The Camino Sanabrés offers pilgrims walking the Vía de la Plata a more direct route to Santiago de Compostela, branching northwest at Granja de Moreruela near Zamora rather than continuing north to Astorga. This quieter alternative passes through the remote Sanabria region and the thermal city of Ourense before joining the final stages to Santiago.
📜 History & Significance
The Sanabrian Way takes its name from the Sanabria comarca in Zamora province, a sparsely populated mountain region that preserved its distinct character through centuries of relative isolation. Medieval pilgrims from southern Spain used this route to reach Santiago more directly, passing through lands dominated by the powerful Cistercian monastery of Oseira.
Today the Camino Sanabrés remains one of the least crowded routes to Santiago, offering pilgrims solitude, dramatic mountain scenery, and authentic Galician village life.
🥾 Route Overview
The route covers 369 km in 13-14 stages from Granja de Moreruela to Santiago de Compostela. After leaving the meseta plains behind, pilgrims climb into the Sanabria mountains, passing the glacial Lake Sanabria before descending into Galicia.
At A Gudiña, a variant route via Laza and Verín offers an alternative approach to Ourense. Beyond Ourense, the route passes through wine country and the medieval monastery of Oseira before the final stages to Santiago.
☩ Key Pilgrimage Sites
Puebla de Sanabria - A beautifully preserved medieval town with a 15th-century castle overlooking the Tera River.
Ourense - The "thermal capital of Galicia" with hot springs along the Miño River and a remarkable 13th-century cathedral housing the Santo Cristo.
Monastery of Oseira - The "Galician Escorial," a Cistercian monastery founded in 1137 that dominated this region for centuries.
Lalín - The halfway point of Galicia, known for its hearty cocido (stew) that has sustained pilgrims for generations.
📚 Further Reading
Curated resources to help you research and plan your pilgrimage on the Camino Sanabrés.
