12 October 2023
A Labrada to Monforte de Lemos - 21 kms
We throughly enjoyed today. We retraced our way back to the camino from our pensíon and immediately started to climb up out of the Lor Valley reaching quite a height.
We soon left the pine forest behind and from then on the camino path was through farmland. We went through a couple of small settlements before descending down to A Pobra de Brollón, the only town of the day before arriving in Monforte de Lemos.
Just as we entered A Pobra de Brollón we came across a panederia van selling bread to locals at their doorsteps. We quickly asked if we could buy a loaf which he was very happy to sell us. We bought a long bread stick, still warm from the oven. We then found a bar and stopped for a colacao. We were very surprised to come across both as today is the National Day of Spain and we expected everything to be shut.
From A Pobra de Brolón we had another climb and then descended, still through farmland, to Monforte de Lemos to where we're staying in the Parador de Monforte de Lemos, a former 15th century monastery which was built to replace the 10th monastery which was destroyed during the war of religions.
We have a junior suite which is fantastic, pure luxury. If this is a junior suite I wonder what the others are like. We decided to have a bit of fun and treat ourselves.
The Paradors are state-run hotels, 97 in total, consisting of castles, monasteries, fortresses, manor houses, palaces as well as modern buildings in spectacular nature settings.
The hilltop of Monforte was a Roman fortress which was destroyed by the Moors in the 8th century. It was restarted by the Benedictines in the 9th century. All that remains of the original fortress is a tower and some of the fortress walls.
Note: I have added yesterday's photos.
Another view from our room.
