Ponferrada has more to offer than initially meets the eye. The Templar castle is one of the best-preserved examples of its kind and offers a good glimpse into what castle life must have been like. The Basílica Nuestra Señora de la Encina is named after a Templar legend according to...
Saturday is market day.
The Fiesta de La Encina is held September 8th and celebrates the patron Saint of El Bierzo, La Virgen de La Encina (oak). It lasts a week.
We begin in Ponferrada at the Albergue de Peregrinos where you can pick up a credential and a very basic map of the camino as it passes through El Bierzo. Turn left out of the albergue gate and continue to the first cruceiro. On the sidewalk across the street is the first mojon marking the...
|
1 |
Albergue Alea Private
Teleno, 33
|
18 | 11€ |
 |
|
|
2 |
Albergue Guiana Private
Castillo, 112
|
90 | 12€ |
 |
Booking.com |
|
3 |
Albergue de peregrinos San Nicolás de Flüe Parochial
Loma
|
175 | Donativo€ |
 |
|
4 |
Hostal San Miguel Hostal
Juan de Lama, 14
|
||
|
5 |
Hostal Nirvana ⭑⭑ Hostal
Lago de Carucedo, 12
|
 |
Booking.com |
|
6 |
Hostal Río Selmo ⭑⭑ Hostal
Río Selmo, 22
|
 |
Booking.com |
|
7 |
Hotel Los Templarios ⭑⭑ Hotel
Flórez Osorio, 3
|
 |
Booking.com |
|
8 |
Hotel Aroi Ponferrada ⭑⭑⭑⭑ Hotel
Marcelo Macías, 4
|
 |
Booking.com |
|
9 |
Hotel El Castillo ⭑⭑⭑ Hotel
El Castillo, 115
|
 |
Booking.com |
|
10 |
Hotel Madrid Bierzo Closed
La Puebla, 44
|
 |
Booking.com |
 |  |  |
Has a pharmacy, a nice stone bridge, and a very friendly bar (Cafe Bar Mariluz) located in the square which is not square. They have WIFI there and were friendly to this pilgrim. A post office and a pasteleria round out the services available here.
When leaving Toral de Merayo, keep on the road and to the at the first fork (gentle right). You will leave town on the asphalt road, turn left on another, and begin a climb off to your right shortly after that.
Ignore all markings for the PR-LE-41.
 |  |  |
Polideportivo
|
1 |
Polideportivo de Priaranza Polideportivo |
 |
There are two sets of arrows when leaving town, and a mojon which keeps you on the camino towards Villavieja. Do not follow the arrows to "Las Barrancas"
Fountain and possible albergue with unknown opening date. Construction was underway in late 2011 but was still awaiting future grants for completion.
From here you begin a climb with great views of the nearing castle.
 |  |
A nice, quiet town along the camino. It has a small shop of the typical “lights off, but we carry everything” Spanish variety, a bar which does full meals and has a wifi signal just outside their door where some locals sit with their laptops, and a pharmacy as
...Continue out of town in the same direction you walked in and resist the temptation to take a small and well-manicured path of fitness machines on your left-hand side. Just stay on the road and walk around the bend. It is just after that bend that you take a dirt track up and to your left. A...
|
1 |
Casa Rural Cornatel Médulas ⭑⭑⭑ Casa Rural
Plaza Ayuntamiento, 3
|
 |
Booking.com |
Located off the camino to the north by about 500m, but included here because it offers accommodation.
|
1 |
Hotel Rural La Peregrina Casa Rural
Carucedo-Las Médulas, km 0.5
|
 |
Booking.com |
This town has a tourist information center, accommodation, bars, and restaurants targeting weekenders hiking the many trails around the area. You will have to go through the town, and leave on the opposite end. If the arrows are not visible at a fork in the
...You enter Puente along a trail that descends into town. Once you get to the first road, you have two options. The first is to continue along the camino into town. Go that way if you wish to resupply or see the town. Eventually, though the trail will turn you back around and take you back uphill...
|
1 |
Cabañas Rurales Lares Casa Rural
General, 11
|
 |
Booking.com |
|
2 |
Hotel Medulio Hotel |
 |
Booking.com |
|
3 |
Complejo Rural Agoga Hotel
Carretera Las Cuevas
|
 |
Booking.com |
 |  |
This town has most services, including many atms and friendly locals.
The way out of town, if you spent the night in the hostal, is "behind" the hostal. Walk around the building to your Left. Follow that road and keep to the right when it splits. Follow the arrows and the signs pointing to Quereño.
An alternate route of equal distance can be made by...
|
1 |
Polideportivo de Puente Domingo Flórez Polideportivo |
|
2 |
Hostal Restaurante La Torre Hostal
Chao do Marco
|
 |
|
|
3 |
Hostal La Torre II Hostal
Chao do Marco
|
 |
Booking.com |
