Camino Francés: Stage 26

You will leave Villafranca crossing the Burbia river through its Calle de la Concepción street and also its Calle del Espíritu Santo street following the steps of the Valcarce river: both go parallel to the national road. You will get to Pereje after walking five kilometers through the left side of a path that goes parallel to the national road. You will cross this village to return to yesterday’s pedestrian path that will lead you to a rest area, where you can see lots of chestnuts trees that will be your companion until getting to Trabadelo, the following village. Here you can buy some snacks and also have a break in any of the establishments that were created mostly for the Way. You will have to return to the path after crossing a stream that then will lead you to La Portela de Valcarde and also to its church devoted to San Juan Bautista. Now you will go through the N-6, through its left side. You will get to the famous service station in Valcarce that is open 24 hours a day and that has a restaurant and a hotel. On the other side, it is located A Portela; it is believed that its name comes from a tax called “portazgo”, that used to be collected to get and leave Galicia.

After a few meters, you will have to take a turn away to Ambasmesetas to the left where Balboa river and Valcarce river get unified. Then you will enter in Vega de Valcarce, a village that has many establishments where you can buy some snacks and also rest for a while before getting to O Cebreiro. Two kilometers before, in Ruitelán you will start the ascent, then you will have to take a turn away to the left to Las Herrerías, where it was located an old hostel and also a pilgrim’s sanatorium. Here it will start an asphalted road, but just one kilometer after you will leave it and change it for a left path (if you are traveling by bike you will continue straightforward). You will find another stream that will encourage you to get to La Faba, a small village where you can visit a small baroque church. Moreover, here it is celebrated a public mass every day at 8 pm. Now the top is closed, this top has a lot of chestnut trees and also oak trees: Galicia is closer.

Before getting to the finishing point, you will have to cross Laguna de Castilla, the last village in Castile and León, here you will find come services and you will see some pre-Romanesque buildings and also some Pallozas. You have to pay attention while living this village because you will see a marker that indicates a left path. A little bit after a sign will indicate you that you are now in Galicia. A little bit after a sign will indicate you that you are now in Galicia. The views in the highest part will be amazing. You will enter in O Cebreiro that is surrounded by a wonderful landscape and by Los Ancares mountain pass where according to the legend took place a miracle. Here you could visit the pre-Romanesque church called Santa María la Real.

Bear in mind

This a hard and complicated stage. People with reduced mobility are not able to do it due to all the slopes that it has. The worst part is between Hospital and La Faba. We recommend you continue through the N-VI until getting to O Cebreiro. Cyclists should pay attention between Perexe and A Portela, in some parts they have to share the road with other vehicles. At the end of Herrerías we recommend cyclist continue through the road because ascend to O Cebreiro is very complicated.

In opposition with previous stages, today we won’t have any problem to find any kind of service along the Way. All the villages have a place to sleep, any shop or bar.