Triacastela on the Camino Frances

This small town, founded in the 9th century, (about 700 inhabitants), has the slightly grandiose name of the Three Castles – none of which still exist. Though the Triacastela provides a good selection of restaurants, bars, hostels, and hotels for pilgrims.

Albergue Xunta, at entrance to village, €6, 56 beds, W, D, Tel: 982 548 087, , open all year

Albergue Complex Xacobeo, c/ Leoncio Cadórnigo, 12, private, €9, 48 beds, W, D, K, M, B, @, Bike, Tel: 982 548 037, Web: , open all year.

Albergue Aitzenea, Plaza Vista Alegre, 1, private, €8, 38 beds, W, D, V, K, @, Bike, Tel: 982 548 076, Web: , open Apr to Oct.

Albergue Berce do Caminho, c/ Camilo José Cela, 11, private, €8, 27 beds, W, D, K, V, @, Bike, Tel: 982 548 127, open all year

Albergue Refugio del Oribio, Avenida de Castilla, 20, private, €9, (€8 winter), 27 beds, W, D, V, @, Bike, Tel: 982 548 085, Web: , open all year. 

Albergue Horta de Abel, c/ Peregrino,5, private, 28, 12 beds, W, D, K, @, Bike, Tel: 608 080 556, Web: , open all year.

The 18th century Church of Santiago is a reconstruction of the former church. The tower depicts the three castles, which is the town’s coat of arms.

Triacastela was the main quarry source for the Cathedral in Santiago, today the same quarries produce material for cement manufacturers

Today’s Walk

Triacastela on the Camino

Today there is a choice of two routes; both are equally pleasant although the Samos route is quieter. The choice is made as you leave Triacastela.

Food and water can be found in very few places today, so fill up with water when you can and carry some snacks, especially if you are walking the Samos route where there is little for the first 9 km (5.6 mi) and the last part before the two routes join at Aguida.

Although the Samos route is longer be 6.5 km (4 mi) it is easy walking, unlike the second route which has a 250-meter (820 ft) climb over the first 5 km (3 mi).

On the northern route, outside of the summer, there may be no water or food until Aguiada at 14 km (8.7 mi), however, this changes all the time as snack vans are starting to turn up on the Camino.

If you are walking between May and September after today the atmosphere of Camino Frances changes as well as the terrain. Many pilgrims walk only from Sarria to Santiago as it is the easiest town to get to for pilgrims to cover the last 100 km (60 mi), the minimum required to collect their Compostela.

Route A: 25 km (15.5 mi)

San Cristobo

Triacastela to Sarria Samos Map

5 km (3 mi)

San Cristobo is a small village with a large stone house, an ancient weir, and an old mill building. There are reports of a new albergue here, however, it cannot be guaranteed or confirmed at this moment.

Lusio

1 km (0.6 km), services unknown, reports of the following Albergue, cannot be guaranteed

Albergue Xunta Casa Forte de Lusio, € 6, 60 beds, K, Tel: 659 721 324

Renche

Renche Spain

1.6 km (1 mi), water, cafe

A tiny hamlet with a handful of houses and less than 100 inhabitants, which once had a medieval pilgrims hospice and iron foundry. This is a good stop for water and food at the small cafe during the summer.

Samos

Samos Spain

3.6 km (2.2 mi), all services

Albergue Monasterio, Monasterio de Samos, 1, par, €donation, 70 beds, @, Cred, Bike, Tel: 982 546 046, Web: , open all year.

Albergue Albaroque, c/ Salvador, 1, private, €9, 10 beds, W, D, V, @, Bike, Tel: 982 546 087, 

Albergue Val de Samos, Avenida Compostela, 16, private, €11, 48 beds, W, D, K, B, Bike, Tel: 902 002 460, Web: , open Apr to Nov inc.

Monastery Santos

Samos is dominated by the monastery founded in the 6th century by Saint Martin Dumiense, also known as Martin of Braga.

St Martin was born in Pannonia, modern-day Hungary. He became a monk when he traveled to the Holy Lands and then for unknown reasons traveled to Galicica where he spent his life converting the local population to Roman Catholicism, for which he was canonized.

In 922, Benedictine rule was introduced when Ordono II brought monks from San Juan de la Pena, Aragon; during the 12th century it became part of the Cluny abbey network, and later it was so powerful that it owned and controlled 300 monasteries, over 100 churches, and 200 towns.

From the 11th century, it ran a pilgrims hospice. The monastery was known for its wealth and one of the results of this was being sacked several times by bandits in the early middle ages. The area attracted and protected Mozarabic refugees from the south.

 Inmaculada Santos

The current abbey is of mostly of 17th and 18th-century construction as it was destroyed by a fire in 1536, however, some parts of the building still contain building stones from the Visigothic era, including a 7th-century Visigothic gravestone.

On August 24th 1951, a fire again destroyed most of the library. The small 9th-century Mozarabic chapel is about 200 meters from the main monastery building, note the typical horseshoe arch. The front of the monastery was built to exude power and strength, however, the entrance in use is at the rear of the building.

Guided tours of the abbey are provided by the monks, some of the sights you can see include: the library, Fountain of the Nereids in the 17th-century cloister garden, 5 historic keystones, one in hieroglyphic which says “What are you looking at, stupid?”, inside there are modern murals depicting the life of San Benito, and the church which is an excellent example of Baroque architecture with two domes.

Aguiada

9.1 km (5.6 mi)

Aguiada is a small village with 42 inhabitants, with no services for pilgrims at present, however, in the past, it had several pilgrim hospices, (there is a restaurant outside the village at the side of the road called Valle Aguiada, it appears fairly upmarket). Within the village is the small dilapidated Chapel of Our Lady of the Assumption.

San Mamed del Camino

1.2 km (0.75 mi), water

Albergue Paloma y Lena, private, €10, 32 beds, W, D, V, M, B, @, Bike, Tel: 982 533 248, Web: , open Mar to mid Nov.

San Mamed has 11 inhabitants. A the start of the village is the pilgrims albergue where they serve snacks and refreshments to passing pilgrims.

It’s a 3.5-km (2.2 mi) walk to Sarria, where you will find all the all services you may need.

 

Triacastela to Sarria Samos Elevation Map

Route B: 18.5 km (11.5 mi)

Triacastela to Sarria Map

This can be a hard walk uphill at the start with some very steep descents with unstable stones. However, in good weather, it affords a great view down over the valley.

Balsa

2.2 km (1.4 mi), water

Albergue Ecologico El Beso, private, €8, 12 beds, B, D, Bike, Tel: 633 550 558, Web: https://www.facebook.com/albergue.ecologico.el.beso, open all year.

Small hamlet with an albergue. Just north of the village was once a 10th-century Monastery however only the ruins of the chapel remain.

San Xil

San Xil Spain

1.6 km (1 mi) – there is a water fountain in the village but it cannot be guaranteed drinkable.

Montan

Montan Spain

3.2 km (2 mi), no services. Small Romanesque Church of Santa Maria.

Furela

Furela Spain

1.7 km, water, cafe

The village contains the Church of San Roque. Pintin is about 500 meters (1640 ft) before Calvor and reputedly has a cafe.

Calvor

Calvor Spain

2.3 km (1.85 mi) – no services

Albergue Xunta, in old school, €6, 22 beds, W, D, Tel: 660 396 812, www.xacobeo.es, open all year

Church of San Esteban was originally founded in the 8th century, however, it has been reconstructed many times and is now a mash of styles. Inside there is a Visigothic capital put to use as a baptismal font.

1.7 km (1 mi) to Aguiada and continue above with 1.2 km (0.75 mi) to San Mamed del Camino and 3.5 km (2.2 mi) to Sarria.

Key: W = Washing, D = Drying, M = Menu, @ = Internet, K = Kitchen, B = Breakfast, V = Vending, Cred = Credential

 

Triacastela to Sarria Elevation Map

Does this page need any updates or new albergues added? Please let us know in the comments below.