Portomarín

Stage 30 · Sarria – PortomarínLugo Province
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What is there in Portomarín

Portomarín is a town and municipality in the Sarria district, in Lugo Province, on the Camino Frances.

It is literally a relocated town: the medieval town was born beside a bridge over the Miño and lived from the Camino for centuries, with charters granted in 1212 by the Order of Saint John, but in 1962 the Belesar reservoir left it underwater. Before flooding it, its most valuable buildings were dismantled stone by stone, numbered, and rebuilt on top of Monte do Cristo, where the town stands today. The most important is the fortress-church of San Nicolás, Romanesque, looking like a castle, which presides over the arcaded square. Pilgrims enter by crossing the long bridge over the reservoir and climbing a flight of steps crowned by the chapel of Las Nieves, built on an arch of the old bridge. When the water drops, remains of the old village still appear. It is aguardiente country, with its own festival at Easter.

Accommodation in Portomarín

Hostel de la Xunta de Galicia PortomarínHostelHostel de la Xunta de Galicia PortomarínHotel Ferramenteiro de PortomarinHotelHotel Ferramenteiro de PortomarinHostel FerramenteiroHostelHostel FerramenteiroHotel Villa JardínHotelHotel Villa JardínHuellas Hostel TurísticoHostelHuellas Hostel TurísticoGuesthouse Perez PortomarínPensionGuesthouse Perez PortomarínHostel Aqua PortomarínHostelHostel Aqua Portomarín

Distances from Portomarín

From Portomarín to Gonzar it is about 7.3 km.

To Castromaior it is about 8.5 km.

And to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, in Santiago de Compostela, about 92.6 km remain.

History

Portomarín grew up beside the bridge over the Miño, of ancient origin and rebuilt in the Middle Ages, an obligatory crossing for pilgrims. In the 13th century the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, lord of the town, granted it charters, and the town was divided into two quarters, one on each side of the river.

In the 1960s the Belesar reservoir flooded the old village. Beforehand, its main monuments were taken apart stone by stone and rebuilt on top of Monte do Cristo, where the present town stands. The most important is the Romanesque fortress-church of San Nicolás, of the Order of Saint John, whose stones still bear the numbers from the move. The portal of San Pedro and several manor houses were also moved.

When the reservoir’s water drops, the ruins of the old village and the arches of the old bridge reappear.

Portomarín is famous for its aguardiente. On Easter Sunday the Festa da Augardente is held, with a competition and a great queimada.

What to See in Portomarín?

New Chapel
Chapel of Our Lady of the Snows Portomarín

Chapel of Our Lady of the Snows Portomarín

Chapel of Our Lady of the Snows in Portomarín The Chapel of Our Lady of the Snows is a chapel
Church
Iglesia de San Nicolas Camino de Santiago Frances 768x403

Church of Saint Nicholas

Church of Saint Nicholas or Saint John of Portomarin In the town of Portomarin, located in the southwest of Lugo
Church
Iglesia de San Pedro Portomarin Camino de Santiago Frances 768x403

Church of Saint Peter Portomarín

Church of Saint Peter of Portomarín Located in the municipality of Portomarín, in Lugo Province, Galicia, the Church of Saint

Portomarín on the Camino

The end of the first stage for those starting in Sarria, Portomarín welcomes the pilgrim with the sight of the great bridge over the reservoir and the stairway climbing up to the town. In 2015 it was included as an associated element in the extension of UNESCO’s listing of the Camino.

The municipality

The municipality brings together more than a hundred places in twenty parishes:

  • Bagude (San Bartolomeu)
  • Bedro​
  • Belad​ (San Mamede)​
  • Caborrecelle (San Xulián)
  • Castro​
  • Castromaior​
  • Cortapezas (Santa María)
  • Fiz de Rozas (San Lourenzo)
  • Gonzar (Santa María)
  • León (San Martiño)
  • Narón (Santa María)
  • Nespereira (San Ciprián)​
  • Portomarín (San Nicolás)​
  • Recelle (San Pedro)
  • Río​
  • Sabadelle (San Salvador)
  • San Pedro de Portomarín
  • Soengas (Santiago)
  • Vilaxuste (San Pedro)
  • Villarbasín​

In short

Portomarín is one of the most unusual stops on the Camino Frances: a village moved stone by stone, a fortress-church and an aguardiente to raise a toast.

CountryEspaña
Autonomous communityGalicia
ProvinceLugo Province
ComarcaLugo
Judicial districtChantada
Location42°48′26″N 7°36′57″O
Area115,1 km²
Population1,286 inhab. (2024)
Density13.1 inhab./km²
Demonymportomarinense
Postal code27170
Patron saintCristo de las Victorias
Websitewww.concellodeportomarin.es
Camino de Santiago Frances
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