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The Winter Way<\/b> is a Jacobean route that starts in Ponferrada<\/b>. It ventures into Galicia largely following the river corridor of the Sil River<\/b> through regions such as Valdeorras and the Ribeira Sacra, until it connects at Lal\u00edn\/A Laxe<\/b> with the route that continues towards Santiago.<\/p>\n
Its historical identity is understood in contrast to the French Way: in wintertime, the route offered a lower-altitude itinerary<\/b> that avoided the ascent to the snow-covered peaks of O Cebreiro, reducing the risks associated with mountain weather.<\/p>\n
Today, it remains less travelled (which appeals to pilgrims seeking tranquility), but it is well signposted<\/b> and offers a very strong cultural and scenic profile<\/b>: Las M\u00e9dulas, vineyards, Romanesque heritage, and inland viewpoints.<\/p>\n
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To plan it realistically during the colder months, three facts should be considered:<\/p>\n
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This text is for informational purposes only<\/b>. Mundiplus<\/b> does not currently cover the Winter Way<\/b>. In this case, our sole aim is to provide information about this alternative. If you want to enjoy the experience with us, we invite you to check our alternative Santiago de Compostela routes<\/b><\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In fact, the Winter Way can be seen as a \u201cnatural entry into Galicia\u201d<\/b> from the Meseta and has origins linked to the Roman era<\/b>: a secondary Roman road connected to the gold mines of Las M\u00e9dulas is documented, with the Roman tunnel of Montefurado cited as evidence.<\/p>\n Later historical layers are also documented. The route was used by different peoples over time: it served as an entry route for Napoleon Bonaparte\u2019s<\/b> troops in the early 19th century. Subsequently, it became a corridor for the first railway line<\/b> connecting Galicia with the rest of the Iberian Peninsula in 1883.<\/p>\n As mentioned, the term \u201cWinter\u201d is associated with the practical logic of avoiding a critical point of the French Way: the ascent of O Cebreiro under snowy conditions. Contemporary guides and Jacobean institutions confirm this. It is a way to bypass the climb to the Cebreiro pass\/peaks during the harshest winter period, advancing along the sheltered river valleys.<\/p>\n Regarding official recognition, the Xunta de Galicia announced in 2016 the enactment of the Cultural Heritage Law<\/b> which officially recognises the Winter Way as a pilgrimage route. It stands out as the only route that crosses all four Galician provinces<\/b>, with a marked path of around 210 km in Galicia (institutional figure) passing through regions such as Valdeorras and Deza.<\/p>\n The full route measures approximately 260\u2013270 km<\/b> from Ponferrada, allowing for minor variations due to detours, construction, and ecological alternatives (for example, the variant via Serra da Enci\u00f1a da Lastra).<\/p>\n As a summary of the route for pilgrims (approximate order of major points), the itinerary links: Ponferrada \u2192 Las M\u00e9dulas \u2192 O Barco de Valdeorras \u2192 A R\u00faa de Valdeorras \u2192 Quiroga \u2192 A Pobra do Broll\u00f3n \u2192 Monforte de Lemos \u2192 Chantada \u2192 Rodeiro \u2192 Lal\u00edn \u2192 Silleda \u2192 Outeiro (Vedra) \u2192 Santiago de Compostela.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The stages<\/b> of the Winter Way are not fixed: the Jacobean ecosystem itself offers different \u201csplits\u201d. We suggest an intermediate itinerary. The following table summarises a 12-day proposal:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Winter Way includes historical variants and \u201cmicro-decisions\u201d that can affect distance, timing, and safety:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n One of the main strengths of the Winter Way is its concentration of heritage and scenery<\/b> in relatively few days: from El Bierzo to the interior of Galicia along the Sil, the Ribeira Sacra, and finally reaching Santiago de Compostela. Below is a route overview focused on points of interest.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Starting in Ponferrada<\/b> immediately immerses you in a powerful setting: the city retains a historic frontier atmosphere between paths, rivers, and passes into Galicia.<\/p>\n The major highlight is the Templar Castle<\/b>, a complex fortress (with multiple phases and renovations) that acts as a \u201cnarrative threshold\u201d of the Camino: you leave with a clear medieval image in mind, providing context for what follows. Even if you do not enter, seeing and circling it helps understand why El Bierzo was a strategic territory. It is also a point of interest integrated into the start of the pilgrim\u2019s journey.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If you had to choose a single \u201ciconic\u201d point on the Winter Way, it would be Las M\u00e9dulas<\/b>. This landscape, the result of Roman gold mining<\/b>, offers something pilgrims highly value: it is not an isolated monument, but an entire territory transformed by history<\/b>.<\/p>\n The contrast of reddish tones, chestnut trees, and sharply defined shapes makes the place recognisable even under grey skies. Moreover, it fits perfectly with the spirit of the Winter Way: an inland route that \u201cspeaks\u201d of Rome, mining, and historic roads, not just cathedrals or large cities.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n From El Bierzo towards Galicia, the route follows the Sil River<\/b> as a guiding thread. This shapes the experience: stretches of open landscape (valleys) alternate with tighter river curves and slopes, turning walking into an almost \u201cgeographical\u201d exercise: you read the terrain as you go.<\/p>\n The interest here is not a single named landmark, but the feeling of a natural corridor<\/b>: riverbanks, bridges, long views over the water, and changing light under overcast skies. In cold weather, this section offers a particular kind of beauty: austere, wet, and quiet.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Entering regions such as Valdeorras<\/b> and approaching the Ribeira Sacra<\/b> universe, the Camino begins to reveal one of its strongest identities: a territory shaped over centuries. Slopes with vineyards, stone walls, small villages, and a landscape combining \u201chuman touch\u201d with \u201crugged nature\u201d appear.<\/p>\n It is not so much a stretch of grand \u201cpostcard\u201d monuments as it is scattered heritage: chapels, stone crosses, old cobbled paths in some sections, and views that are earned by walking.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n On the Winter Way, the Roman connection is not limited to a historical paragraph: it has a tangible presence in the Roman tunnel of Montefurado<\/b>. This site works very well as a cultural stop because it is concrete and easy to understand: you are standing before a work that reflects ancient engineering and the relationship between the territory and resource exploitation.<\/p>\n On a route that highlights secondary Roman roads and mining connections, Montefurado acts as a \u201cstone argument\u201d: it reminds you that this path, before becoming a pilgrimage route, was a functional corridor.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Passing through Monforte de Lemos<\/b> brings a change of scenery: from more rural and riverine stretches to an area with greater historical density. Here, the interest lies in its character as an inland centre layered with time: Galicia is also this, not just coastlines or grand cathedrals. Depending on how you plan your journey, Monforte is a point where the Camino acquires a more \u201curban\u201d and monumental tone, with spaces that invite you to look up and read the city as part of the journey.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In the section associated with the Ribeira Sacra, one of the names that best summarises the landscape experience is Codos de Belesar<\/b>: river curves, terraced vineyards, and a hillside aesthetic that impresses with its verticality.<\/p>\n Here, the interest is not \u201cwine tourism\u201d, but observing the heroic vineyard<\/b> as part of the territory: slopes that explain why inland Galicia can be physically demanding. It is an especially photogenic spot, yes, but also a reminder that the Winter Way combines gentle stretches with others where the terrain asserts itself.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Although the Winter Way was born as an alternative to avoid the snow at O Cebreiro, it is not a \u201cflat\u201d path. The passage through the Serra do Faro<\/b> represents the high point of the route<\/b> and offers one of the most mountainous experiences of the itinerary.<\/p>\n We highlight the detour to the hermitage\/viewpoint of Nosa Se\u00f1ora do Faro<\/b>, with that sense of height that completely transforms the landscape: the horizon opens, the light changes, and the route takes on a more \u201cmountainous\u201d tone before returning to gentler areas. This is a section with strong symbolic weight: after several days in the valleys, reaching height is experienced as a psychological milestone.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As you progress through the areas of Rodeiro<\/b>, Lal\u00edn<\/b> and Silleda<\/b>, the Camino enters a transitional phase: less riverine epic and more of an \u201carrival corridor\u201d. The interest here is based on the sense of approach<\/b>: more open inland landscapes, alternation of woods and rural areas, and the awareness that the route is nearing its conclusion.<\/p>\n Furthermore, the fact that it merges with better-known routes is noticeable in the atmosphere: without losing its identity, the Camino begins to \u201csmell\u201d like Santiago.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If the reader reaches this article looking for \u201cthe alternative to the French Way for the cold\u201d, the comparison should be made based on operational criteria: altitude, weather exposure, service density, and experience profile<\/b> (crowds vs solitude).<\/p>\n Compared to the French Way<\/b>, it is precisely proposed as a variant to avoid the high and potentially snowy passage of O Cebreiro<\/b>. This motivation appears both in the Galician institutional narrative (route at lower levels of the Sil basin) and in popular Jacobean guides.<\/p>\n In return, there is a clear cost: it is a longer route from the Ponferrada junction<\/b>. If you choose this option, you will cover approximately 56 km more<\/b> than the French route. In fact, from Ponferrada it takes 11 stages (not the 12 suggested in this route) to reach Santiago if you choose Mundiplus\/en as your travel companion.<\/p>\n In comparison with coastal routes, the Northern Way<\/b> offers a very different framework.<\/p>\n From Mundiplus\/en\u2019s perspective, you can see the stage-by-stage plan in the Northern Way route from Gij\u00f3n<\/b><\/a>. In winter, the coast usually maintains moderate temperatures, but may be more exposed to Atlantic storms; the Winter Way, on the other hand, is characterised by inland rivers and occasional mountains<\/b>, with fewer pilgrims and fewer services. To make an informed decision, it is wise to consider three variables: accommodation availability, need for support transport, and tolerance for walking in rain and wind.<\/p>\n It is also important to understand that this route merges with the Sanabr\u00e9s Way in the Lal\u00edn\u2013A Laxe area<\/b>, and from there shares the itinerary to Santiago. This has a practical effect: in terms of services (hostels, bars, stamps), the final stretch is usually \u201ceasier\u201d than the middle section through Ribeira Sacra, precisely because it enters a more trafficked Jacobean corridor.<\/p>\n For those comparing starts on the French Way (due to train\/bus availability, variety of hostels, and very mature logistics), Mundiplus\/en offers specific guides for classic sections such as the Camino de Santiago from Logro\u00f1o<\/b><\/a> and the Camino de Santiago from Burgos<\/b><\/a>.<\/p>\n In comparative terms, this route stands out more for its \u201cinland\u201d experience and mining\/Romanesque landscape heritage than for service density.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Choosing the Winter Way \u201cfor the cold months\u201d is not only a decision of beauty or solitude: it is a logistical decision. Below are specific recommendations, supported by official regulations when affecting the credential\/Compostela and route warnings when affecting safety.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Winter Way is a Jacobean route that starts in Ponferrada. It ventures into Galicia largely following the river corridor of the Sil River through regions such as Valdeorras and the Ribeira Sacra, until it connects at Lal\u00edn\/A Laxe with the route that continues towards Santiago. Its historical identity is understood in contrast to the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":126452,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[538,541,536,534],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-126522","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-historia-en","category-sitios-iconicos-en","category-camino-a-pie-en","category-blog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mundiplus.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126522","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mundiplus.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mundiplus.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mundiplus.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mundiplus.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=126522"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.mundiplus.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126522\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":126546,"href":"https:\/\/www.mundiplus.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126522\/revisions\/126546"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mundiplus.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/126452"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mundiplus.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=126522"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mundiplus.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=126522"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mundiplus.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=126522"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}History, route and winter rationale<\/b><\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nRecommended stages of the Winter Way in 2026<\/b><\/h2>\n
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Variants and practical adjustments on the ground<\/b><\/h3>\n
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Points of interest and key services<\/b><\/h2>\n
Ponferrada and the Templar Castle: a medieval-flavoured start<\/b><\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nLas M\u00e9dulas: the Roman landscape defining the first section of the Camino<\/b><\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nThe Sil River corridor: valley, slopes, and the aesthetic of the river interior<\/b><\/h3>\n
Valdeorras and the gates of the Ribeira Sacra: vineyards, stone, and inland culture<\/b><\/h3>\n
Montefurado: a tangible \u201ctest\u201d of the Roman past<\/b><\/h3>\n
Monforte de Lemos and the inner heart: urban history and monumental presence<\/b><\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nCodos de Belesar and the visual Ribeira Sacra: meanders, terraces and natural viewpoints<\/b><\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nSerra do Faro and Nosa Se\u00f1ora do Faro: the symbolic summit of the Camino<\/b><\/h3>\n
Deza, Lal\u00edn and the path to Santiago: transition to a more Jacobean finish<\/b><\/h3>\n
Comparison with other Jacobean routes<\/b><\/h2>\n
Practical recommendations for pilgrims in 2026<\/b><\/h2>\n
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