We are in Pedrafita do Cebreiro. It is situated inland in the province of Lugo, in northeastern Galicia. Here is where the route of The Way of St. James in Galicia begins.
The municipality has two places that stand out from others which we will also visit: Piedrafita next to highway A6 and also O Cebreiro where pilgrims arrive from the neighbouring Autonomous Community of Castilla-León.
We will visit in O Cebreiro the church of Santa María A Real, the village and the pallozas, Hostel of San Giraldo de Aurillac, a former pilgrim hospital. We will also walk The Way like many pilgrims do from Pedrafita to O Cebreiro by the road LU-633.
The Way arrives in O Cebreiro, crosses the road and continues beside the wall. It encloses the area where the church of Santa María A Real, the cemetery and Hostel of San Giraldo de Aurillac (a former pilgrim hospital) are. The Hostel is seen to the right of the picture.
(Author´s note: We cannot locate all of the coordinates as usual. This is because O Cebreiro area in Google Maps is blurred).
The church tower is engulfed in fog behind the wall.
A little closer we can see the yellow arrow. It guides pilgrims.
We cross the road following the cobble stone path. We can see this small door to enter the area where the Church and the Hostel are.
A few steps away we arrive at the entrance of The Way in the village. Yellow arrows point us in the right direction.
The Way in its original route enters O Cebreiro through the limits between Galicia and Castilla León. It is the stage that starts in Villafranca del Bierzo and goes past Ambasmestas, Vega de Valcarce, Ruitelán, Las Herrerías, La Faba y Laguna de Castilla. It is Las Herrerías where the steep climb towards O Cebreiro begins.
However many pilgrims due to various circumstances decide to walk a part of The Way, starting the route from Pedrafita also from O Cebreiro. Road LU-633 climbs from Pedrafita to O Cebreiro. As we shall see there are specific stretches of The Way that run parallel to the road. In other parts the road is The Way.
There is a lookout point beside the road. We leave behind Pedrafita.
Highway A6.
The Way continues beside the crash barrier.
We arrive to O Cebreiro and we turn left.
Just past the crossroads we can see the church of Santa María A Real and some of the pallozas. They are seen from the road LU-633.
There is a nice view from here.
There is another alternative route from Pedrafita to O Cebreiro. Instead of going up the road LU-633 it goes by the middle of the forest. It is signposted in the first 500 meters but there´s no more signs if we continue the climb. The path besides a steep slope along several stretches forks repeatedly. It is not advisable unless the walker wants to get lost.
Starting point: We are at the centre of Pedrafita beside the road LU-633. 42.725654, -7.020680
There is no more asphalt from here. 42.722734, -7.022043
There are a couple of signs in the first 500 meters. There is no way of knowing higher up what is the right path to take.
The path is a steep slope along several stretches.
We can see in the lower left part of the picture the road LU-633 which climbs from Pedrafita to O Cebreiro as we have already seen.
Once we got lost we take some photos.
Pedrafita.
To be continued.
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