Sections
(1)Villafranca del Bierzo-(2)Pereje: 0-6.1 km
(2)Pereje-(3)Trabadelo: 6.1-10.1 (4 km)
(3)Trabadelo-(4)La Portela de Valcarce: 10.1-14.7 (4.6 km)
(4)La Portela de Valcarce-(5)Ambasmestas: 14.7-16 (1.3 km)
(5)Ambasmestas-(6)Vega de Valcarce: 16-16.8 (0.8 km)
(6)Vega de Valcarce-(7)Ruitelan: 16.8-19.8 (3 km)
(7)Ruitelan-(8)Las Herrerias: 19.8-21 (1.2 km)
(8)Las Herrerias-(9)Hospital: 21-21.7 (0.7 km)
(9)Hospital-(10)La Faba: 21-25.1 (4.1km)
(10)La Faba-(11)La Laguna: 27.4 (2.3 km)
(11)La Laguna-(12)O Cebreiro: 27.4-29.9 (2.5 km)
Elevation gain: 1,257 m
Elevation loss: 512 m
Description
This could be considered the queen stage of the Camino Francés, the toughest but perhaps the most rewarding. From Villafranca to Hospital, the stage is flat with some insignificant climbs and descents. But from km 21 onwards, we ascend the steepest slopes of the route, leaving Castilla y León and entering Galicia. Cyclists should pay attention to the detour before La Faba.
(1)Villafranca del Bierzo-(2)Pereje: 0-6.1 km
After passing through the Puerta del Perdón (photo 1. Here sick pilgrims who couldn't reach Santiago obtained indulgence), we cross the entire town of Villafranca, leaving it by crossing the Burbia river (photo 2). We will continue on the road until it merges with the national highway (photo 3), which we will follow via a path on its left side (photo 4). At km 5.6 (photo 5), we leave the road and turn right to enter Pereje (photo 6).
(2)Pereje-(3)Trabadelo: 6.1-10.1 (4 km)
We cross Pereje and rejoin the same path of the N-VI highway (photo 7) until km 9.0, where the arrows indicate to leave the road and follow a paved track (photo 8) that takes us to Trabadelo (photo 9).
(3)Trabadelo-(4)La Portela de Valcarce: 10.1-14.7 (4.6 km)
We cross all of Trabadelo along its main street and exit onto a road (photo 10) very similar to the one we came on. We pass under the highway through a tunnel and rejoin the N-VI path, which takes us into the village of Valcarce (photos 11 and 12).
(4)La Portela de Valcarce-(5)Ambasmestas: 14.7-16 (1.3 km)
We continue on the N-VI, and before reaching it, we take a left turn that leads us to Ambasmestas (photo 13).
(5)Ambasmestas-(6)Vega de Valcarce: 16-16.8 (0.8 km)
We cross Ambasmestas along its main street, and shortly after, we find ourselves in Vega de Valcarce (photo 14).
(6)Vega de Valcarce-(7)Ruitelan: 16.8-19.8 (3 km)
We cross the town of Vega de Valcarce (we see the highway bridge from below) along its main street, and following the small LE-723 road, we continue until it joins the N-VI at the entrance to Ruitelan (photo 15).
(7)Ruitelan-(8)Las Herrerias: 19.8-21 (1.2 km)
We cross Ruitelan and continue on the N-VI until, before reaching Las Herrerias, we turn left onto a descending road (photo 16) that takes us to the town of Las Herrerias (photo 17).
(8)Las Herrerias-(9)Hospital: 21-21.7 (0.7 km)
We pass through the long town of Las Herrerias, and just after its last houses, we find ourselves in Hospital.
(9)Hospital-(10)La Faba: 21-25.1 (4.1 km)
After Hospital, the road turns into a steep hill (photo 18).
At km 24.9 (photo 19), the road joins another road that branches off to the right. Cyclists are advised to turn right at this point. This section is the steepest on the entire Camino Francés, but at least it is climbed on a good surface (photo 20).
If you are walking, continue straight, and after a few meters, you will enter the small village of La Faba.
(10)La Faba-(11)La Laguna: 25.1-27.4 (2.3 km)
The steepest climb of the Camino Francés, on a rocky path, takes us to La Laguna (photo 21), where the bicycle alternative joins.
(11)La Laguna-(12)O Cebreiro: 27.4-29.9 (2.5 km)
We continue climbing (photo 22), but in a more moderate way and on a good surface until we reach O Cebreiro (photo 23). In this section of the path, we enter Galicia, in the province of Lugo.
