After the previous days, full of slopes, the Camino del Norte gives us a break in the Terra Chá region and offers us a stage in which we basically stay on flat terrain.
Let’s continue on the Camino del Norte!
Today we face up to a stage with a flat profile, as we can well deduce by being in the region of Terra Chá, which means flat land in Spanish. Today we will be accompanied by green meadows, interesting landscapes and the axis of the national N-634 road.
If you are thinking of doing the Camino de Santiago from Ribadesella, tell us what your plans are for the Camino de Santiago, and we will contact you to advise you on everything that you need.
Itinerary stage Abadín – Vilalba
This stage has 22.4 kilometres that run between 400 and 500 metres in altitude, but on a flat terrain with gentle slopes. Much of the route will be done along dirt and asphalt tracks, following the route of the N-634 road.
Abadín (km. 0). Beginning of stage
Practical tips for this section: In this section you will pass through various hamlets, most of them are tiny!
We cross Abadín following the national road until we leave, by a detour, on the right, along an asphalt track. We advance for about a kilometre, and then take a grassy path that begins on the right.
On the descent, we arrive by the Abadín stream, which we cross along a boardwalk, then go back up and take a paved track.
In the same direction, interspersing some sections of land, we travel through the tiny hamlets of Ponterroxal, O Rei and Candia. We cross the River Arnela and reach the town of Castromaior.
We continue to move forward and twice we are forced to cross the A-8 motorway, through underpasses, to finally reach Martiñán (km. 8.8).
Martiñán (km. 8,8).
Practical tips for this section: If you stay overnight at the pilgrim’s hostel in Vilalba, do not miss a chance to visit the town during the afternoon. Its centre is only two kilometres away. Buen Camino!
We cross the national road and continue along a dirt path for 700 metres, then crossing the beautiful Ponte Vella de Martiñán, over the River Batán.
By land tracks, with some asphalted parts, and without changing direction, we return to the national road, at the church and cemetery in Goiriz (km. 16,6).
We follow the road layout for 200 metres and turn right. A kilometre later, we turn left to take a paved track where we arrive, 300 metres later, at a fork in the road.
Here, we continue straight on, leaving to our left a path that goes towards the national road.
Finally, we go onto the national road and, on the right, we pass next to the Vilalba pilgrim hostel. The town entrance to Vilalba is 1.2 kilometres away and its centre is two kilometres away.
Vilalba (km. 22,4). End of stage
Practical tips for this section: If you suffer from any tendinitis or problems with your joints we recommend visiting La Charca do Alligal. See you tomorrow!
One of the most interesting places in Vilalba is the tower of the Andrade family castle, which, as in many other localities, has left its mark. You can also visit the Church of Santa Maria and the Museum of Prehistory and Archaeology.
In the vicinity of Vilalba, you can enjoy the river promenade, La Madalena Rest Area and the baths at the Aligal medicinal pool.
Comments stage Abadín – Vilalba
Here are some comments about today’s stage.
Precautions stage Abadín – Vilalba
Today’s stage does not entail any major difficulty. The route is fundamentally flat and there are few road crossings.
Gastronomía etapa Abadín – Vilalba
During today’s journey, you can enjoy the following dishes and local products from the region.
- San Simon Cheese
- Vilalba Capons (At the Capon Fair)
- Turnip tops
- Potatoes
- Capon, free-range Chicken
Services stage Abadín – Vilalba
Get to know the main healthcare services, cafes, ATMs and restaurants that are located on this stage of the Camino del Norte.
Map stage Abadín – Vilalba
Check the map with the route and locations that the stage runs through.
Profile stage Abadín – Vilalba
Find out about the profile, altitude and degree of difficulty on each section.
What to see and do on the stage Abadín – Vilalba
Here’s some information about places you can visit on today’s tour.
Iglesia de Goiriz
The church in Goiriz is of rural Baroque style, very common in the region of Terra Chá. The cemetery next to the temple was opened in the early 20th century.
The pantheons on these holy grounds are made of stone by the Román stonemasons, who joined the Baroque and neo-Gothic style together, using the latter in the finishes on the columns.
Vilalba
Vilalba is a town of almost 15,000 inhabitants, one of the largest in the province of Lugo and is part of the Terra Chá region.
One of the most important tourist attractions of this historic villa, is the tower of the castle of the Andrade family, which, as in many other towns, has left its mark of its legacy.
The town has several bridges, among which are the Martiñán, over the River Batán, and the Saá, over the River Labrada. As well as with several crosses. It is also advisable to visit the Church of Santa Maria and the Museum of Prehistory and Archaeology.
In the vicinity of the town you can also enjoy the river promenade, the La Madalena Rest Area and the baths at the Alligal medicinal pool.
Iglesia de Santa María
The Parish Church of Santa Maria is located in a square of Vilalba that bears the same name, and which is surrounded by typical balconies. The temple was built on another Romanesque-style church.
The reconstruction of the church that can be seen today dates from the second half of the 19th century and was carried out by Manuel Mato Vizoso. The temple retains inside beautiful carvings such as that of Christ of the Holy Burial.
Practical information:
Mass times: From 1 July to 31 August, workdays and eves (20:00) and public holidays (12:00, 13:00 and 20:00). From 1 September to 30 June, workdays and eves (19:30) and public holidays (12:00, 13:00 and 19:30).
Paseo Fluvial
The Vilalba river promenade runs along the River Madalena, in the vicinity of the town centre. The walk starts at the Molino del Rañego, on the road that goes to Baamonde, very close to the town, passes along a river beach and ends at the Ferreiro Bridge.
On your journey, you can visit several mills that show the importance of cereal in this town and in all those of the Terra Chá region. In the vicinity of the river, an island is located where you can find some native tree species from the area.
At the end of the route, on the river beach, there is a picnic area and a space for all kinds of recreational activities, among which are the swimming baths in the pool or in the river and for sports practice.
Torre de los Andrade
The Tower of the Andrade family is the only thing that is preserved from the old castle, which rose above another fortress from the early 14th century, during the reign of Ferdinand IV of Castile. The tower has been rebuilt on various occasions throughout history.
In 1341, with the First Irmandiña Revolt, the first structure was destroyed. It was rebuilt again, but was again destroyed by the Second Irmandiña Revolt, between 1467 and 1469. The tower we observe today dates back to the 15th century.
The tower is made of slate masonry with cantilevered battlements. Its structure stands out for its octagonal shape. Currently, the building functions as a National Tourism Parador.
Área recreativa de La Madalena
The recreational area in La Madalena is a large garden area of three hectares, next to the river bank. In this space the vegetation originating in this place abounds and in its surroundings it has a wide variety of infrastructures for the practice of different sports.
In this area, a river walk begins and in the vicinity there is a water park. In addition, near this space is the Chapel of La Madalena and some mills.
Casa de la Cultura
The House of Culture in Vilalba was built in 1842 with the aim of establishing the seat of the Town Hall there and to install the Carlist party prison. Today the space hosts an exhibition of photographs and paintings.
Crucero de Cuatro Caminos
The Crucero de Cuatro Caminos is located in the centre of the town of Vilalba. Its construction was carried out in 1874, made in granite. On the cross you can see the figure of Christ, on the front, and an image of the Sorrowful One, on the back. Every year, the villagers adorn the cross with flowers to celebrate the Feast of the Christ.
Museo de prehistoria y arqueología
The Museum of Prehistory and Archaeology in Vilalba is located on Calle Domingo Goás and is a municipal public foundation. The purpose of the space is to investigate, collect, conserve and disseminate the prehistory and history of Galicia.
The museum space has a permanent exhibition about the different cultures that settled in previous eras in the Northwest of the Iberian Peninsula, and has two other temporary exhibitions.
Practical information:
Hours: Closed on Sundays, Mondays and public holidays. Tuesday to Saturday (11:00 to 13:30 and 17:00 to 19:30).
Admission: Free.
Charca do Alligal
La Charca do Alligal, de Vilalba, is a medicinal water pool that is located in an environment of abundant nature. The first swimming pool was built here in 1930 and was made of stone. In contrast, the one that can be observed today is much larger, 30 metres in diameter, and is made of concrete.
From the soil of these medicinal baths sprout spring waters, which have calcium bicarbonate, of light mineralization and can reach 23 degrees Centigrade. Its flow rate is 1,200 litres per minute.
Because of these characteristics, many people come to it with the aim of treating health problems, especially rheumatic conditions, such as osteoarthritis or tendinitis, and dermatological, such as dermatitis.
This pond is the busiest in Galicia. People visit the pool throughout the year, although it is especially busy in the summer months. In the vicinity of the pool, since 2006, a hotel that functions as a spa and that serves the mineral-medicinal waters of the spring has been located.
Puentes de Vilalba
Vilalba is a municipality crossed by several rivers, so it has several bridges. The most important are Martiñán, on the River Batán, and Saá, on the River Labrada.
The Martiñán Bridge dates back to the 17th century. The Saá Bridge combines its original medieval style with a modern style. The latter consists of two half-point arches and a dozen drains that prevent it from being flooded during the rainy seasons.
- Go to <<< Stage 28 on the Camino del Norte
- Go to >>> Stage 30 on the Camino del Norte
