Ourense to Cea (22.1 km)
The cloister of Ourense’s San Francisco Monastery (1325) is being restored
The Camino uses the medieval bridge – built on Roman foundations, it was once the biggest in Spain
John and Elizabeth take their first Camino steps on the Ourense bridge
Cudeiro manor house on the climb out of Ourense …
… then along a flat road through the forest
Every house in the village has a chimney like this
An old Galician “bank” where gifts deposited could release souls from purgatory
We were excited to see this section of (possibly) Roman road …
… leading to a (Roman?) bridge in the forest
The famous bread from Cea, still made in the centuries old way, is delicious
Settling in for a first night in an Albergue
Cea to Monasterio de Oseira (8.7 km)
Out of Cea …
… stone fencing
Order of Cistercians Monasterio de Santa María la Real de Oseira (built 1137) is still used
Really felt like pilgrims staying in the 12th century Monastery
Cheese and liquors made by the monks plus local chorizo – dinner in the Albergue
The 12th century church, a landmark of Romanesque architecture
Inside the Monastery
The old Monastery oven
The police gave us all fluro vests as part of their pilgrim road safety campaign
Monasterio de Oseira to Castro-Dozón (10.6 km)
A rough track up hill behind the Monastery
There was only a little bit on a quiet road today
Getting fresh water from a spring
This ancient animal shelter is still in use
Images in the church at Castro-Dozon show 7 people buring in Hell
Castro-Dozón to Lalín (14.0 km)
Our plan had been to walk to A Laxe but the Albergue there was closed so we decided to divert to the bigger town of Lalín for the night. It was cold, windy and wet with even some small hail so we stuck to the main road (wearing our fluro vests of course) to get it over with as quickly as possible.
A cold wet day with some hail and walking on the road
Lalín to Silleda (16.2 km)
The Camino de Invierno passes through Lalín so we followed it about 6 km to join back up with our Camino Sanabres.
We left Lalín on the Camino de Invierno following this stream
A farming couple heading out to their fields
Galicia after the rain
Buying bread from the bread van
A tall railway bridge …
… over the Rio Deza
We had to use the Roman/medieval bridge to cross the same river …
… the walk on the old cobbled road
Romanesque Iglesia de Santiago de Taboada – every pilgrim should knock on the door with their head!
The path then goes through an ancient oak forest
Silleda to Ponte Ulla (19.6 km)
A countryside walk with cows on the Camino …
… grapes on trellises protecting the kale below
Iglesia San Martiño de Dornelas (1115) rural Romanesque typical of this area
Side entrance to the Iglesia San Martiño de Dornelas
Ponte Ulla to Santiago de Compostela (20.1 km)
1676 fountain beside the Chapel of Santiago at Outeiro
There are a lot of wayside crosses but this is one of the oldest
In places the Camino passes beneath grape vines growing across narrow lanes
Wild flowers growing on a wall
First sighting of the Cathedral as we descend into Santiago
6 weeks and 800 km of walking and we arrived at the Santiago Cathedral
Celebrated with a seafood paella
Our Credencial – offical record of the pilgrimage, stamped at least twice a day
We were in Santiago in May 2014. The pictures are here.