Pontesampaio

Pontesampaio is a parish in the municipality of Soutomaior, in the province of Pontevedra, Galicia. The village is best known for the Battle of Ponte Sampaio in June 1809, in which Spanish and guerrilla forces successfully repelled a French army attempting to cross the Verdugo river into southern Galicia. The medieval bridge was the focal point of the battle and survived the fighting.

The bridge over the Verdugo is the central monument of the village: a multi-arched medieval stone structure that has been in use since at least the medieval period and is still standing. The battle’s outcome was significant in the broader context of the Peninsular War, helping to limit French control of Galicia.

For pilgrims on the Camino Português, Pontesampaio offers a crossing point with historical resonance.