• Get your Camino Frances Guidebook here.
  • For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here.
    (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation)
  • ⚠️ Emergency contact in Spain - Dial 112 and AlertCops app. More on this here.

Search 69,459 Camino Questions

Drought in Galicia: Portomarin ruins emerging

ouroboros

Active Member
Time of past OR future Camino
Camino Frances (2012) (2019)
Camino Portuguese (2017)
The 2024 Camino guides will be coming out little by little. Here is a collection of the ones that are out so far.
Wonderful pictures! When the water level is low it is possible to cross over the old bridge, I was lucky enough to cross this way in 2015.

Davey
 
I've seen the ruins exposed in the past, but not to that extent.
If one is interested in speaking to someone who lived in those ruins, go to Albergue Ultreia.
The lady who runs it lived in the village as a girl, and she has wonderful photos on the walls.
They took apart the church and carried it up to the current village.
 
Very light, comfortable and compressible poncho. Specially designed for protection against water for any activity.

Our Atmospheric H30 poncho offers lightness and waterproofness. Easily compressible and made with our Waterproof fabric, its heat-sealed interior seams guarantee its waterproofness. Includes carrying bag.

€60,-
I have never liked the modern Portomarin, finding it somehow depressing. But the old one looks like it must have once been quite beautiful. Thanks for sharing the link, @ouroboros .
 
It was very low in mid November and dry enough to walk around on both sides of the river -- and the sun set / sun rise can give some beautiful views. On the town side of the new bridge are stairs leading down to the low ground and you can easily walk across the old bridge -- I also stayed at and recommend Albergue Ultrea both in '13 and last year. Both the Alburgue and the private rooms are very nice.

A quick snapshot from the far side:
 
It is an eerie and fascinating sight. Water levels in many of the reservoirs in Galicia are very low this year. It is worrying to see such a level at this time of year. What will it be like in summer unless spring is unusually wet? I saw the shortage for myself last month on the Camino Sanabres. A couple of days of torrential rain in a dramatic storm did almost nothing to top up the supplies.
 
The 2024 Camino guides will be coming out little by little. Here is a collection of the ones that are out so far.
This is interesting as with all the environmental laws today and the desire to preserve all heritage sites, a project like the flooding of this valley would never be approved today.

They would study it for a hundred years, but it would not get approved even it there were economic benefits.
 
It is an eerie and fascinating sight. Water levels in many of the reservoirs in Galicia are very low this year. It is worrying to see such a level at this time of year. What will it be like in summer unless spring is unusually wet? I saw the shortage for myself last month on the Camino Sanabres. A couple of days of torrential rain in a dramatic storm did almost nothing to top up the supplies.

The reservoir capacity in Galicia on February 1 was 43%, very low. Now it is 63%, so the situation is improving.
 
This is interesting as with all the environmental laws today and the desire to preserve all heritage sites, a project like the flooding of this valley would never be approved today.

They would study it for a hundred years, but it would not get approved even it there were economic benefits.

Unfortunately, I think you may be wrong.
Unless things have changed, on the Aragones route, the court approved the YESA dam which will put some family's dwellings under water for a second time.
 
The 2024 Camino guides will be coming out little by little. Here is a collection of the ones that are out so far.
Transport luggage-passengers.
From airports to SJPP
Luggage from SJPP to Roncevalles
I have walked past Portomarin both on high and low water watching the old town when possible. It is of special interest to me since we about 50 years ago had the same coincident in the small pueblo Masi in Finnmark, Norway. The government wanted to put this small community under water but the there was a strong fight against it so it ended up with a less damaging solution, though not wanted, better then putting a whole community under water.
Enjoyed the pictures! Walking the high bridge is what I dislike most on the camino.
 

Most read last week in this forum

My name is Henrik and I will be coming down to SJPdP from Sweden on March 26 and start walking on March 27. I don't really have any experience and I'm not the best at planning and I'm a little...
When I hiked the Frances Route this happened. I was hiking in the afternoon just east of Arzua. I was reserved a bed at an albergue in Arzua, so I had already hiked all the way from San Xulien...
I am finalizing my packing list for Frances, and do not want to over pack. (I am 71) I will be starting at SJPdP on April 25th to Roncesvalles and forward. I was hoping on some advise as to...
First marker starting from Albergue Monasterio de la Magdalena in Sarria (113.460 km) Start: 2023.9.29 07:22 Arrival: 2023.9.30 13:18 walking time : 26 hours 47 minutes rest time : 3 hours 8...
A local Navarra website has posted a set of photos showing today's snowfall in the area around Roncesvalles. About 15cm of snow fell this morning surprising pilgrims on the way...
Hi! I’m a first time pilgrim. Is it possible to take a taxi from Astorga to Foncebadon? Thanks, Felicia

❓How to ask a question

How to post a new question on the Camino Forum.

Forum Rules

Forum Rules

Camino Updates on YouTube

Camino Conversations

Most downloaded Resources

This site is run by Ivar at

in Santiago de Compostela.
This site participates in the Amazon Affiliate program, designed to provide a means for Ivar to earn fees by linking to Amazon
Official Camino Passport (Credential) | 2024 Camino Guides
Back
Top