The Winter Way in Galicia

During particularly cold eras—such as the Little Ice Age, which occurred from the 15th century onward—access to Galicia via the mild, fertile valley of Valdeorras made far more sense as a route than going via the peaks of O Cebreiro.

Place names such as A Rúa (The Street) show the extent to which the valley of the Sil was used as an access route, particularly from the Early Modern era onward. Thousands of travelers have passed this way over the centuries, and there is evidence that large numbers of them were pilgrims from all over the world.

In fact, thanks to its convenience and mild climate, this route was one of the main routes linking northwestern Spain with the rest of the Iberian Peninsula from the Roman era onward. Abundant archeological remains across the entire region provide evidence of this.

The natural wealth of places such as Petín, which attracted the Romans in their day, has shaped a landscape that is arguably the main alternative to the traditional route of the French Way.

The robustness of many of the structures along this route, such as its bridges, shows us that this is not a seasonal route but one that was used as a main road over the course of several centuries, during which time these structures were built.

With Atlantic Galicia's golden age consigned to the past, this route is now used far less than it once was. This has allowed the almost complete preservation of traditional, popular places along the route, as well as of large areas of unrivaled natural beauty.

This route crosses the region of Lemos. This was one of Galicia's wealthiest regions, especially during the time of the historic county's expansion during the Early Modern era. The region's architectural heritage is a clear reflection of this economic strength.

A large part of the route that crosses the municipalities of O Saviñao and Chantada is a traditional wine-producing area, set against a landscape that is one of Galicia's most beautiful features.

The biggest uphill climb of the entire route takes pilgrims to the chapel of Mount Faro. This mountain range follows the boundary line that separates Deza from its neighboring province.

The roads used by pilgrims have been improved in recent decades along these inland routes. These routes are being used by growing numbers of pilgrims, in particular those who are undertaking the Camino de Santiago for a second or subsequent time, having previously completed it via another route. From here, the Winter Route merges with the Mozarabic (or Silver) Way, in the direction of Santiago de Compostela.