Camino de Santiago from Ourense

Ourense - Daredo/iStock

Why choose Ourense to do the Camino de Santiago?

Ourense is a city that is crossed by the river Miño. You will be able to see multiple bridges that cross it to link the various parts of the city. Another charm it possesses resides in the numerous thermal water spas that will make the journey to the finish more pleasant, since the thermal waters are a relief for the pilgrims' feet. On the other hand, Ourense is a very common stop on the Camino Mozárabe - Vía de la Plata followed by walkers from the south of the Iberian Peninsula.

Once you are in the city, you can visit its cathedral, dating from the 12th century. In it, the Pórtico del Paraíso stands out, a tribute to the Pórtico de la Gloria in the city of Santiago de Compostela. Another option is to visit the San Francisco convent and its historic center, full of leisure and good food. And we cannot forget the best of Ourense, the hot springs. Every good pilgrim takes the opportunity to visit the city's hot springs, such as Chuvasqueira, which are free to access.

When to do the Camino de Santiago from Ourense? What to keep in mind?

• In which season is it better to do the Camino de Santiago?

The Camino de Santiago from Ourense has extreme weather conditions, just like the Camino Sanabrés. So in summer it is very hot, and in winter it is very cold. If you are thinking about when it is better to do the Camino de Santiago from Ourense, the answer is in spring and autumn.

Although it is not one of the hardest routes on the Camino de Santiago, listen to your body and do not travel too many kilometers that can later take their toll. The essential thing is to enjoy the experience, and for this we must keep our body and mind fully rested.

How to get to Ourense to do the Camino de Santiago?

Ourense is an inland province of Galicia, it can be accessed from the rest of the community by highway or other types of transport.

It does not have an airport, however there are others nearby with which you can arrive and then take a means of transport. For example, Lavacolla airport, Peinador airport, Alvedro airport or Oporto airport. If you want to access by train you can do it through Renfe. If you prefer the bus, there are also numerous lines that communicate with the city of Ourense. Or by road: A-52 connects with Madrid, Vigo and Oporto. N-525 communicates with Madrid-Ourense-Santiago de Compostela-A Coruña. N-120 Monforte - Ourense - Vigo. N-540 Lugo - Ourense - Braga. N-541 Pontevedra - Ourense. A-53 Santiago-Ourense Highway.

If, on the other hand, you come from walking the Camino Sanabrés, you will arrive in Ourense in the last hundred kilometers. Ourense receives the pilgrims in Seixalbo, a Center of Ethnographic Interest that still preserves its medieval layout. The walker enters the city from Avenida de Zamora and Calle Progreso to As Burgas, a must-see since the Middle Ages.

The Camino continues along the so-called "Puente Mayor", the oldest bridge in the city. After crossing it you can take different routes. A detour to the east, which leads from Avenida de Santiago to the Camino Real, which leads to Cudeiro. The detour west, which follows the N-120 road to Canedo. Or, as a last alternative, once you have crossed the Roman bridge, take the Paseo del Río Miño, as it connects in Quintela with the west turnoff.

The stages of the Camino Sanabrés from Ourense

The Camino Sanabrés, also known as Camino Mozárabe, is a Jacobean route that runs through the peninsula in the direction of Santiago de Compostela. The Camino Sanabrés is a detour from the Vía de la Plata, a long route that begins in Seville and joins the Camino Frances in Astorga, or you can take the Camino Sanabrés in the town of Granja de la Moreruela (Zamora). Having chosen the Camino Sanabrés, you will cross the province of Zamora and arrive in Ourense, to start the Camino a Santiago from the city.

The route of the Camino de Santiago from Ourense comprises 108 kilometers that are divided into 4 stages. It is a perfect route for all those pilgrims who want to enjoy nature since along their route they will find forests full of oaks, farmlands, beautiful villages and a great variety of monuments and churches.

• Stage 1: Ourense - Cea (22 kilometers)
• Stage 2: Cea - A Laxe (37 kilometers)
• Stage 3: A Laxe - Outeiro (33 kilometers)
• Stage 4: Outeiro - Santiago (16 kilometers)