Winter Way
of Saint James

Winter Way
of Saint James

The Romans outlined the main communication routes in Las Médulas.

Useful insights:

In Villavieja, the old school converted into the first hostel for pilgrims starting the Winter Way of Saint James to Santiago de Compostela

They laid out the Roman roads, such as the XVIII road that connected Asturica Augusta (Astorga) with Braca Augusta (Braga) in Portugal, which allowed them to transport the gold extracted in the gold mines. To achieve this, they followed the ancient natural paths between mountains that connected with Galicia.

In the 12th century, it was the medieval pilgrims from Santiago de Compostela who took advantage of these paths along the Sil basin to plan what would become the Winter Way to Santiago de Compostela.

This is how they avoided, until the 18th century, the winter rigours of the better known French Way. Especially when passing through the O Cebreiro pass, where snow was common. And also because the rivers, fed by the abundant winter rainfall, could not be crossed due to the lack of bridges.

The path, in turn, was very busy in winter, with travellers and traders moving between the kingdoms of Galicia and León. Until its decline began in the 18th century, when a new communication route was opened with the Galician lands through the valley of the river Valcárcel.

Nowadays, although harsh weather conditions are not an obstacle for the well-equipped hiker, the Winter Way (also known in Castilla y León as the Camino Real de Invierno) is one of the most enticing and unknown options for reaching Santiago de Compostela. It is also an attractive invitation to explore Las Médulas through a hiking experience linked to the spiritual impulse of those who follow the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.

This old road, which follows the Roman roads along which the gold was extracted from Las Médulas, in its first stages, before entering Galicia, connects Ponferrada with Puente de Domingo Flórez.

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Of the 271.3 kilometres covered by the Winter Way of Saint James to Santiago de Compostela, 35 kilometres run through the landscape of the Cultural and Natural Space of Las Médulas.

This route runs through Villalibre de la Jurisdicción, Priaranza del Bierzo, Santalla del Bierzo, Villavieja, with views of the crag on which Cornatel Castle stands, and the village of Las Médulas. From here it continues for the last 12.4 kilometres to finish the stage in Puente de Domingo Flórez. And there it enters Galicia following the courses of the rivers Sil and Miño.

Inspiration for your trip

Las Médulas form a Cultural Space that begins with the union between water and the human hand to lead it into the interior of the mountains.

Prepárate para visitar todos los que puedas porque guardan rincones de arquitectura tradicional surgida de los materiales del paisaje que los rodea.

Recorrer las sendas del Espacio Cultural y Natural de Las Médulas es probablemente la forma más divertida y gratificante de explorar sus paisajes.

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