We hope that yesterday’s long stage has not left any after-effects and that you have taken advantage of the afternoon in Pontedeume to rest. Today it is normal that you are a bit exhausted, it is the second day and your body still needs to get used to the long routes.
Let’s continue the English Way!
In the second stage of the English Way we will walk surrounded by forest and rural areas, crossing several medieval villages, including Miño. The day concludes in Betanzos, one of the most interesting medieval towns in Galicia.
If you are thinking of doing the Camino de Santiago from Ferrol, 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 Pontedeume – Betanzos
Twenty-one kilometers separate Pontedeume from Betanzos. The route is made facing continuous ascents and descents that will test the endurance of our legs. In some stretches you can find an unstable road surface, especially if it has rained.
Pontedeume (km. 0). Start of stage
Practical advice for this stretch: Today’s stage begins with a heavy uphill. Eat an energizing breakfast before you start walking so that you don’t run out of energy on the climb. Buen Camino!
We start the morning returning to the bridge over the river Eume, by which yesterday we entered the town. We go to the Rúa Real, up the street, passing by the Pazo de Don Bartolomé de Rajoy y Losada, and we go out on the left to the Plaza de las Angustias .
We continue along Empedrado street and Souto da Vila. The climb gives us excellent views over Pontedeume, the estuary and Cabanas, with the Magdalena beach. In O Barro, at number 60, we turn right and continue climbing. After turning right and then left, we reach Cermuzo, a village in the parish of San Miguel de Breamo (km. 1.9).
Along a small country road surrounded by foliage we say goodbye to the municipality of Pontedeume and we enter the Miño municipality. We exit at a stop sign and descend to Buiña (km. 3.1).
Buiña (km. 3.1).
Practical advice for this section: In this section we will cross the road on several occasions, pay attention to avoid accidents and use the pedestrian crossings, in case they exist. Buen Camino!
At the exit of the village, we cross the AC-4802 road and through a green area we cross a golf course. Then we enter a forest, through a stretch that gets muddy whenever it rains. We leave the wooded track and cross the AP-9 (km. 5.3).
We continue parallel to the highway for a few meters and turn right to face a climb, surrounded by eucalyptus trees. We cross Viadeiro and Outeiro, places in the parish of Santa María de Castro (km. 6.6).
With caution at the crossings, we descend to the bridge over the Baxoi River. We cross it and are greeted by a beautiful path on the bank, surrounded by ferns. We pass by the houses of A Prata and under the AP-9 freeway. We go around the toll of the AP-9 and enter Miño (km. 10.5).
Miño (km. 10.5).
Practical advice for this section: At the exit of Miño, after crossing the railway, the Jacobean path makes a 180-degree turn. It is signposted but many pilgrims do not see the arrow that announces it. Buen Camino!
Following the route of the Jacobean path, we access Rúa Real and exit to the wide street A Barrosa, through which we leave the center. We cross the railroad tracks over a bridge and return to our course. Advancing next to a wall, we arrive at A Ponte do Porco, where we find Alameda Beach on our right.
Through the Ponte do Porco we cross the river Lambre, which separates the municipalities of Miño and Paderne. Already in the municipality of Paderne, we turn left next to some houses and begin another steep climb to the Montecelo playground .
Next to the park we turn left and go down a pleasant shady path. With a turn to the right we finish climbing Montecelo, where we find the Church of San Pantaleón das Viñas and the pazo (km. 14.1).
Montecelo (km. 14.1).
Practical advice for this section: In Os Barreiros the Jacobean path makes a 90 degree turn that is easy to miss. Pay attention to the signage to avoid ending up continuing straight ahead and losing the path. Buen Camino!
We walk just 80 meters more and we arrive at the place of Trasmil. There we turn left to continue to the neighboring village of Os Barreiros. In this village there is a 90-degree turn to the right that we must pay attention to, because it is easy to miss it and continue straight on.
We descend to Porto de Abaixo, at the foot of the N-651 (km. 15). We continue 120 meters along the shoulder of the road and leave it by a detour to the left, which leads us to the ascent that passes through the villages of A Penoubiña, in the parish of Santa María de Souto, and Chantada (km. 16).
In this last nucleus, next to a bus shelter, we turn left and take a grassy path, which later becomes asphalt. Along this path we reach Vila de Meus and Gas, where we find a fountain. We are in the municipality of Betanzos.
On local tracks we cross A Rúa and San Paio, with beautiful views over the estuary and the mouth of the river Mandeo. We pass by the church of San Martiño, in the castro of Tiobre (km. 18.8).
Church of San Martiño de Tiobre (km. 18.8).
Practical advice for this section: We recommend a visit to the Church of San Martiño de Tiobre, an architectural jewel. Good Camino!
Next to the entrance of the enclosure, we turn right, pass by a children’s playground and descend, passing through O Barral. We continue along the Sabugueiro slope to the Caraña mills.
We cross the Caraña river and take the Refoxo road, which leads to Nosa Señora do Camiño street, where we are welcomed by the Os Remedios church. We cross the old bridge over the Mandeo river and enter Betanzos, through the Porta da Ponte Vella, one of the five entrances of the old wall.
Once inside the old walled area, we turn left and go up the cobbled street of Prateiros. We come out onto the Plaza de los hermanos García Naveira, but instead of entering it, we turn right onto rúa do Castro and arrive at the Town Hall of Betanzos (km. 21).
Betanzos (km. 21). End of stage
Practical advice for this stretch: Today’s afternoon is complicated. Betanzos is a town with a rich heritage that undoubtedly deserves a visit. But, at the same time, the long first stage and the continuous ups and downs of today ask for rest. You will have to assess the physical endurance of your body. We advance you that tomorrow the hardest stage of the English Way awaits us . See you tomorrow!
Betanzos is a town with a rich heritage in which, if you still have energy left, you can visit many places. To give continuity to yesterday afternoon, in which you may have visited several places of the heritage of the Andrade family, we recommend a visit to the Church of San Francisco, where the tomb of Fernán Pérez de Andrade is located.
The Church of Santa María del Azogue and the Church of Santiago were built by such an outstanding family. Next to the Church of Santiago you will find the Clock Tower.
Other temples that you can visit in Betanzos are the Church of Santo Domingo, the most important of the town, the Sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios and the Convent of the Augustinian Mothers. A walk through the streets of the town will allow you to discover the remains of the old wall, as well as several Gothic houses, located mainly in the street da Cera.
The visit to the Palace of the Counts of Taboada, the Palace of Lanzós, the Palace of Bendaña and the Interpretation Center of Contemporary Print are also recommended visits if you want to discover the town more thoroughly. In the Town Hall and in the Parque del Pasatiempo you may have stopped when you entered Betanzos.
Observations Pontedeume – Betanzos stage
Here are some recommendations for the second stage of the English Way.
Precautions for the Pontedeume – Betanzos stage
This stage is quite demanding, facing numerous climbs and descents, some of them quite hard. The steepest slopes are the Pontedeume slope, early in the morning, the climb to Viadeiro and the one from Ponte do Porco to Montecelo.
Given the continuous slopes and the existence of possible muddy stretches during the rainy season, cyclists and people with reduced mobility should be cautious when tackling this route.
Gastronomy stage Pontedeume – Betanzos
If you want to enjoy regional food, we recommend you try some of the following dishes.
- Sea bass
- Octopus
- Cheeses of the country
- Betanzos cabbage
- Betanzos omelette, which is characterized by being slightly curdled.
- Viño da Terra de Betanzos
Pontedeume – Betanzos stage services
Learn about the main health care services, cafeterias, ATMs and restaurants found in this stage of the English Way.
Pontedeume – Betanzos stage map
Consult the map with the route and the localities that the stage goes through.
Stage profile Pontedeume – Betanzos
Know the profile, altitude and degree of difficulty of each section.
What to see and what to do in the Pontedeume – Betanzos stage
Here is a list of places of interest that will be on your way today and information about each one of them.
Alameda Beach
Alameda Beach is located next to A Ponte do Porco. It is a sandy area of 450 meters long, with a rich and varied vegetation and fauna. The best time to visit it is when the tide is low, because when it rises the beach practically disappears.
Playa Grande
Playa Grande is located in the town of Miño. It is one kilometer long and has a blue flag. In summer it is usually quite crowded, because thanks to the shape of the beach, its waters are usually calmer and warmer than you would expect from the Atlantic.
Church of San Francisco and Sepulchre of Fernán Pérez de Andrade
The Church of San Francisco de Betanzos is known for housing the tomb of Fernán Pérez de Andrade. The temple, remodeled in the mid-fourteenth century, has a Latin cross plan and consists of a nave and three chapels.
The main entrance is ornamented with numerous archivolts, with geometric and vegetal motifs. The tympanum depicts the Adoration of the Kings and the reception of St. Francis.
Inside it houses the tomb of the knights, in which there are remains from the fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Although undoubtedly the most relevant tomb is Fernán Pérez de Andrade, given the importance that this illustrious character had in the region.
Originally, Andrade’s tomb was in the main chapel, next to that of his wife, but at the end of the 18th century, it was decided to move his remains to the foot of the church.
The tomb rests on two bases in the shape of a bear and a wild boar, animals that represent the family. In the head and in the feet of this one the shields of the lineage can be observed and in the lateral ones, diverse scenes of the hunt of the wild boar are staged.
On the surface, the tomb has a relief of Andrade’s body resting on two cushions. At his feet are dogs. Four angels watch over his remains, one holding a censer and three praying.
Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies
Santuario de Nuestra Señora de los Remedios, or Santuario de Nuestra Señora del Camino, is located next to the cemetery of Betanzos. The temple was built, it is believed, over a previous one that also worshipped the Virgin of the Remedies. The construction of the present church took place between 1562 and 1601.
Despite the existence of a theory that points to the existence of an earlier temple on the site, a legend suggests that its location is due to other reasons.
According to it, a light dazzled Rodrigo Bermúdez de Osorio, a local resident, right in that place. The signal was interpreted as an unmistakable sign that a sanctuary should be built there.
Palace of the Counts of Taboada
The Palace of the Counts of Taboada is located in the town of Betanzos. It was built in the nineteenth century, although during the twentieth century it underwent a major remodeling that resulted in the preservation of few of the original elements.
The lines of the building are much simpler than those of the other stately buildings in the locality. This is due to the fact that it is an urban building, so it had to adapt to the surroundings and the urban structures of the area.
The most outstanding feature of the building is the coat of arms of the Taboada lineage, located above the entrance door.
Church of San Martiño de Tiobre
The Church of San Martiño is located on top of the castro Tiobre, where the first settlement of Betanzos was located. Its exact date of construction is unknown, but there is written evidence that it already existed in the ninth century and it is known that it was consecrated in the twelfth century by Diego Gelmirez, archbishop of Santiago.
The temple is formed by a single nave and has a rectangular floor plan. Its simple facade is formed by a semicircular arch and has a bell tower topped with three pinnacles. Its interior houses two beautiful Romanesque style doorways, in a very good state of preservation.
Lanzós Palace
The Lanzós Palace is located at the top of the castro of Unta, in front of the church of Santiago. It was built between 1620 and 1625.
From its exterior stands out the huge tower, which has undergone several modifications throughout history. At present it is covered by a roof, but previously it only had some avenues and some arrow slits.
The balcony, the split pediment door and the coat of arms of the first Count of Maceda stand out from the facade of the building.
Santiago Church
The Church of Santiago de Betanzos dates back to the 15th century and combines Romanesque and Gothic styles. Its construction was carried out at the request of Fernán Pérez Andrade and was built on top of another much older temple. In the sixteenth century was built, attached to the church, the clock tower or municipal tower.
Its structure of the temple, of basilical plant, is formed by three naves, with wooden cover and a frieze of the end of the XIX century. The main access door has archivolts ornamented with vegetal forms and, in the center, the figure of Christ accompanied by the Virgin and the apostle Santiago.
The other doors of the temple are much simpler, the one on the south façade stands out for being the door used by pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela to enter the church, being known as the Holy Door.
Practical information:
Mass schedule: Mass is celebrated only on vespers. From April 5 to September 30 (20:00), and from October 1 to April 4 (19:30).
Municipal Tower
The Municipal Tower, also known as Clock Tower, is one of the main symbols of the town of Betanzos. It is located in the Plaza de la Constitución, attached to the Church of Santiago. It was built in the 16th century.
Its structure is of hexagonal prism and rises on a square base. In the high part of the tower, they emphasize the gargoyles with dog’s head and three openings that provide light to the stairs of the construction. On the lower floor are the coats of arms of the town and the clock.
Bendaña Palace
The Palace of Bendaña is located in the Plaza de la Constitución in Betanzos. The construction dates back to the fifteenth century, although it underwent several reforms in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Of the original building only the pointed arches remain. It currently houses the offices of the Treasury.
Convent of the Augustinian Nuns
The Convent of the Augustinian Mothers is located in the town of Betanzos. It was built between the XVII and XVIII centuries, although it has undergone so many renovations throughout history that little remains of the original temple.
The present church has much simpler lines than the original. Of this one the cloister is conserved, made in ashlar masonry, in which two reliefs can be appreciated in which the Annunciation is represented. On the main façade is the coat of arms of the town and the imperial coat of arms.
The Walls
Betanzos was surrounded by walls that served to defend the medieval town. It is not known exactly when they were built, but it is known that the city was already walled in the 13th century.
Nowadays, only the gates through which the city was accessed are preserved, a fact that makes Betanzos the town that preserves the most medieval gates in the whole Galician community. In 1970 they were declared a historic-artistic site.
The doors are made of ashlar masonry. Of all of them, the most outstanding is the Porta Nova, with ogival shape, whose construction dates back to the 15th century.
Also noteworthy are the arch of Ponte Bella, at the entrance to the bridge, the Puerta del Cristo de la Ribera, located in the oldest part of Betanzos, and the Puerta de la Villa, of which only three coats of arms are preserved, currently placed on the door of a house.
Betanzos
The municipality of Betanzos has a population of almost 13,500 people. The streets of Betanzos were declared historical and artistic site for its architectural wealth, both medieval and bourgeois.
Strolling through its streets you can visit the remains of the old wall, as well as several Gothic houses that are an excellent representation of the classical architecture of Galicia.
The Church of San Francisco is of considerable importance in the area, for being the one that keeps the remains of Fernán Pérez de Andrade, an illustrious character of the Galician lands. To him we owe the construction of Santa María del Azogue and the Church of Santiago, to which is attached the Clock Tower.
The temple of Santo Domingo is the most important of the locality. Other places of worship are the Sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios and the Convent of the Augustinian Mothers.
It is also interesting to visit the Palace of the Counts of Taboada, the Palace of Lanzós, the Palace of Bendaña, the Town Hall, the Pasatiempo Park and the Center for the Interpretation of Contemporary Art.
Church and convent of Santo Domingo
The Church of Santo Domingo is one of the most important temples of Betanzos. Its construction was completed in the eighteenth century and was built over an old chapel. The whole temple is made of masonry, except for the main chapel, which was built in ashlar.
Of its structure it emphasizes the tower that is attached to the church. This also dates from the 18th century and was a donation made by the archbishop of Compostela Monroy. On the main façade there is a niche that houses the image of Santo Domingo.
Next to the church is the Convent of Santo Domingo, of the Dominican order. Of this construction the cloister with large windows and the arches of the dependencies stand out. At present, the convent houses the headquarters of the municipal library and the museum of the Mariñas.
The museum of the Mariñas was inaugurated in 1983 but due to works in the building was closed for several years, so it was reopened in 1995. Inside it houses an extensive collection on the legacy that the Romans left in the Mariñas region and throughout Galicia.
Practical information:
Mass schedule: From April 5 to September 30, weekdays (20:00) and holidays (12:00 and 20:00. From October 1 to April 4, weekdays (19:30) and holidays (12:00 and 19:30).
Museum hours: Closed on Sundays. Monday to Friday (from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 16:00 to 20:00) and Saturdays (from 10:30 to 13:00).
Church of Santa María del Azogue
The Church of Santa María del Azogue is located in the town of Betanzos. It was built between the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, over another Romanesque church.
The temple was designed and built by Fernán Pérez de Andrade. Its structure is formed by three naves. The central one is the largest and all of them have ribbed vaults.
In the main doorway there is a beautiful ornamented rose window and a semicircular arch. In the tympanum of the main façade you can appreciate the staging of the Adoration of the Kings and the Annunciation.
It also highlights the decoration of its eight columns and their respective capitals. On the sides of the entrance there are two niches that shelter images of the Virgin.
The door on the south façade has a tympanum with three crosses and is ornamented with lobed archivolts and four capitals with vegetal motifs. The door on the north side has a tympanum depicting the Last Judgment.
Practical information:
Mass schedule: Weekdays (8:45 a.m.) and holidays (1:00 p.m.).
International Center for Contemporary Printmaking
The Centro Internacional de la Estampa Contemporánea is located in the town of Betanzos, specifically in the building known as Casa Nuñez. The building was erected in 1923 and its construction was directed by the architect Rafael González Villar.
The space was created as a foundation in 1997. Its purpose is to disseminate the plastic and graphic arts. Inside, teaching activities, workshops and various courses are held, as well as exhibitions.
Practical information:
Hours: In summer it is open every day (from 10:00 to 14:00 and from 17:00 to 21:00). In winter it is closed on Mondays and Sundays. Open from Tuesday to Saturday (from 10:00 to 14:00 and from 16:00 to 20:00).
Gothic houses
The town of Betanzos is famous for having in its streets hundreds of historic houses that are a good example of Galician architecture. Among all of them, the buildings on Cera Street stand out, especially the one located at number 5, for being the oldest of them all.
This house, located on a stairway, was built by Lope García de Vilousaz in the 15th century. The main entrance stands out for its ogee arch and the ornamentation of its sides, where the coats of arms of the family lineage are found.
Also noteworthy is the property located at number 9 of the same street. This house dates from the 16th century and its entrance door, with the family coat of arms, is also striking.
Village house
Known as the town house of Betanzos, it is a modernist building designed by Rodríguez Villar in 1918. Several types of materials were used in its construction, such as wood, tiles, textured cement, among others.
The building is made up of three sections, but the first floor is especially noteworthy, as it is here where the most decorative elements can be found.
City Hall
The Betanzos City Hall is housed in an 18th century building in neoclassical style. Its design was the work of the architect Ventura Rodríguez. The building has three floors, each with striking green windows. On its façade are the coats of arms of Betanzos, Galicia and Spain.
Pasatiempo Park
The Pasatiempo de Betanzos park was built at the end of the 19th century, thanks to the investment made by one of the García Naveira brothers. He
Since its inauguration, the park served as an inspiration to many other theme parks, since it was a precursor in its genre. During the first decades of the 20th century it lived its period of maximum splendor, but with the Civil War it suffered an important deterioration.
It was not restored until the late 1980s, when the City Council acquired ownership.
Unfortunately, many of its primitive decorative elements were destroyed or stolen, being replaced by more modern ones.
Currently the park has a rich vegetation and several fountains, among which the Agriculture, Cupid, the grotto of the Recoleta or the pond of the Retiro, among others. It stands out the carved sculpture of a lion, located on the upper level of the park.
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