route 13 A Sionlla – Agualada – O Carballal – Lavacolla

The Church of San Paio de Sabugueira, located in Lavacolla, is one of the last temples that pilgrims find on the French Way before reaching the Cathedral of Santiago. Dedicated to San Paio (San Pelayo), a young martyr of the tenth century, this church represents an important point of spirituality and rest.
Built in 1840, the temple features neoclassical architecture with a single nave, granite walls and a gabled roof. Its façade, sober and triangular, is crowned by a belfry with a bell, while inside the main altarpiece dedicated to the saint, side altars to the Virgen del Carmen and the Sacred Heart, and an octagonal baptismal font from the seventeenth century stand out.
In addition to its religious value, the church is part of a heritage environment that includes the Lavacolla cemetery, a cross with Christ seated, and the historic Lavacolla stream, where pilgrims purified themselves before entering Santiago.
The feast of San Paio is celebrated on June 26, with mass, procession and popular activities that reinforce the link between the community and its Jacobean tradition.