The Winter Way, used since time immemorial to get around the mountain range that flanks the east of Galicia, acquired this name after being used by pilgrims to avoid the harsh winter peaks of the Ancares, Alto do Cebreiro. Although this detour is almost 60 km longer than the Cebreiro alternative, the orography is less abrupt and the climate less extreme, which makes it a less dangerous route.

It originates in Ponferrada, where it separates from the French Way. Once in Galicia, it follows the course of the Sil as it passes through the lands of Valdeorras and Quiroga and ascends to the lands of Brollón, then entering the lands of Monfortinas. After crossing the Cabe river by the medieval bridge and reaching Campo San Antonio, the urban centre is left in the direction of the parish of Vide, to continue through Moreda and pass into the municipality of Pantón.

The Pilgrim Assistance Office is located in the Praza Doctor Goyanes in Monforte, in a historic building that was once a hotel and now, after a complete renovation of this space on the ground floor of the building, we find everything necessary for the advice of the pilgrim.

The pilgrim assistance office is the place where the Pilgrim’s Credential is stamped and where pilgrims will be received and given precise information, as well as preparations for making the Camino. The intention is to take advantage of the tourist boost of recent months, where Monforte has undoubtedly been a tourist attraction as reflected in the data collected in the tourist office, and to try to de-seasonalize and distribute the municipal tourist offer throughout the year.

In addition to the pilgrim’s office, the facilities have a Winter Way Interpretation Centre, where we have information about the route, photographs, documentation, audiovisual projection about the Winter Way, among other promotional videos, as well as the brochure and street map, made specifically for this Way by the Monforte de Lemos City Council.

We can learn information about the origins of the Way, the religious architecture, the civil architecture that we will find along the way.

Information is given about the nine stages of the way, with their most notable characteristics, it is promoted that Monforte is the end of stage 4 and where stage 5 begins to inform about the historical-artistic complex, together with a linear historical exhibition emphasizing the events of our history.