    • 5. From Pola de Lena to Oviedo
  • Camino del Norte (Northern Way)
    • 1. From Irún to San Sebastián
    • 2. From San Sebastián to Zarautz
    • 3. From Zarautz to Deba
    • 4. From Deba to Markina
    • 5. From Markina to Gernika
    • 6. From Gernika to Lezama
    • 7. From Lezama to Bilbao
    • 8. From Bilbao to Portugalete
    • 9. From Portugalete to Castro Urdiales
    • 10. From Castro Urdiales to Laredo
    • 11. From Laredo to Güemes
    • 12. From Güemes to Santander
    • 13. From Santander to Santillana del Mar
    • 14. From Santillana del Mar to Comillas
    • 15. From Comillas to Colombres
    • 16. From Colombres to Llanes
    • 17. From Llanes to Ribadesella
    • 18. From Ribadesella to Sebrayo (Villaviciosa)
    • 19. From Sebrayo (Villaviciosa) to Gijón
    • 20. From Gijón to Avilés
    • 21. From Avilés to Soto del Barco
    • 22. From Soto del Barco to Soto de Luiña
    • 23. From Soto de Luiña to Cadavedo
    • 24. From Cadavedo to Luarca
    • 25. From Luarca to La Caridad
    • 26. From La Caridad to Ribadeo
    • 27. From Ribadeo to Lourenzá
    • 28. From Lourenzá to Gontán
    • 29. From Gontán to Vilalba
    • 30. From Vilalba to Baamonde
    • 31. From Baamonde to Sobrado dos Monxes
    • 32. From Sobrado dos Monxes to Arzúa

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