Vilalba
Camino de Santiago stage town on Camino del Norte
Vilalba is the capital of A Terra Chá, the 'flat land' of inland Lugo, and the largest town on the Camino del Norte's Galician interior. The stage in from Abadín is one of the gentlest of the whole route: about 21-22 km of near-level farm tracks and old Camino Real between 400 and 500 m, crossing the old Martiñán bridge over the río Batán in Goiriz parish (there are few bars for the first 7 km, so carry water and a snack). The Xunta pilgrim albergue sits right on the Camino in the industrial estate, roughly 1.2 km before the town proper, so shops, ATMs and restaurants are a further walk into the centre; several private albergues and pensiones lie closer in. The town is dominated by the octagonal Torre dos Andrade, the 15th-century keep of the Andrade family's castle, rebuilt after the Irmandiños revolts with a shape designed to resist gunpowder and, since the 1960s, part of the Parador. Nearby are the 19th-century church of Santa María, the Museum of Prehistory and Archaeology and a riverside walk along the Madalena past old mills. Try the smoky, pear-shaped San Simón da Costa cheese (DO), local capón and roscón de Vilalba. Vilalba is roughly 120 km from Santiago, a popular start for pilgrims who want a little over the 100 km needed for the Compostela; the next day is a flat walk to Baamonde.
- 679 kmfrom route start
- 457 mElevation
- 5 · 4albergues · hotels
- 20.9 kmfrom Abadín
- 19.1 kmto Baamonde
Highlights
- Torre dos Andrade: the octagonal 15th-century castle keep, rebuilt to withstand gunpowder after the Irmandiños revolts and now part of the Parador
- One of the flattest stages of the Norte: about 21-22 km from Abadín across A Terra Chá, over the old Martiñán bridge on the río Batán
- Smoky San Simón da Costa DO cheese, capón and roscón de Vilalba, plus the Museum of Prehistory and Archaeology and the Madalena river walk
- About 120 km from Santiago: a popular starting point for pilgrims walking just over the 100 km minimum for the Compostela
- Tip: the Xunta albergue (no reservations, opens 13:00) is about 1.2 km before town, so buy supplies in the centre or stay at a private albergue nearer the shops
Albergues in Vilalba
- Albergue Privado Villaba
- Albergue As Pedreiras
- Villa Alta
- Pensión A Carballeira
- Albergue Municipal de Vilaba
Hotels & guesthouses in Vilalba
Lodging names from OpenStreetMap; check availability before you walk.
Stages through Vilalba
Nearby towns
Nearby stages
Frequently asked questions
Where can I stay in Vilalba?
5 albergues and 4 hotels in Vilalba.
How far is Vilalba from Abadín?
20.9 km from Abadín, 19.1 km to Baamonde on the Camino del Norte.