Camino de Santiago
Way of Sanabria
Explore the Camino Sanabrés, the natural continuation of the Via de la Plata. A 368 km route from Zamora to Santiago that offers nature, tranquility and a rich cultural heritage through Ourense.
Organize your Way of SanabriaOrigin
Granja de la MoreruelaDestination
Santiago de CompostelaDistance
368 km
Days
13
Difficulty
Media
Last updated: 21/05/2024
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General Description of Way of Sanabria
It offers a more solitary and nature-connected pilgrimage experience, passing by the impressive Lake of Sanabria and the thermal lands of Ourense. It is a route of great scenic beauty and ethnographic richness, ideal for those who want to escape the crowds and enjoy an authentic and challenging Camino in certain sections.
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Connections of Way of Sanabria
Way of the Plate
963.6 km
38
High
The Silver Way (La Vía de la Plata) is the longest of the Camino de Santiago paths in Spain, with almost 1000 km. Its route, which starts in Seville, largely follows the ancient Roman road that connected Mérida to Astorga. It traverses Andalusia, Extremadura and Castile and León, offering pilgrims two options in Granja de Moreruela (Zamora): continue on to Astorga to link with the French Way or take the Sanabrés Way directly to Galicia.
It is a route of immense historical and monumental wealth. Due to its length and high temperatures in its southern section, it requires excellent planning. It offers diverse landscapes, from the extreme dehesas to the plains and mountains of Castile and León.
Stages of this variant:
Stage 1: Seville to Guadahortuna
Stage 2: Guillena to Castilblanco de los Arroyos
Stage 3: Castileja del Pinar to Almaden de la Plata
Stage 4: Mondovino to Monestier-de-Clermont
Stage 5: Monastery at Fuente de Cantos
Route of the Plate on Bike
704.6 km
13
High
The Silver Way by bike is an epic 700 km journey following ancient Roman roads from the south. In 13 stages, the "bicigrino" crosses grasslands, monumental cities like Mérida, Cáceres and Salamanca, and vast plains of Castile until Astorga. It's a route that requires good planning, especially in hot months. The bike allows you to cover long distances between towns more easily, turning this historic road into a top-level cycle tourist challenge.
Stages of this variant:
Stage 1: Seville to Castilblanco de los Arroyos by bike
Stage 2: Castilblanco de los Arroyos to Monesterio by Bike
Stage 3: Monastery at Zafra by Bike
Stage 4: Cycling to Mérida
Stage 5: Merida to Valdesalor (Mountain Bike)
The Camino Sanabrés by Bike
367.7 km
7
High
The Camino Sanabrés by bike is the natural continuation of the Vía de la Plata for cyclists seeking a more direct entry into Galicia. Along 7 stages, the route passes through the Sierra de la Culebra and the comarca of Sanabria, with its impressive glacier lake, before entering Ourense valleys. The terrain is varied and demanding in some sections, ideal for gravel or mountain bikes. This option offers a more solitary experience and deep contact with nature.
Stages of this variant:
Stage 1: Farm of Moreruela to Santa Croya de Tera by Bike
Stage 2: Santa Cruz de Torea to Puebla de Sanabria by Bike
Stage 3: Puebla de Sanabria to A Gudiña by Bike
Stage 4: A Gudiña to Xunqueira de Ambía (By Bike)
Stage 5: Quixotela of Ambía to Cea (Bicycle)
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Stages
Stages of Way of Sanabria
Granja de la Moreruela → Tábara
This stage marks the official beginning of the Camino Sanabrés, saying goodbye to the Vía de la Plata. It is a long and solitary journey that crosses the cereal plain of the Zamoran Land of Fields. Th...
Tábara → Santa Croya de Tera
This 22.5 km stage offers a pleasant change of scenery. Leaving behind the plain, the road approaches progressively to the Tera River valley, a more green and wooded environment. It's a comfortable da...
Santa Croya de Tera → Rionegro del Puente
This 27.5 km stage enters the La Carballeda region, in a terrain of continuous undulations that demands constant effort. The landscape is dominated by extensive forests of oaks ("carballos" in Galicia...
Rionegro del Puente → Puebla de Sanabria
This long stage connects Zamora province with Ourense province on a mountainous route. The profile is demanding, with continuous ups and downs through the Sierra de la Culebra. Arrival at Puebla de Sa...
Puebla de Sanabria → Lubián
This stage continues through the Sierra de la Culebra, on a route of great beauty and physical demand. The path traverses a landscape of forests and rock formations, with spectacular views. The arriva...
Towns
Featured Towns of Way of Sanabria
Explore the key towns and cities of this route.
History
Millenary History of the Camino de Santiago: Origins and Evolution Way of Sanabria
Discover the origins and evolution of Way of Sanabria
During the Middle Ages, pilgrims ascending on the Via Plata reached Zamora with a dilemma. The "official" route took them to Astorga to join the bustling Camino Francés, but this was a considerable detour, a journey eastward before returning westward. Already from the 13th century, there is documented evidence of a growing preference for an alternative that departed from the town of Granja de Moreruela (Zamora), a strategic location with an important Cistercian abbey, and ventured directly northwest towards Galician lands through the Sanabria comarca.
This shortcut not only shortened the distance in several days but also offered a completely different landscape and, at certain historical moments, could be considered safer. The route entered the Sierra de la Culebra, famous for its population of Iberian wolves, and arrived at the historic village of Puebla de Sanabria, with its imposing castle of the Counts of Benavente, which served as a fortress and refuge. The passage through the Lake of Sanabria, the largest glacier-origin lake in the peninsula, added an exceptional component of natural beauty to the journey.
As they entered Galicia, pilgrims faced the mountains of Ourense, a demanding but richly ethnographic terrain. The route passed through localities with ancestral traditions, such as Laza, famous for its "entroido" (carnival). One of the most transcendental points on the Way of Saint Abbot is the Cistercian monastery of Santa María de Oseira. Founded in the 12th century, this cenobium became a spiritual beacon and a pilgrim hospital of first order, earning the nickname "The Galician Escorial" for its monumental size. Its presence confirms the importance and continuous flow of pilgrims on this route.
The route continues through Ourense, the city of the Burgas (thermal springs), and proceeds northward, passing through localities such as Cea, famous for its traditional bread. Near Lalín, the Way of Saint Abbot receives the influx of the Camino de Invierno, and together they proceed towards Santiago before reaching the destination. Before arriving at the endpoint, pilgrims see the Sacred Peak, a mountain loaded with Jacobean legends, from where, according to tradition, the Queen Lupus observed the construction of the Apostle's tomb.
The Way of Saint Abbot stands out for its tranquility and lower massification compared to the Camino Francés. It allows for an introspective pilgrimage experience in deep contact with nature and rural Galician traditions. Its recovery and signage in recent decades, as well as its inclusion in the Santiago de Compostela Pilgrimage Heritage, have contributed to its growing popularity among pilgrims seeking a historic, landscape-rich, and spiritually profound alternative to more crowded routes.
We answer your questions
Frequently Asked Questions about Way of Sanabria
What is the Camino Sanabrés?
The Camino Sanabrés is a continuation of the Via de la Plata from Granja de Moreruela (Zamora) to Santiago, passing through the Sanabria region. It offers an alternative route to Astorga, covering about 370 km across varied landscapes in Zamora, Ourense and Pontevedra.
Is the Sanabrés Route very solitary?
Yes, it is one of the least traveled routes, giving it an intimate and authentic character. This also means that services are more spread out, so it's advisable to plan stages well and carry enough water and food in some sections.
What to see on the Sanabrés Way?
Highlights include Lake Sanabria (the largest glacial lake in the Peninsula), the thermal city of Ourense with its hot springs, Galician pazos, Ribeira Sacra and medieval stone villages. It is a route rich in natural and cultural heritage.
How many kilometres and days is the Camino Sanabrés?
The Camino Sanabrés is approximately 370 km from Granja de Moreruela to Santiago, divided into 16-18 stages. It can be walked in 16-20 days at a normal pace. Starting from Seville via the Vía de la Plata, the total journey adds up to around 1,000 km.
When is the best time to walk the Camino Sanabrés?
Spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October) are ideal. Summer can be very hot on the Zamoran plateau. In winter the days are short and cold, though it is walkable. Spring offers the fields in bloom and the best landscapes.
Is the Camino Sanabrés suitable for cycling?
Yes, much of the route runs along tracks and paths suitable for mountain bikes. By bike it can be completed in 7-10 days. Some variants have asphalted sections of the Vía de la Plata, and in Galicia the paths are more technical with more mud in rainy seasons.
Where does the Camino Sanabrés start?
The Camino Sanabrés starts at Granja de Moreruela (Zamora), where the Vía de la Plata forks: one branch heads towards Astorga (to join the Camino Francés) and the other, the Sanabrés, turns west through the Sanabria region towards Galicia and Santiago.
What accommodation is available on the Camino Sanabrés?
The hostel network has grown greatly in recent years though it remains less dense than on the Camino Francés. There are hostels on almost all stages, with some long distances between them. In Galicia the infrastructure improves considerably with more accommodation options.
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Way of Sanabria