Stage 8

STAGE 8: SEGIREI-VERIN


TOURTRIP = 29.42KM

The journey of 80 miles in three stages, the pilgrims have to travel this road that runs through Lusas land Transmontanas is an unforgettable international experience offered by this Portuguese way. The wonders of the landscape, culture, customs, the hospitality of an entire people, with his dunks the passage of pilgrims through the streets people, marking footprint inside, aupándolo in a spirit of encouragement to the internationality of the eighth stage, which starts of Segirei, last village in Portugal, to cross the border again Soutochao the first town in Galicia (Spain), two sister nations that share traditions, only separated by a language and a border that made history between the two populations.

The eighth international stage again surprising diversity of the way within the framework of the Portuguese Way. If until now the wonder of wonders, in the seven stages traveled from Zamora, have delighted the stranger, what lies ahead, and the brooch and all others. This eighth stage, in addition to internationalize between two countries share together Contraband route in two languages, Rota do Smuggling Segirei to Soutochao, compatiblea over the centuries, reminiscent of historic times immemorial homeless this way, quoted in page one.

Local places Segirei a Capela a Forno fire, a Muinho of water, Fonte, leaning to one side of the main Rua, in the Village center provides start of the eighth stage direction: Spain. For a driveway on the right side of the Main Rua, between wineries and orchards to the brook coming down from Medelo continuing, the flatness of the dirt road to catch up the first slope of the road, a path of loose stones and scrubland steep. With a sharp rise towards the end of the same mountain crossing through the border, together with the smuggling route. This is indicated both signs, attesting to this square granite monoliths, markers placed by both countries along the border in 1864, due to the definition of the line between the two countries. Simplex P for Portugal, the other the E of Spain that guides us which country we are. The other two are a reference numbering and Geodetic point of the place. Continuing the climb, at the end of it again nature is exhibited at the gates of Galicia. There is a recreational area in the vicinity of a natural setting with a spectacular waterfall background. Glancing back is visible at the bottom Segirei back in Edral distance, Ferreiros, Sandim and a large part of the path in the previous step. Having overcome the ramps and harder difficulties of this Portuguese Way of the Vía de la Plata, the route continues with a gentle and prolonged rise, giving hints of what will be the path of the road to Santiago. Continuing the journey through an ecological path between trees and lush vegetation, which runs along the stream meandering river channel under wooden walkways through the first two water mills on the river restored. Continuing to the third, a wooden walkway to the left, giving access to take the road for a few hundred meters of asphalt, which cross a riverfront meadows to the right of the road, and brown the slope intersects left. Again on the left is deflected by the rise of a dirt road, being greeted pilgrims from hundreds of ancient chestnut Templars, of enormous dimensions widespread in these lands by the Greeks, and later by the Romans, who well worth making a stop along the way to contemplate in detail. Continuing the route between brown on one side and the other of the way to spot Soutochao, first village the route of this stage and Galicia.

The entrance to Soutochao is a rustic paved road, which likewise is sandwiched on both, leading to the main, long and stretched street vertebra people from south to north.

The village is dotted with many fruit trees, orchards, surrounded by a mass of hardwoods that were vital in the human diet for centuries and continues in our lives such as chestnut, giving rise to Latin terms to name Soutochao “Hazel floor,” a fruit that has since time immemorial as a tribute party Magosto, on November 11 of each year “feast of San Martino”. Coinciding with the final process of collecting the chestnuts, to make way for the tradition that involves roasting chestnuts on an open fire stove, accompanied by red wine and the famous Queimada Pomace. Today, with the substantial economic improvement are added grilled sardines, steak and chorizo.

Before, during and after the tour to step through this town, the pilgrim is immersed in a dense mass of chestnut, which characterizes this lush, the people as number one producer of chestnuts on the peninsula, in quantity and quality, within its local term. Cooperative has Atixola chestnuts, whose name comes from a chestnut roaster.

Local Attractions, two wood stoves, a fountain, the church of Santa María, the eighteenth century, with an altarpiece carved from walnut, from the same era, and an assumed value. Where it is venerated the Virgin Mary Our Lady of Remedios on September 8 each year.

The next village the route of this stage is Lamardeite, and the journey that for both populations is 3.7 km, which are a whole orchard of chestnut and riparian vegetation.

Soutochao output occurs by a dirt road, following the end of the main street, down to the riverbank, channeled between rustic stone walls throughout the tour that covers Soutochao and Lamardeite, running around the skirt Mount Acorbaceira, populated by dense stands of chestnut on her face east. For right again you contact the riverbank, giving access to the waterfall, delighting both pilgrims in their path. And to accompany the andante displaying his power of banks with display of lush meadows and lush vegetation, stepping to the same Fresnos, Robles, and Elisios during the course of the journey to Lamardeite where the traveler is again greeted by huge ancient chestnut trees and wineries that lying on the slope of a hill, the locals keep wine and other agricultural crops, to the right of the road, a picture of the people and the chapel which is dedicated to the Holy Trinity. On the left a lot of houses scattered through the source that honors the name of the patron Holy Trinity: Antaños Charco das Arras: birthplace of the river that upon arrival at the Portuguese border forms the waterfalls that give beauty waterfall, river tributary of Mind. With the meadows that make up the road and square amistade, Lamardeite left behind, take the second dirt road on the left on the climb to take the OU-310 road, spine around the town of Vilardevós, communicates this area from Portugal with the A-52 Rías Baixas and Verin. A few hundred meters road to turn left by a dirt road, winding but resting access the crossroads Salto do Cabalo, crossing site located at the crossing of the Sierra of Free Punishment.

From the deep seated River Mind Mother Nature has gradually raising the way to the top of the path, Zamora-Santiago, in the Sierra de Penas Libres, 941 meters, where pilgrims from the dominant height glimpsed what infinite everywhere. Since the dominant height of the mountain of Free Punishment, which besides offering a beautiful pilgrim best views, defines very well the geography of two distinct areas, Transmontana and the District of Monterrey. The Transmontana is defined by a set of mountains with deep valleys, rivers embedded vertebrates that from the heights is seen as a valley of work rutted in slope from east to southeast. The region of Monterrey has the definition staggering false flats that give rise to the valley bottom flatness of Verin, vertebrate by Támega River.

The Sierra de las Penas Free is not only relevant for its high level of height of 1052 meters, has other properties have been the granite quarries used in the construction of churches, bridges, fountains emblematic palaces, houses and tombstones, which after preserved forever sculpted and carved wrought by stonemasons of the time. Today it is populated by a dense forest of pine trees on its north side, a dense oak forest dotted with pines and some holly.

Leaving the beautiful views of the moors broken the Transmontana area to venture into the region of Monterrey, and is made from the summit of the mountain range dividing both areas by dirt road known locally as “A Atallo” in down between oaks and pines. Highland Vilardevós the flatness of the Encomenda be seen in the background, you contact the bank of Vilardevós, crossing where the Barxa River, which irrigates all the banks pradería born. On the left side and the Sierra Norte is one of the largest in the county of Monterey Carballeira de Penas Libres, 40 hectares oak. Nice to see in any season. The descent of this dirt road touches your order encountering the OU-310 road, which is to take to the left for a few hundred meters, to deviate to the right past a small bridge, a road that runs between broom, gorse , brambles and some brown, to go into Vilardevós through Souto street, which in turn leads to the village street vertebra, Eloy Luis Andre, in which a stone cross that gives rise to the name of the Plaza is located. The Parish Church of San Miguel Ancargel, the eighteenth century. The Rectory, contemplate. Vilardevós, besides being Concello of 29 administrative districts, has an interpretation center do Contraband, Museo da Oliveira and Casa da Cultura, in a municipal building where their dependencies should give shelter to pilgrims. The architecture is traditional local stone granite quarries in the Sierra, with stairs out of the same material, with wrought iron railing. It leaves Vilardevós. Once again cross the road through a recreational area, seeking the path parallel to the road leading to the hermitage of San Roque and Montpellier earth. In this small chapel with shed and columns, this native Pilgrim France had the power to heal the sick. Hence his canonization. He lived between 1295 and 1327. The festival of San Roque takes place on August 16 of each year.

The esplanade where the shrine is located and through the pine forest trail crosses na take about two hundred yards paved it, to turn left by a smooth path that leads to the hamlet of Santa Maria, small but with large Farm houses. The Church of Santa Maria Assunta, with an ancient atrium. The Encomenda, the step of the highlands between the Sierra de Penas Free Verin Valley and crosses. Camino flat and good to walk with short distances between towns such as driving to the next town of Trasigrexa, an entertaining and endearing way of just half a mile. By the way mass between oaks and broom, across the road that guards the way from Portugal and is Trasigrexa point in the center, the source and sink. It passes between gardens and next to the chapel of San Miguel, with its tiny bell. It meanders the road again to exit Trasigrexa, by the dirt road parallel to the right of the road to the crossroads of Gandariña, where no choice but to share the road with the OU-310 road for about half a mile and just across a small bridge over the Regueiro das Quintas de Santa María. You have to turn right on a paved road to the hamlet of La Devesa, where it crosses next to the chapel of San José. Continue along the paved road to the right leaving the Devesa, to look at a short distance, the small hamlet of Hospital, with its parish church of San Pedro of the Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem. The villagers say that in the Middle Ages were helped and gave shelter to pilgrims. Continuing Osoño address and a short distance, you can see a small clearing with three cruceiros together online. The plant with altar where Masses are celebrated campaign, from this place the views are fantastic.

Across the pasture land, then he runs into the first houses of Osoño, enters its main street which is the old school, today woodworking School; sink and source. They could not miss and all the way from Zamora, community oven, where you must turn left down a street surrounded by stone slabs, eucalyptus, oak, ash, and Gorse bushes. Leaving the hamlet of Osoño is where the springs connecting the highlands Vilardevós municipalities, with the valley of Verin start. It remains to cross the last district of the municipality Abemposta, which has meanwhile crossing longitudinally to cross the road, next to one of the oldest houses in the area. “O Meson”, which left the road where again be ground freezes. This takes place through new plantings of chestnut to the balcony of the Watchtower, Asmeriñas, dominant place in the valley of Monterrey (Verin), and in the distance, you can glimpse the three highest geographical points of the region, in the sense of path on the left saw Larouco, 1420m altitude. Right Peñanofre to 1220m, and through the mountains of Meda with heights of 1180m. Which accompanies the bush walking through its southern face, which has pilgrimage pilgrim looking highland Xinzo of Limia.

Vilardevós municipality, to enter the Verin through the descent from the balcony of the Atalaya, along a path with firm sábrago declining lag between moles of granite quarries of the same raw material is left behind. Wrapped by a dense forest of pines. At the end of the descent is again playing OU-30 highway, which has accompanied the way from Portugal. You take a left to cross the motorway Rias Baixas, A-52 and turn right for a shortcut, to connect with the town of Avedes, at the end of the decline in connection with valley and Verin, through the OU-310 road. Nothing else make contact with the road you have to turn right, having to go through the village down the street from Cruzeiro and the Church of Santa María de Abedes, which is left to the left. Main Street is taken and at the end of it, a dirt road to the left leads directly connect with the last part that has to do for asphalt through the OU-310 road, which enters the pilgrim in the Villa Verin.

A town that although no access to the Atlantic, is a land of rich river water as hot springs make the pilgrim reaches Verin through this path is received by the hot springs and mineral Sousas. From here the route is straight into the village, the Avenue de Sousa to the intersection of the N-525, which must accompany walkers on the pilgrimage to Santiago. You take a left, Orense direction down the street Luis Espada vertebra to the Villa and after crossing the bridge over the River Tamega 100m, right in the house of the Shield, the end point of this octave is Segirei step-Verin.

Noble House do Shield. Pilgrim’s Rest Hostel after completing one of the most beautiful stages of the journey Zamora-Verin 313 km route in 8 stages. From 23.6km to 32.27km, by a strange way, I recovered from abandonment Groups and Associations walkers with some local administration. Love this way have contributed selflessly in signaling the same on the path Zamora-Verin, based on the thesis that those who choose to make this path, can perform quite normally without loss.

A path walked by those who recognized him as one of the three most beautiful arriving in Santiago. In the reigns hospitality of its people, always with a gift, a word of encouragement to the passage of pilgrims.

One way in which the water is again protagonist at this stage. The hot springs and mineral Sousas, Fontenova and Cabreiroá make Verin is especially known this small Galician city in the southwestern province of Orense. Amen Monterrey Castle and its National Parador and the churches of La Merced, Mayor Church and the Chapel of St. Lazarus.

Among mountainous terrain and in the heart of the county fertile valley of Monterrey, the Villa de Verin is located. It emerged at the foot of a large medieval fortress and is one of the main most prosperous towns in the province.

This is the information that we have the written memories about this Portuguese road to Santiago Via de la Plata, since the aim of this information is to show everyone the beauty of this road, at the highest level, which have these shocking landscapes, through which the road, in which readers wish estimated and lovers of the pilgrimage, which will be of great use.