< Triacastela – Villafranca del Bierzo >

Today we start the hike at Villafranca del Bierzo and arrive at the village of O Cebreiro. We leave the region of Castilla & Leon and enter the region of Galicia. The Celts moved from central Europe, that region of the Carpathian mountains to Galicia, Spain around the 4th century BC. They were looking for a region with stone & water. The Celts also settled into Ireland. The musical instruments like the bagpipes and violins are part of the Celtic culture. Galicia is a unique region of Spain. Some Celtic ruins can be found in Muxia. The Celts bought with them farming & cows which are still the farming tradition of Galicia after thousands of years. O Cebreiro has a beautiful medieval church in the village. O Cebreiro is a fascinating medieval stone village at the top of the mountains of Galicia. One of my preferred villages and a must stop.

Villafranca del Bierzo to O Cebreiro ~ 29 kms. The first 20 kms is mostly flat. There is an alternate hiking route right after leaving Villafranca del Bierzo which is a very steep climb. Don’t take this route. Stay on the main hiking route. The villages on the hike are Perexe, Trabadelo, Valcarce, Herrerias. The last 10 kms after Herrerias is a steep climb into La Faba. Once you reach La Faba you are only 4 kms away from O Cebreiro. The small village of Laguna is the last village of Castilla Leon before entering into O Cebreiro. Difficulty from Villafranca del Bierzo to Herrerias is 5/10 and from Herrerias to O Cebreiro 7/10. A very pleasant hike.

Elevation