STAGE 7: VINHAIS-SEGIREI

TOURTRIP = 25.48KM

Step Seven: Seven steps Zamora separated from the border with Galicia in the Portuguese Way of the Via de la Plata. The last of this tour lusas land runs between narrow and steep valleys that are in the gorge of the river Rabaçal, natural monument par excellence, and chestnut Grosso, the Tree of Life. But it is also the stage of humanity, of people who come their way Walker with a smile, a word, a gift. In the last stage, which runs through Portuguese territory, we can say quees stage of humanity along the path, a motley group of people receives the pilgrim with deep hospitality. The road begins in Vinhais, a village that had its roots before the foundation of the Portuguese monarchy. It was awarded 1st Foral by Alfonso III in 1253, later the new Foral de D. Manuel in 1512, which preserves within its historical vestiges or the walled convent of San Francisco. Also noble buildings that record the stately city like the old Palace of the Counts of Vinhais. The villa has many magnas building, but lacks a hostel for pilgrims, constant lack entiene not so attractive in this way. Only Quintanilha meet this essential service and does justice to an almost unexplored pathway.

The output of Vinhais starts the walls by the N-103 until the first sign of “the arrow and shell” on a utility pole at the last house out of Vinhais. On the left a dirt road downhill to cross a small wooden bridge over a stream and start an ascent through fields of fruit trees, oaks, pines, rock roses, lavender and lush lush riparian vegetation. At the end of the slope Soutelo where an asphalt road to the left leads downhill to Sobreiro, de Baixo appears. The town is crossed by the door of the church with steeple clock that is at the right would. A few steps further to the left, a water fountain pond can be a good cooling as it begins a dirt road climb a steep climb up to the second highest point of the road, third in height of 874m, before crowning the vertex point the way transcends among pine trees and patches of jara to take the N-103 road, within a few meters, at the junction of Alveredos, veers to the left to reach the summit between scrubland rugged and beautiful views from the heights. Spotting bordering villages, Portuguese and Spanish, is lowered for the last time to take the N-103, which accompanies the parallel path, sometimes serpenteándolo and serving as a reference from Braganza until this last stretch sharing and cartetera Road, which follows its course the city of Chaves, and the way his, veering right at the junction of Candedo and aboa, by lying local road leading to the town of aboa. We continue straight on the road and runs along the crest of the mountain to Candedo without losing attractive, showing the perspective of a height with mountains in background. At the junction there is a plate Welcome to Candedo, with a caricature of a chestnut. Road take a left at the entrance of the village a chestnut identifies the iconic natural monument in the area.

Without a doubt, this is the hardest stage of this journey, which takes its toll on the walker but also rewarded to be the stage of humanity, with its people overturned the passage of pilgrims. In Candedo, being aware of the hardness of the road, bringing up errant, and what is looming ahead, given the pilgrim as though bygone medieval times were when the weary walker welcomed any donation . This applies to the generosity of Gilberte on arrival at the village group “Walkers Association semurandar”, Zamora. Offering all products of the harvest, an entire hospitality to which we have to thank a lot of the writing of this Portuguese Way of the Vía de la Plata.

The path starts at the Sanctuary of “The Pilgrim” in a pampered environment and care out of town. To start deep down, and see the beautiful valley gorge at the bottom. The road enters the scariest part by a deep dive down to the river Rabaçal, vertebrando the valley, followed by a rise of major proportions. The road and enters a very deep valley bottoms in the gorge of the River Rabaçal. The beautiful stone bridge is the turning point of the only meter dash before starting a formidable ascent that tires the bravest. A mile below the bridge, following the stream of the river, has been at the edge thereof Sanctuary Santiago.

Always face the climb winding up is started, while the bottom is leaving a crystalline river, which falls hard, wedged between rocks and vegetation. As advances in the promotion, lost in the distance the roar of the water, are four miles crossing three down and rest for a steep path that ends in the village of Edral.

The kind and hospitable character is a constant at this stage that crosses the village in front leading the pilgrim to Ferreiros, by lying down a dirt road with steep hill to the right, and vast grasslands on the left side. Ferreiros left, on the left side of the road, between huge rocks. The dirt road leads to the paved road, which has been taking downhill for a few hundred meters turn right on the road embankment to get into Sandim, by a longitudinal empredada street people, continuous descent since land, before emptying into a recreational area off around the Mind river. It takes up again the road linking the area with Spain, through the border crossing between Segirei and Soutochao. You walk a few hundred meters and swerves right onto a dirt road, at the height of mineral waters Segirei, continuing the road with an outstretched and gentle climb through orchards and vineyards to complete the stage in the village center of Segirei (25.48km).