Winter Way

8 stages | 202 km

Winter Way: From Ponferrada to Santiago de Compostela via the Sil River Valley and Ribeira Sacra.

The Winter Way was created as an alternative to the French Way to bypass the impassable mountains of O Cebreiro in winter due to heavy snow. Recently marked and officialized, it’s now one of the lesser-traveled routes of the Camino de Santiago—a hidden gem waiting to be explored.

The Winter Way Routes

Information of the Winter Way

Where to start the Winter Way?

From Ponferrada

The capital of El Bierzo is the starting point of the winter route; from here you can easily reach Santiago de Compostela in just 13 days, covering a total of 260 kilometres. Undoubtedly this route has established itself as a perfect alternative to escape from the growing overcrowding of the Galician section of the French Way.

History of the Winter Route

While historians may not unanimously agree on the origins of this route, the prevailing theory suggests it emerged as a variation of the French Road upon its arrival in Ponferrada.

Considering the perspective of medieval pilgrims, it seems logical to assume they sought an alternative to crossing O Cebreiro into Galicia, especially to avoid treacherous snowfall. Hence, the moniker “Camino de Invierno” (Winter Road).

This diversion allowed pilgrims to enter Galicia via the Sil River valley, offering a more hospitable terrain compared to mountain passes. In 2016, it was officially recognized as a pilgrimage route by the Xunta de Galicia.

Other routes of the Camino de Santiago