Stage

Laza - Xunqueira de Ambía

A Gudiña - Laza Xunqueira de Ambía - Ourense

32,7 km

Your walk starts at the Praza da Picota de Laza and goes towards the main road OU-113, which you will be following most of the day with some properly signposted detours. The first 4 kilometres lead you to the village of Soutelo Verde and at 7 kilometres you will be in Tamicelas, where you will find the chapel of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción.

The strenuous climb to Alberguería starts on Mount Requeixada, still in the municipality of Laza, at 900 metres. You can take a break here visiting the quaint church of Santa María.

There is just a final push to Vilar de Barrio, first climbing and then descending through the forest that leads you to the valley of Allariz, where you will see the first hórreos, landmarks of the change from a mountainous landscape to a more agricultural one.

Vilar de Barrio has a square that may look too large now, but it was here where the cattle market used to take place in the past. The site where you now see the fountain is where swine used to be kept in the past.

You leave the Praza do Toural towards Bóveda, past the church of San Pedro de Fiz. The hórreos and vegetable gardens accompany you past Vilar de Gomareite up to the straight road to Bobadela for 3 and a half kilometres.

A path flanked by oak trees leads you to Padroso, and there you continue until you reach Cima de Vila, to then descend to Quintela, before arriving at Xunqueira de Ambía.

Xunqueira is the main town in this municipality, and here you can see the beautiful Colegiata de Santa María la Real, founded as a monastery in the 10th century. It has a Romanesque church and a beautiful 18th-century organ that was recently restored.

Tips from our postmen and women

What to do and see in the stage Laza - Xunqueira de Ambía?

Loli Francisco Correos Vilar de Barrio

“Vilar de Barrio is in the district of A Limia, the most important agricultural area in Galicia. Its star products are potatoes, and they have a denomination of origin protected at European level.

In Pueblo de Bobadela you must visit the altarpiece at the church of Santa Mariña, and the Colexiata of Xunqueira de Ambía has the oldest organ in Galicia, a beautiful piece. There have been organ recitals in the colexiata for the past 25 years”.