Lubián can be explored through several specific points of interest: the town is a stage on the Sanabrés Route, the Santuario de La Tuiza is central to its religious tradition, and the archaeological sites at As Muradellas are a major draw. There is also a landscape between two river valleys and events with routes of varying lengths. Which of these aspects you focus on when planning your trip depends on whether you want to follow the pilgrimage route, explore the heritage, or discover the paths and landscapes.
Lubián on the Sanabrés Route
Lubián is the fifth stage of the Sanabrés Route. From here, the route crosses the Portilla de La Canda and continues into the province of Ourense and Galicia, leaving the province of Zamora. This makes Lubián a clearly identifiable landmark for pilgrims planning their overnight stays along the route. There is a pilgrims’ hostel in the town, where pilgrims can rest along the way. If you are considering the hostel when making your plans, check the latest information on opening hours and access in advance.
La Tuiza and the Romería
The Santuario de La Tuiza is protected as an Asset of Cultural Interest in the Monument category; its legal designation dates from 1995. The Romería de La Tuiza connects the sanctuary with a recurring tradition: it takes place every year on the last Sunday in September. The celebration includes a procession around the sanctuary. This means the date is more than just an entry in the events calendar; it is also an opportunity to appreciate the religious significance of the place alongside its living tradition.
The fair associated with the Romería also reflects a change over time. Over the years, the traditional livestock fair became a fair for crafts and regional products. Visitors therefore encounter a present-day focus that differs from the fair’s original purpose. Alongside the religious character of the Romería, crafts and regional produce are also part of how the event is described.
As Muradellas and the landscape along the Tuela
The Castro de As Muradellas lies about three kilometres from Lubián, by the Tuela River. A marked path makes it possible to visit the site above the river; route markers and information panels accompany the way. At the site, the remains consist of two walled enclosures. In front of them are ditches and rows of upright stones that served as defensive systems. This arrangement offers a tangible view of how enclosures and obstacles placed in front of them worked together.
The town’s location and the surrounding landscape are two distinct scales: Lubián sits on a mid-slope below the valley formed by the Pedro and Tuela rivers. The surrounding area alternates between meadows, forests, riverside zones and gorges carved by the rivers. The landscapes also include glacial valleys such as Fraga da Osa. Oak, birch and chestnut trees are among the species that grow there. This places a visit to the archaeological sites in a broader landscape context without conflating the features of the town itself with those of its surroundings.
Cycling event and getting there
Día de la Bicicleta was launched in 1988 by the Amigos de la Bici collective and has taken place without interruption ever since. The formats described include a two-kilometre children’s route, a ten-kilometre family route and a twenty-kilometre adult route. These distances give an indication of the intended categories: the shortest route is considerably shorter than the adult route, with the family route in between. The specific routes may change from one edition to the next, so check the details for the relevant event if you plan to follow a particular route.
For travel by road, the A-52 is the main transport link to Lubián. It connects the A6 between Madrid and A Coruña with Vigo and the Rías Baixas, passing through Ourense and towns such as Xinzo de Limia and Verín. This gives a regional context for the road connection. Together with its location on a stage of the Sanabrés Route, this gives a clear picture of the two travel connections mentioned: the route for pilgrims and the regional road link.
Discover more destinations: Losacio, Ferreras de Arriba, Muga De Sayago, San Vitero, El Cubo De Tierra Del Vino, El Perdigón, Malillos, Viñas.
For the wider travel overview: Zamora.
