After yesterday’s intense day, both for the physical demands it entailed and the multitude of interesting places to visit, we reached the penultimate stage of the Camino Frances. In full spiritual phase, the mixed emotions intensify.

Today’s stage starts just 40 kilometers from the Obradoiro square. Many will have the impulse to complete the next two stages in a single day in their desperation to reach the desired destination. The truth is that it is worth holding back and keeping the two stages to enjoy the last days of the route and enter Santiago de Compostela full of energy.

Today’s journey runs along quiet service roads, with almost no houses and whose only drawback are the numerous occasions on which we will be forced to cross the N-547 road.

If you are thinking of doing the Camino de Santiago from Sarria, tell us what are your plans for the Camino de Santiago and we will contact you to advise you on everything you need.

Itinerary stage Arzúa – O Pedrouzo

The profile of today’s stage is simple. Few slopes and long forest tracks. The only inconvenience of today’s day is the national road, but given the proximity of Santiago de Compostela, this fact will not be a great inconvenience for the excited pilgrim.

Arzúa (Km. 0). Beginning of stage

Practical advice for this stretch: If your feet suffer from any discomfort, do not leave Arzúa without visiting one of its places endowed with healing powers. Arzúa invites you to have a snack of its exquisite cheese for breakfast. Buen Camino!

The morning begins in the rúa Cima do Lugar, from where we continue straight ahead towards the cobbled rúa do Carmen. Between arcades and facades covered with wood, we say goodbye to Arzúa.

Along a path that runs through a rural environment, we descend to the source os Franceses. We cross the Vello river and enter As Barrosas, where the chapel of San Lázaro awaits us (km. 0.9). From there, we descend to the river Brandeso, and then climb to Preguntoño, a village in the parish of Burres, where the chapel of San Paio is located (km. 2.2).

At the exit of the village, we cross the N-547 through a tunnel and face a steep slope between corn crops and meadows, until we reach A Peroxa, another village in the parish of Burres (km. 3.3).

The eucalyptus trees are becoming more and more present in the Galician landscape. Through tracks covered by leaf litter we descend to the Ladrón stream (km. 3.9) to reach Taberna Vella (km. 5.2).

Taberna Vella (Km. 5.2)

Practical advice for this section: Between Ras and Brea, a few meters from the road, you will find the Alimentos Ruta Xacobea store, where you can buy typical Galician products. Buen Camino!

Seven hundred meters after Taberna Vella we find Calzada, a village in the parish of Burres and the last inhabited nucleus of Arzúa (km. 5.8). We leave the place crossing a link road and we enter the concello of O Pino, the last one before Santiago de Compostela. From here, we head towards San Breixo de Ferreiros.

We continue to the village of A Calle (km. 7.8). We leave the village after crossing the Langüello stream and continue along tracks and paths to Boavista (km. 9.3) and Salceda, located at the foot of the N-547 road (km. 11.1).

After Salceda, we turn off a few meters to the right from the national road. On the way we pass by the memorial of Guillermo Watt, a pilgrim who died on the Camino Frances. Ascending, we return to the foot of the road to cross it next to a farm machinery dealership. Then we arrive at Oxén, in the parish of Miguel de Cerceda (km. 12.5),

The road continues to the left of the national road and leads to nearby Ras, a village in the same parish. Here we cross the N-547 by an underpass (km. 13.1). At this point, pilgrims who have taken the O Pino variant of the Camino del Norte converge. On the other side of the road is A Brea.

A Brea (Km. 13.6)

Practical advice for this section: In this section you will pass by the hermitage of Santa Irene, if you suffer any discomfort in your feet or any other part of the body, it is an excellent opportunity to test the healing power of the fountain that is located next to this hermitage. Buen Camino!

After A Brea, in a few hundred meters A Rabiña appears. Parallel to the road and uphill, we pass by a picnic area with a fountain and a windmill. Already at the top, we cross the road and enter O Empalme, a village in the parish of San Lourenzo de Pastor (km. 15.3).

Afterwards, we take a downhill track that runs surrounded by eucalyptus trees until the tunnel that crosses the N-547 again. As we pass the hermitage of Santa Irene and its baroque fountain (km. 16.3).

Isolated from the noise of the road by the leafy population of eucalyptus trees, we pass by milepost 20 and cross the road again through another tunnel. Surrounded by eucalyptus trees, some houses dot the surroundings until we reach the village of A Rúa, in the parish of Arca.

Along an asphalted track we reach the shoulder of the N-547 road. Following its uphill route we arrive at our destination today, O Pedrouzo.

O Pedrouzo (Km. 19.3). End of stage

Practical advice for this stretch: Today’s afternoon is for reflecting on what you have experienced and learned along the way. Tomorrow’s arrival in Santiago de Compostela will be intense and it is advisable to have done some personal work beforehand. See you tomorrow!

The Camino Frances does not pass through O Pedrouzo, to access the town it is necessary to take a left when you reach the N-547. Those who wish to continue walking should cross the road and continue straight on.

Although O Pedrouzo is not located in the middle of the Jacobean route, many pilgrims choose to spend the night here because it is a good distance to get to Santiago de Compostela in time for the Pilgrim’s Mass, which is celebrated at noon. However, some choose to continue to Monte do Gozo and reserve only 5 kilometers for the last day.

Today we stay here, visit the church of Santa Eulalia de Arca and rest, to arrive tomorrow in Santiago de Compostela, full of energy.

Observations stage Arzúa – O Pedrouzo

Today’s day does not present great difficulties, it is a pure formality before reaching the last stage of the Camino de Santiago. For this reason, you should enjoy the pleasure of eating after finishing the route.

Precautions for the Arzúa – O Pedrouzo stage

Today’s stage is a simple one, suitable for any type of physical condition, including people with reduced mobility. The tracks, roads and shoulders along the Jacobean path in the penultimate stage of the Camino Frances are in a good state of preservation.

Gastronomy stage Arzúa – O Pedrouzo

Meat forms the basis of most of our recommendations for today.

Piñeira breed hen and rooster, a breed that is only present in O Pino.
Portions of chorizo, raxo, zorza, orella and lacón. They are abundant dishes and ideal for sharing.
Pork or beef.
Local cheese.
Wines of the region.
Padrón peppers. Although the Camino Frances does not cross the Camino Portugués, the fame of Padrón peppers have crossed borders and can be tasted in the vicinity.

Services stage Arzúa – O Pedrouzo

Learn about the main health care services, cafeterias, ATMs and restaurants found in this stage of the Camino Frances.

Stage map Arzúa – O Pedrouzo

Consult the map with the route and the localities that the stage goes through.

Stage profile Arzúa – O Pedrouzo

Know the profile, altitude and degree of difficulty of each section.

What to see and do on the Arzúa – O Pedrouzo stage

Here are details about the places you can visit in the penultimate stage of the Camino Frances.

Hermitage of Santa Irene

The hermitage of Santa Irene is located at the exit of Brea. The temple is dedicated to the Portuguese martyr. Its construction was made with donations from two nobles who lived in the nearby village of Dos Casas.

The temple has a rectangular floor plan and stands out for its elaborate walls and the extensive ornamentation of the doors, in which stone lintels were used. The chapel has a gabled roof, lined with local tiles.

Next to the hermitage there is a fountain of baroque style, to which curative powers are attributed. According to local legend, it is said that the water emanating from the fountain was used to eradicate the plague in the orchards of the region.

The construction of the fountain is made of natural stone. Formerly, over the fountain there was an image of the saint made of granite, dating from the seventeenth century. However, in 1989, this image disappeared.

Church of San Vicente de Burres

The church of San Vicente (or San Vincenzo) is located in Burres. It is a small temple of a nave with a rectangular floor plan. Its facade is in neoclassical style and has recently been restored. The church also has a baroque bell tower.

San Paio Chapel

The hermitage of San Paio is located in Preguntoño, a village in the parish of Burres. It was built in ashlar masonry in the 18th century. The temple is surrounded by a wall and has a small bell tower that ends in the shape of a cross.

O Pedrouzo

O Pedrouzo is a locality of 540 inhabitants. It is often mistakenly referred to as Arca. However, O Pedrouzo is a locality of the parish of Arca and capital of the concello of O Pino.

In the town you can visit the church of Santa Eulalia de Arca, in neoclassical style. It is a temple of large dimensions, consisting of two naves on a Latin cross plan, and a huge bell tower, made of stone, which houses two bells. The façade features pilasters and a triangular pediment. The altar wall is decorated with scallop shapes.