Sigüeiro

A secular ponte de Sigüeiro salva o río Tambre

Sigüeiro, on the banks of the Tambre river and at the gates of Santiago de Compostela

Capital of the municipality of Oroso (7,328 inhabitants), Sigüeiro is located on the banks of the Tambre river, bordering Santiago de Compostela. It is precisely on this natural border where the most emblematic element of the place is located: the medieval bridge, dating from the 13th-14th century, although it has been reformed on different occasions.

The river Lengüelle also forms part of its watercourses, as well as the different streams that supply water to the crops in the area. This is very important, as the inhabitants of the villages in this region live from agricultural, livestock and even forestry activities.

Being the last stop on the English Way before reaching Santiago, Sigüeiro is a very popular place for pilgrims. This has led to more and more people being able to make a living from tourism, as the services offered in this place to travellers are very complete.

What to see in Sigüeiro? Heritage, monuments, etc.

During almost the entire stage from Bruma to Sigüeiro we will travel through mountains and forests that make this route a true representation of the greenest Galicia. And after completing the 26 kilometres that separate the two places, we will come across this village with its 14th-century bridge.

The Medieval Bridge of Sigüeiro, although it was built in the 14th century by decision of Fernán Pérez de Andrade, underwent a major remodelling in the 20th century. It has six spans, and it was the site of a confrontation between two medieval sides, which makes it even more interesting.  

But in addition to this famous bridge over which all pilgrims pass, Sigüeiro has other places worth visiting.

• Mámoas: these are burial mounds made of earth or earth and stones that used to be built in the Neolithic period in the northwestern part of the Peninsula. In Sigüeiro, the most outstanding are those of Vilar de Arriba, Coto do Lobo, Recouso and Gradamil.
• Illa do Refuxio recreational area: it is located 1 km from Sigüeiro, where the river Tambre divides in two. It is a perfect place to go for a walk or eat more peacefully than in the centre of the village.

Sigüeiro Festivals: Dates and traditions

Just as Arzúa is known for its cheese, Sigüeiro, to a lesser extent, is known for its trout. That is why, since 1996, the main festivity of this place is the Trout Festival. But what does it consist of?

This festival takes place over a whole weekend, specifically on the second of May. All kinds of events for all ages take place during these days, such as open-air dances, children's workshops and even a classic car rally.

But if there is one thing that characterises the Sigüeiro Trout Festival, it is the fishing competition. This takes place on Sunday, and after the fishing there is a free tasting of everything that has been caught, which can attract up to 30,000 people.

In addition, at the end of August the "Fiestas Barciela en Sigüeiro" take place, but these are more similar to those of any other Galician village. There are different masses, children's games and open-air dances.

How to get to Sigüeiro? Main connections

If our idea is to get to Sigüeiro by car, we will have to travel through the AP-9 motorway, which connects A Coruña with Vigo. Once we are at the height of Santiago we will have to take the N-550 road towards Sigüeiro, and we will be only 15 minutes away from our destination.

If you do not have a car for this trip, it is best to go to Santiago first, either by train, bus or plane, depending on your point of departure.

If we arrive in Santiago by train or bus, it will be very easy, as there is a bus every 50 minutes from the Intermodal Station to Sigüeiro. It is the line XG81762 of Monbus, and it will take us only 15 minutes to get to our destination.

If, on the other hand, we arrive in Santiago by plane, we have two options. Either take a taxi from Lavacolla airport to cover the less than 10 kilometres that separate us from Sigüeiro, or take a bus to the city to do the aforementioned route. 

Sigüeiro and the Way of St. James

While it is true that some of the more experienced pilgrims skip the stop in Sigüeiro and travel in one stage the 40 kilometres from Mesón do Vento or Bruma to the Cathedral of Santiago, many others prefer to take it easy on this last stretch.

Those who decide to do so will spend the night in Sigüeiro, a place where they can find all the services they need. And although there is still no public hostel in this place, you can find private hostels, as well as other types of accommodation to spend the night.