The Vía de la Plata (Silver Route) from Ourense

Frequently Asked Questions

• How long does it take to travel the Silver Route?

  The Silver Route starts in Seville and has almost 1,000 kilometres to Santiago de Compostela. In terms of days and stages, it can be divided in two ways, as it depends on which Camino you end up on. This route shares the final stretch with the French Way from Astorga (León), or with the Sanabrés Way in Granja de Moreruela (Zamora):

  • For the French Way, it has 38 stages, therefore, 38 days;
  • For the Sanabrés Way, it has 36 stages, therefore, 36 days.

  Each stage is the distance you cover in one day, from the starting point to the end of the walk, where you will spend the night. The stages can vary in distance and difficulty, and it is important to note that they can be adjusted according to your pace and physical condition. Some pilgrims choose to divide certain long or hard stages, or lengthen those that are shorter or easier to walk. It all depends on having a place to sleep.

• How many stages does the Silver Route have?

  The Silver Route starts in Seville and has almost 1000 kilometres to Santiago de Compostela. As for the stages, it can be divided in two ways, as it depends on which Camino you end up on. This route shares the final stretch with the French Way from Astorga (León), or with the Sanabrés Way in Granja de Moreruela (Zamora):

  • For the French Way, it has 38 stages;
  • For the Sanabrés Way, it has 36 stages.

  Keep in mind that this distance may vary depending on the possible variants or complementary and alternative paths that the pilgrim decides to take during the route. Each stage would be the distance you travel in a day, from the town of beginning to the end of the walk, where you will spend the night. The stages can vary in distance and difficulty, and it is important to note that they can be adjusted according to your pace and physical condition. Some pilgrims choose to split certain long or hard stages, or to lengthen the stages to a longer distance.

• How many kilometers are there on the Silver Route?

  The total kilometers of the Silver Route from Seville depend on how you get to Santiago de Compostela. This historic route has two possible ‘endings’: By the French Way from Astorga (León): about 1000 kilometres; By the French Way from Granja de Moreruela (Zamora): about 970 kilometres. It should be borne in mind that this distance may vary depending on the possible variants or complementary and alternative paths that the pilgrim decides to take during the route.

• Which rivers does the Silver Route cross?

  The Silver Route, one of the historic routes of the Camino de Santiago, crosses several important rivers, streams, creeks, reservoirs and lakes along its route from Seville to Santiago de Compostela. Among the most prominent rivers crossed by pilgrims on this route are:

  • Guadalquivir (Seville)
  • Guadiana (Mérida)
  • Tagus (Cáceres)
  • Tormes (Salamanca)
  • Duero (Zamora)

  Continuing along the French Way:

  • Esla (Zamora)
  • Órbigo (León)
  • Sil (León)
  • Miño (Lugo)

  Continuing along the Sanabrés Way:

  • Miño (Ourense)
  • Ulla (A Coruña)
  • Sar (A Coruña)

• Who created the Silver Route?

  The Silver Route was not originally created as a pilgrimage route, but as a Roman road built during the Roman Empire. Its main purpose was to connect the cities of Emerita Augusta (present-day Mérida) and Asturica Augusta (present-day Astorga), facilitating trade, military transport and communications throughout the Iberian Peninsula. Over time, this route became a strategic route for trade, warfare and the pilgrims from southern Spain who used it to reach Santiago de Compostela. Silver’ has nothing to do with the transport of this material. The name of this route comes from the pronunciation of the Arabic term ‘balath’, which means ‘paved road’, in relation to the Roman road.

• How many stages does the Camino from Ourense to Santiago have?

  There are 6 stages through Cea, Lalín and Bandeira to the Obradoiro, crossing Ribeiro vineyards and the gentle hills of inland Galicia.

• How do you get to Ourense to start the Camino?

  Ourense has a high-speed rail station (AVE) on the Madrid–Ourense–Santiago–A Coruña line, plus bus connections from Santiago and other Galician cities.

• Why start the Vía de la Plata from Ourense?

  Because it is the final stretch of the complete Vía de la Plata (Seville–Santiago, about 1,000 km), allowing you to walk its last 131 km and reach Santiago without needing weeks on the road.

• Does the Camino from Ourense qualify you for the Compostela?

  Yes. The Vía de la Plata stretch from Ourense covers about 131 km to Santiago, above the minimum of 100 km on foot that the Pilgrim's Office requires to obtain the Compostela.