Camino de Santiago de Compostela

[reenabluewaters]

Hi there! Can anyone suggest a good place to stay in O Cebreiro? Also, from what I've read, there are several routes to O Cebreiro from Villafranca. Can anyone suggest what is the route with the most scenic view? Thank you!!!

[falcon269]

The Dragante route has the best views. It is long, has a lot of steep climbs and descents. It is poorly marked, and has no services or overnight stops.

[reenabluewaters]

Thank you for the info!

[Abbeydore]

Yes but be careful staying @ O'Cebreiro, it seems that the toilets are very smelly, & herd 2 counts of not been that great either, however the town was great when I was there, snow & very cold, guess it's warmed up a bit now. & I've herd La Faba is great to stay @ but we were to stop either side.

[Anniesantiago]

When I was in O Cebreiro, it was lovely.
The albergue was clean (though the kitchen was NOT well-equipped) and the showers and toilets were spotless.

So as usual, perhaps it depends on who the hospitalero is?
Weird...

HOWEVER...considering the tiny amount of money they ask to stay there, seems it wouldn't hurt a pilgrim to pick up a broom or mop and clean some showers or toilets themselves?

[reenabluewaters]

Thanks Abbeydore and Anniesantiago for the info!

To Annie, may I just ask, what is the name of the albergue in O Cebreiro? Thank you!

[falcon269]

Albergue de O Cebreiro



Overall impression:
Condition: Refurbished in 2007. Very well
Hostel Availability: All year
Price: 5 euros
Places
Total places: 104
Number of beds in bunk: 104
Number of places in soil:
Number of mattresses on floor:
Number of beds:
Room Description: Two floors and a mansard
Reserve a place in the hostel: No
Admission requirements for access to the hostel: pilgrim credential
Opening hours: 13:00
Closing time: 22:00
Possibility to leave or not when you close: Yes
Laundry: Yes
Washing machine: Yes, and dryer. 4.40 euros to wash and dry 1 euro
Heating: Yes
Refrigerator: No
Hot water: Yes
Showers: 20
Toilets: 20
Lockers or closets: No
Kit: Yes
Water and soda machine: No
Towels and soap: Yes
Coffee machine: No
Rack: Yes
Kitchen: Yes, but household
Conference rooms: Living room
Dining Room: Living room
Terrace: No
Public Phone: No
Bicycle indoors: The entrance can be unlocked
Barn or stables: No
Information pilgrim: Yes
Phone Booth: Yes
ATM: No
Medical: No
Pharmacy: No
Repair shop: No
Grocery: Yes
Butcher: No
Bakery: No. They sell bread at the store
Bar-Restaurant: Yes, there are 6 bars
Internet: In one of the bars
Mobile Coverage: Yes
Outlets for battery charging: Yes

Reviews:
by Paul on 24/03/2012 at 1:03:46
I have very bad memory. The shelter staff very rude, we were left lying in the street, and had to sleep on the street, with -2 degrees below 0, in the end, some pilgrims we opened the windows of the laundry room and slept there until it was a little cold, and continued the march!
by Javier F on 10/02/2012 at 22:02:22
We were at the end of December. The hostel was a fridge, personally ..... had better not talk. All other facilities acceptable to problems that could have easily avoided.
by Antonio on 16/12/2011 at 22:11:54
I was in September. The first of Galicia and I realized the importance of zero gives the regional government at the slightest privacy and comfort in the showers, which have no doors and no where to leave under minimally spare clothes without getting wet. otherwise, the hostel is very good. In all honesty, is also the regional government gives importance to cleanliness and order. Gets along overcrowding.

[falcon269]

Other places:
O Cebreiro

Hostal Residencia San Giraldo de Aurillac**
Town: O Cebreiro - (Lugo)
Category: H**
Situation: Next to the sanctuary of the Cebreiro
Capacity: 15 rooms
Run By: Luis and Pilar
Comment: Double room: 36 E Single room: 30 E
Contacto: Tel. 982- 367125

Pensión Pazos

Casa Rural Centro de Turismo Rural Casa Carolo
Town: O Cebreiro - (Lugo)
Category: Rural house
Situation: Next to the road. O Cebreiro
Capacity: 10 double rooms
Comment: Rooms from: 24 E, 30 E and 42 E.
Contacto: Tel. 982-367168
Email: MAITTEB@teleline.es

Casa Rural Centro de Turismo Rural Casa Valiña
Town: O Cebreiro - (Lugo)
Category: Rural house
Situation: In the centre of the town. O Cebreiro
Capacity: 15 rooms
Comment: Double room: 36 E
Contacto: 982- 367182

Casa Rural Venta Celta*
Town: O Cebreiro - (Lugo)
Category: H*
Capacity: 6 double rooms
Run By: José María and Irene
Other: Typical meals of the zone, from 6 E
Comment: Double room: 30 E + VAT
Contacto: 982 367 137

[tyrrek]

I haven't stayed in O Cebreiro on either of my Camino Franceses and frankly don't miss it. The main reason is that I liked to stay just below the hill the night before the climb so I could do the hard work at the start of the day, stop at O Cebreiro for lunch, then walk on another 10kms or so.

However on both lunch stops at OC I found the people in the bars/cafes quite unfriendly. A couple of weeks ago the guy in the bar seemed determined not to understand a word of my Spanish. Now I know my Spanish is not perfect, but it formed a large part of my degree so I think I'm capable of ordering a beer reasonably effectively. It was like I was speaking Japanese! I asked him sarcastically if he understood Castillian Spanish and he suddenly started to understand. Prat! I don't know whether it was a 'You're in Galicia now' attitude, or if they're just spoiled by all the pilgrims and bus tours passing through that they just take the p when they feel like it.

I prefer to stay in Alto do Poio. Others have said that they're rude there too, but both times they've been fine with me.

[peregrina2000]

Just want to put in a plug for the Venta Celta, at least as it was when I was there most recently (2006?). It's a small private pension, with a really comfy-cozy and very small bar/restaurant in the ground floor. Wonderful fireplace. The first time I was there, the owner was a Basque woman who had walked the Camino and was following her dream. The second time I was there, she was trying to sell the place. So I don't know who owns it now.

Both times I ate an evening meal there and it was great -- no choice, just soup (caldo gallego), tortilla espanola, and salad. Cebreiro cheese and honey (oh, what a culinary delight) for dessert. I hope that tradition lives on, because it was a simple, delicious, filling meal.

Anyone stayed there recently? Buen camino, Laurie

[reenabluewaters]

thank you very much for your replies! sometimes I feel so lost browsing through the web and looking for information or reviews on the hostels. your posts are really helpful!

[robmcd]

I recently stayed in the Municipal Hostel during some extremely wet weather. There is no ventilation in the place at all, so all the boots and ponchos that were put in the appropriate place failed to dry overnight. I seem to remember there was only one tumble drier.

[anniethenurse]

I recently stayed in the Municipal Hostel during some extremely wet weather. There is no ventilation in the place at all, so all the boots and ponchos that were put in the appropriate place failed to dry overnight. I seem to remember there was only one tumble drier.

I stayed at the Xunta albergue recently and I like it. My second time there. It was likewise bad weather. But the dormitories are warm so your gear gets dry during the night. The kitchens in Galicia are usually not well- eguipped. But the showers and toilets are spotless and hot water in the showers.
annie

[mspath]

I recently stayed in the Municipal Hostel during some extremely wet weather. There is no ventilation in the place at all, so all the boots and ponchos that were put in the appropriate place failed to dry overnight. I seem to remember there was only one tumble drier.

I stayed at the Xunta albergue recently and I like it. My second time there. It was likewise bad weather. But the dormitories are warm so your gear gets dry during the night. The kitchens in Galicia are usually not well- eguipped. But the showers and toilets are spotless and hot water in the showers.
annie

I agree with Annie. Totally refurbished in 2008 the Xunta albergue is now comfortable with large showers and lots of hot water. The last time I stayed there in late November 2011 the weather outside was vile with sleet and cold fog, but wonderful heat made the albergue very cozy. Elsewhere in the village a very good menu de dia was offered at the bar/restaurant nearest the church. This is run by the family of the late Don Elias Valina Sampedro, the local priest who mid twentieth century renovated the idea of the Camino and painted the first yellow arrows which all pilgrims now follow. He is buried in the church cemetery.