After yesterday’s stage, today we embark on another new day on the Camino Portugues. For most pilgrims, at this point on the Jacobean path, waking up and walking for kilometres will have become a therapeutic routine.
Let’s go the Camino Portugues!
Today begins by forcing us to choose between the two existing alternatives for leaving Águeda. Neither is very stimulating, one follows the road and the other crosses an industrial estate.
The tenth stage of the Camino Portugues is not an exciting stage, but it is quite bearable. The Pilgrim’s way concludes today in Albergaria a Velha, a pleasant town with all the services that the pilgrim may need.
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Itinerary stage Águeda – Albergaria a Velha
It is a short stage of fewer than 16 kilometres of distance and with few climbs. In relation to previous stages, the pilgrim will not find any difficulty when completing this section of the Camino de Santiago.
Águeda (Km. 0). Beginning of stage
Practical tips for this section: none of the two exit routes are very stimulating, but the one that follows the road is slightly shorter. Buen Camino!
To get out of Agueda there are two options, both well signposted with arrows. The most direct and for which most pilgrims opt is the one that runs through the centre of Agueda and continues along the national road.
We continue along the main street, which coincides with the national road N1, and after 1.2 kilometres of the route, we pass in front of the hostel of San Antonio. We continue along the roadside to the McDonald’s which is at the roundabout.
By the pedestrian crossing that is located in front of the establishment, we cross to the other side of the road and we follow 600 metres until we reach a deviation to the right that enters Morrisa do Vogue.
The other exit of Agueda is a kilometre longer and runs parallel to the previous one, but somewhat further west. From Praça da Republica, follow the course of the river on Rua 5 de Outro, until you reach a modern church. Next to the church, we turn, ascending, along Rua Annunciata Helena.
We continue along Rua Ribeiro, bordering the houses of the neighbourhood of Paredes, to the railway track. We are going through, with caution, the barrier-free level crossing. We continue along Rua Vale da Erva, Rupar Portion and, on asphalt, we continue to an industrial estate. After this, we encounter the road N1, cross it and we enter Morrisa do Vogue, where both paths reunite.
Mourisca do Vouga (Km. 4,2)
Practical tips for this section: Although the localities you’ll cross in this stretch of the pilgrim way are not very touristic, almost all of them have a certain charm. It is a short period of time to stop and enjoy the life of the small villages. Buen Camino!
We continue along the long Main street that runs parallel to the national road. On our way, we will find several palaces in the neoclassical style. At the end of the street, we cross the pedestrian crossing and continue, on asphalt, to the district of Pedaçães (km. 6.9).
We pass by Pinheiro Manso, a house with a huge pine tree, we leave behind the building of a school and went back down to cross the national road. After the crossing, we begin a nice walk along a dirt track, which runs between riverside trees and leads us to a small lagoon with an islet in the middle.
We cross the River Marnel over the medieval bridge and then we pass under the road to start a strong ascent parallel to the wall of the cemetery and the Lamas do Vouga Church (km. 8.9), leaving the locality on our left.
We descend again to the national road, where we find a rest area with grass and some tables. Continue along the hard shoulder of the road, passing the viaduct over the River Vouga, until you reach a detour to the left that goes up towards La Meiro and Serém de Cima (km. 10.8).
Continuing straight ahead, by a stretch of land that runs through a forest of eucalyptus and after passing the bridge over the A25 motorway we arrive at our destination today, Albergaria a Velha.
Albergaria a Velha (Km. 15,8). End of stage
Practical tips for this section: Albergaria a Velha is a quiet town that has a great history. Enjoy the long afternoon to discover its corners. See you tomorrow!
Albergaria a Velha has a long tradition on the Camino de Santiago Portugues, making it an ideal place to spend the night. However, some pilgrims prefer to extend the stage to Albergaria a Nova, located 6.5 kilometres away.
The most daring will continue until Pinheiro da Bemposta, 14 kilometres from Albergaria a Velha, facing almost 30 kilometres of travel on today’s stage.
We are staunch advocates that the most important thing on the pilgrim path is the way, so we do not let ourselves be dragged along in haste and we conclude today’s journey in this locality.
You can take advantage of the afternoon to visit the house of Santo António, Las Mámoas, Pateira de Frossos and Le Pelourinho de Angeja and Frossos.
Always going straight on, by a stretch of land that runs through a forest of eucalyptus and after passing the bridge over the A25 motorway, we arrive at our destination today, Albergaria a Velha.
Comments stage Águeda – Albergaria a Velha
Today’s day does not contain many difficulties, but it hides excellent gastronomy. Now we talk about the details.
Precautions stage Águeda – Albergaria a Velha
Today’s short stage does not imply any added difficulties for cyclists or for people with reduced mobility. During the day we will find some pronounced climbs, but they will not be a major problem.
Gastronomy stage Águeda – Albergaria a Velha
Then we recommend some regional dishes.
- Lamprey
- Eel Stew
- Roast Cod
- Roast Goat or Lamb
- Cinnamon Bread
- Jorjões and Vitela (local sweets)
- Sweets: Cinnamon Bread, Turks and Raivas (Local biscuits)
Services stage Águeda – Albergaria a Velha
Meet the main health care services, cafes, ATMs, restaurants and are in this stage of the Portuguese Way of St. James.
Map stage Águeda – Albergaria a Velha
Consult the map with the route, points and towns along the stage.
Profile stage Águeda – Albergaria a Velha
Consult the profile of the stage: altitude and degree of difficulty of each section.
What to do stage Águeda – Albergaria a Velha
Here we talk about the places of historical and tourist interest that will come across your path on today’s stage.
Mourisca do Vouga
In this locality, you can visit various stately homes from the 19th century. These are French in style and built by wealthy businessmen. Its bleak and abandoned appearance give it an air of a horror movie.
As they say, the name of the village is because it began to build a “moor.” In the centre of the village, you can visit a monument built with mosaics with typical blue tiles, where you can identify unique elements of the locality, such as the blacksmith in the forge.
Lamas do Vouga
Lamas do Vouga is a Parish in the Council of Águeda. The locality covers an area of four square kilometres and in its streets reside 760 people.
Surrounding this locality are two old bridges. One is the Ponte Velho do Marnel, formed by five arches and dating from the 16th century. This replaced a former Roman bridge linking Olisipo (Lisbon) with Bracara Augusta (Braga).
A short distance from the town is the bridge that crosses the River Vouga. On this, one can see how the central arch has sunk. It was this incident that caused, from 2011, the Camino Portugues to stop traversing it and now crosses over the top of the viaduct on the N1 road.
Albergaria a Velha
Albergaria a Velha is a Council in the district of Aveiro. The locality has 8,500 inhabitants and a rich history.
The name of the village comes from the old hostelry (or hospital) for the poor and pilgrims, built by Gonçalo Eriz after the land was ceded by Queen Teresa Alfónsez de León for this purpose, in 1117.
This construction can be seen in the heart of the locality, being currently managed by the association via Lusitana. In the locality, you can also visit the house of Santo António, the Mámoas, Pateira de Frossos and Le Pelourinho de Angeja and Frossos.
Casa de Santo António
The Casa de Santo António, also known as Casa de Saúde Santo António, is located in Albergaria a Velha. The construction dates from 1730 and was carried out by the mandate of Dr. João Ferreira da Cruz, although it had several owners until it fell into the hands of CHS Santo António.
The building is Baroque in style and in 2013, it was named, next to the chapel that rises on one of its sides, an asset of Cultural Interest.
Iglesia Matriz
The Main Church of Albergaria a Velha is located in the heart of the town. It is a temple of Baroque style that has undergone many reforms. The building consists of a single nave, in which is located the sacristy, a small chapel in one of its sides and a huge altarpiece located on the main altar, which depicts Christ tied to a column.
Mámoas
The Mámoas of Albergaria a Velha are archaeological remains discovered in the late 19th century, which were opened to the public in 2015, after its complete restoration.
The remains of the Mámoas are more than 6,000 years old and are located in the middle of the city, so they are considered one of the most exceptional archaeological sites in Portugal.
Pateira de Frossos
Pateira de Frossos is a natural area located in the village of Albergaria. In this space, you can see large marshes, as well as a great variety of birds, especially storks. It is also common to find small mammals.
Pelourinho de Angeja y Frossos
The Pelourinho de Angeja and that of Frossos are located in Albergaria a Velha and was declared as an asset of Cultural interest in 1993.
The Pelourinho of Angeja dates from 1902 and is located between two stairs. The shaft of the column looks like a ring-shaped capital, on which a square block rests, finished in frieze ornamented with the Cross of Christ and national weapons.
The Pelourinho of Frossos moved to the centre of the city in 1963, naming the street in which it is located today. This one is built on three stairs and stands out for its simplicity.
