Galicia and Ourense

The bridge over the river at Quereño marks your arrival in Galicia — specifically in the province of Ourense. The landscape changes noticeably: the dry Bierzo gives way to the green, river-carved valleys of the Río Sil. The microclimate along the river is mild and sunny, which is exactly why this route was favored in winter — pilgrims could avoid the snow and ice of the mountains at O Cebreiro.