O Cebreiro

[Mc Hein]

Currently avoid staying at O Cebreiro, heavy road construction in the middle of the tourist area

 

[Bella2017]

Currently avoid staying at O Cebreiro, heavy road construction in the middle of the tourist area

Thanks will be passing through in October

 

[MichelleO]

Noisy? We'll be there in 2 weeks.

 

[frank john]

Currently avoid staying at O Cebreiro, heavy road construction in the middle of the tourist area

Is anyone aware of when this construction will cease? Is it long term?

 

[tomjane40]

In La Faba, just a few miles before O Cebreiro, The Refugio is an amazing place to stay. They only have 9 beds, so get there early - but the vegetarian meal is fabulous. We really enjoyed our afternoon/evening there.

 

[MichelleO]

Is it possible La Faba has extended? My Pilgrim's guide says it has 66 beds. I think I'll take your advice in September when we're there.

 

[lukethegrandduke]

There are two albergues in La Faba, a smaller and a larger one. You’re probably each talking about different albergues.

 

[williamlittig]

In La Faba, just a few miles before O Cebreiro, The Refugio is an amazing place to stay. They only have 9 beds, so get there early - but the vegetarian meal is fabulous. We really enjoyed our afternoon/evening there.

I’ve stayed between la Fava and OCebriero in Laguna de Castillo.I got the last bed in a very small room of four bunk beds. La Fava was full with probably 70 beds.

 

[DowtyCamino]

The German run albergue in LaFaba is amazing - clean - efficient and has a really nice small chapel on the property. It is the larger albergue in the tiny village.
The smaller albergue is run by two couples. They offer an phenomenal vegetarian meal - in season harvested from their own garden. The couples had just opened the albergue when we arrive in 2014. One hospitalera was pregnant. When we walked through in 2017 - surprise! - they had a 3 year old boy. The albergue is renovated and really quaint. The meal is really really good.
Compare this to O'Cebreiro: A nice historic setting, but when we arrived in 2017 it felt more like a tourist attraction than a pilgrimage site. There are restaurants and shops selling trinkets, souvenirs and postcards. The albergue is VERY large and had that "industrial" feel. The sunset and sunrise however from O'Cebreiro was beautiful. In total I'm guessing there were about 50 people total at LaFaba including the residents. There were possibly 1000 people in O'Cebreiro but many tourist left after sundown. Still a couple hundred pilgrims lodged overnight in the albergue and hotel(s).
In summary - my opinion only:
LaFaba wins on Albergue, Food (if you can get a seat at the small vegetarian dinner), and atmosphere.
O'Cebreiro wins on history, views, and has the fact that the next day is mostly down hill.
In balance, if we walked again, we'd probably opt for LaFaba.

 

[camino07]

I love the ambience in O' Cebreiro but its the one place I would book in advance if you want a cosy room. Yes,its touristy but it speaks to my Celtic roots. Pilgrim service in the lovely old church is a must for me.

 

[Pelegrin]

I love the ambience in O' Cebreiro but its the one place I would book in advance if you want a cosy room. Yes,its touristy but it speaks to my Celtic roots. Pilgrim service in the lovely old church is a must for me.

O Cebreiro has still preroman houses similar to those ones in the British islands.

 

[thomryng]

We're actually planning on starting in O Cebreiro in early October. Does anybody have any updates or clarification on the situation there?

 

[Stacyv]

I stayed two nights ago. The road works are not an issue. Stay at venta celta, pensión run by some lovely quirky ladies.

 

[thomryng]

I stayed two nights ago. The road works are not an issue. Stay at venta celta, pensión run by some lovely quirky ladies.

Thank you!

 

[MichelleO]

I stayed two nights ago. The road works are not an issue. Stay at venta celta, pensión run by some lovely quirky ladies.

Thanks! We'll be there in a week. Nice to know the roadworks are not a huge deterrent.

 

[MichelleO]

We stayed at Casa Compela in O Cebreiro last night. Roadworks are definitely NOT an issue. The only works that seem to be in progress at the moment is the Camino path as you leave. They're adding gravel/stone to the path and adding a few drains. Nothing at all in town. We had a great stay even with a few drops of rain.

 

[keats122]

Currently avoid staying at O Cebreiro, heavy road construction in the middle of the tourist area

I'm wondering if anyone has actually stayed overnight in O'Cebreiro itself? I found it to be a charming spot when I did the Camino Frances in 2014, and remember wishing I had spent more time there. I hope to be in O'Cebreiro by the end of OCT/early NOV, on my 2nd Camino. Thanks in advance to anyone who may have a recommendation.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I stayed at the very large municipal albergue in O'Cebreiro in early May 2017. I was happy to get a bunk bed in this lovely village, but the albergue was not very clean, insomuch that I decided to forego my daily camino shower.

 

[MichelleO]

We stayed at Albergue Casa Campelo and loved it. It was clean, quiet and friendly. O Cebreiro is such a charming place. We only did the 12km up the hill that day so we could enjoy more time there.

 

[Stacyv]

Venta celta is a good place to stay. I was there a month ago in August. Road works were not an issue at all.

 

[GettingThere]

We stayed at Venta Celta too, in May 2015. Very comfortable. A few simple rooms above a great bar/restaurant, very friendly and helpful owner.

 

[David Tallan]

I'm wondering if anyone has actually stayed overnight in O'Cebreiro itself? I found it to be a charming spot when I did the Camino Frances in 2014, and remember wishing I had spent more time there. I hope to be in O'Cebreiro by the end of OCT/early NOV, on my 2nd Camino. Thanks in advance to anyone who may have a recommendation.

I stayed overnight in O Cebreiro twice.

In 1989 there was no albergue. There was one place offering rooms (in my journal, I called it an "inn"). My guidebook also talked of the possibility of pilgrims sleeping in a palooza, but I wasn't sure how to arrange that. When I got there, the inn was full but they let me lay my sleeping bag by the fireplace. I felt very much like a medieval pilgrim sleeping there.

In 2016, on pilgrimage with my teenage son, there were many more hotels available and a large Xunta albergue. We stayed at the albergue, for which there was a long line up (backpacks were lined up to hold your place). Two key things to be aware of you are staying at the albergue (which apply to most Galician Xunta albergues): 1. There is a kitchen but it is bare. No pots and pans. No dishes or utensils. 2. The showers are segregated and without personal privacy. (That really bothered my son.)

 

[mspath]

Over the recent years I have stayed at O Cebreiro ten times usually in late autumn or winter but always with great emotion.

The following blog entry is typical of my thanks and thoughts each time I climbed up to this mystic spot heavy with history.

"November 23, 2011

After the steep climb up the mountain to the village of O Cebreiro traces of other miracles both past and recent could be felt. Arriving at last and entering the tiny Romanesque church is always memorable. The magnificent silver chalice commemorates the famous Medival miracle of faith when a parishioner saw the transformation of wine and bread into blood and flesh. Outside in the garden more contemporary panels commemorate the visionary work of the 20th century local priest, Don Elias Valiña Sampedro, who recreated the idea of the camino with its network of supporting albergues and even painted the now famous first yellow arrows which mark our way. ...Never underestimate the strength of personal conviction!"

For basic Spanish info re O Cebreiro and Don Elias Valiña Sampedro's life and publications
see www.igrexa.org/cebreiro/frames.html