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Monforte de Lemos is a small town located in the Ribeira Sacra Valley. A stunning natural environment in the heart of Galicia and one of the main attractions for pilgrims who start the Camino de Santiago from this town.
Monforte’s history dates back to Roman times, when the region was known as Mons Fortis or Monte Fuerte. However, it was not until the 9th century, when King Alfonso II of Asturias founded the Monastery of San Vicente del Pino, that Monforte became one of the main religious centers of the region. A focus of cultural and spiritual development. This monastery offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the region and is a must for pilgrims and visitors.
The relationship between Monforte de Lemos and the Camino de Santiago dates back to the Middle Ages. Roman legions, muleteers, medieval pilgrims and later the Napoleonic troops had to find an alternative route to the Roman Road that connected the north of Spain with Galicia to avoid the difficult winter weather conditions in the area of O Cebreiro. This new route was called The Winter Camino. Although it was also known as the Camino del Sil or the Camino del Sur. The route starts in Ponferrada and crosses the regions of Bierzo and Valdeorras until it reaches Monforte.
Today it is one of the official routes of the Camino de Santiago and has lost its seasonality. This Camino offers a quieter and more peaceful experience, away from the crowds of other more popular routes and for this reason it is an increasingly common choice among the Jacobean community.
Monforte de Lemos has a rich cultural and architectural heritage. In addition to the aforementioned monastery, you can visit the Monforte Castle, belonging to the Order of the Temple, the famous order of the Knights Templar; or the Palace of the Counts of Lemos. A magnificent example of Renaissance architecture that belonged to one of the most influential families in Spain during the 16th century.
Another highlight of doing the Winter Camino from Monforte is to discover the Ribeira Sacra. A wine region surrounded by the waters of the Sil River and a great natural and archaeological beauty. It is the area with the largest number of Romanesque religious buildings in Europe. In addition, getting to know the vineyards and the spectacular landscape of the Ribeira Sacra (in the process of being declared a World Heritage Site) is an experience you will never forget. It is a fertile land where you can taste the wines of Valdeorras and Ribeira Sacra, two of the 9 Protected Designations of Origin in Galicia. Another fact is that this way is the only Camino de Santiago whose route passes through the 4 Galician provinces: A Coruña, Lugo, Ourense and Pontevedra.
These hotels offer private rooms with private bathrooms as well as other additional services that may vary depending on the type of category: restaurant service, television, room service, dry cleaning, ironing service, etc. It is common to stay in this type of hotels in the cities along the Camino.
These accommodations have the necessary services to cover the basic needs of cleanliness and rest at a more moderate price than the hotels . Officially, hostels and guesthouses are 1-star accommodations. However, this rating should not be taken into account when evaluating the level of comfort and quality of their services.
Typical in the large cities along the El Camino. They can be family hotels or international hotel chains. They are perhaps the most expensive alternative, although you can find different price levels according to the category and services they offer.
These are small accommodations characterized by having few rooms and providing personalized attention. They are hotel concepts with a modern style and their own character. They can be between 1* and 5*.
This is a public hotel chain that manages a network of almost 100 charming hotels distributed throughout the Iberian Peninsula. The establishments are located in buildings of cultural interest and great historical value, and stand out for their scenic, artistic or natural interest (including ancient palaces, monasteries, fortresses, convents, fortresses…).
Rural houses, pazos, inns, rectories, castles, monasteries, farmhouses… These are historic buildings of great architectural and patrimonial value. So much so, that this characteristic sometimes gives them the status of “luxury lodging” despite the fact that they are
“luxury accommodation” despite the fact that they are often rustic constructions in which natural stone and wood predominate.
To obtain the Compostela you only need to walk the last 100 kilometers of an official route. In the case of the Winter Camino, this requirement is fulfilled by starting the route from Monforte de Lemos. If you decide to do it by bicycle, you will need to pedal for 200 kilometers, that is, from Ponferrada.
Yes, all our itineraries are flexible. You will be able to choose the dates you want to travel as long as we find availability in the accommodations.
If you hire this service you will not have to pedal with your backpack in the saddlebags. Every morning at 08:00 am the transport company will pick up your luggage at your accommodation and transport it to your next accommodation.
Our recommendation is to walk the journey Monforte de Lemos – Santiago de Compostela in 6 stages. However, you can adapt it to your preferences. Pilgrims in good shape can do the Camino from Monforte on foot in 5 days. While other people prefer to walk at a leisurely pace and complete the route in 7-8 days.
To make a reservation the first thing you have to do is contact the Galiwonders team. A travel consultant will help you solve all your doubts and help you choose the route and services (accommodation, transport, insurance, etc) that best suit your needs, preferences and budget. Once you have decided the itinerary of the Camino you want to do and confirm the reservation, we will reserve all the services for you.
DISTANCE: | 138 Km |
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STAGES: | 6 Stages |
DURATION: | 7 Nights |
DIFICULTy: | 3/5 |
START: | Camino de Santiago from Monforte |
PRICE: | desde 495€ |
We will design an itinerary tailored to your needs, preferences and budget and book all services for you. You enjoy the road.
Galicia is our home. We have traveled all the routes of the Camino and we have direct contact with the service providers on the Camino.
We speak several languages, have lived abroad and have years of experience organizing trips for people from all over the world.
Hundreds of pilgrims repeat year after year the experience of traveling with us. We want you to be one of them. And that is why we will strive to make your trip unique and unforgettable.
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No es el nº de emergencias en ruta | This is not the emergency number
No es el nº de emergencias en ruta | This is not the emergency number