La Virgen del Camino is named for the miraculous sighting of the Virgen by a local shepherd. His vision has been translated into sculptures several times by artists. One is here in the modern looking church, and another is in the León Cathedral (in the Chapel where the daily mass is held).
The sculptures are stunning and bear a resemblance to La Piedad by Michelangelo, with the notable exception that Jesus is facing downwards.
Accommodation in La Virgen del Camino
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1 |
Albergue D.Antonino y Dña. Cinia Municipal
Padre Eustoquio, 16
40 7€ |
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2 |
Hostal Julio César ⭑ Hostal
Cervantes, 6
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Hostales Plaza y San Froilán ⭑⭑ Hostal
Astorga, 98
Booking.com |
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4 |
Hostal Central ⭑ Hostal
Astorga, 85
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Hostal Plaza Hostal
Astorga, 96
Booking.com |
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6 |
Hotel Villapaloma ⭑⭑ Hotel
Astorga, 47
Booking.com |
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When you get to the Basilica de la Virgen del Camino you will cross the busy road and continue on a small access road. In 300m you are presented with the choice between two routes. The painting of yellow arrows here is confusing, and there is zero official signage to indicate your options. Distances are indicated from La Virgen del Camino to Puente de Órbigo where they converge.
The SCENIC ROUTE - 27 KM
This variation is called the Scenic Route, and it adds < 3km to your journey. It is considerably more pleasant and there are now...
Accommodation in Valverde de la Virgen
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1 |
La Casa del Camino Private
Camino El Jano, 2
32 8-10€ Booking.com |
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Accommodation in Villadangos del Páramo
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1 |
Albergue de Villadangos del Páramo Municipal
Carretera a Villadangos del Páramo
54 7€ |
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2 |
Hostal Libertad ⭑⭑ Hostal
Angel Martínez Fuertes, 25
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3 |
Hotel Avenida III ⭑⭑⭑ Hotel
León - Astorga, km 17
Booking.com |
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Accommodation in San Martín del Camino
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1 |
Albergue de San Martín del Camino Municipal
Carretere de León - Astorga
68 5€ |
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2 |
Albergue Santa Ana Private
N-120, 3
96 6-74/6€ Booking.com |
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3 |
Albergue Vieira Private
Peregrinos
40 8€ |
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Albergue La Casa Verde Private
Travesía de La Estación, 8
8 10*€ Booking.com |
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Accommodation in Oncina de la Valdoncina
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1 |
Albergue El Pajar de Oncina Private
Arriba, 4
9 10€ Booking.com |
One bar, located 50m off the camino to the left and well signed in both directions.
Accommodation in Villar de Mazarife
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1 |
Albergue San Antonio de Padua Private
León, 33
60 10€ |
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Albergue Casa de Jesús Private
Coruso, 11
50 7€ |
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Mesón Albergue Tio Pepe Private
El Teso de la Iglesia, 2
26 10€ |
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The camino turns right and into Villavante, though some old yellow arrows continue straight ahead (painted on the elevated irrigation canal). The reason for the detour around town is to avoid a surface crossing of the dangerous rail lines at the edge of town. The distance added is worth...
Accommodation in Villavante
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Albergue Santa Lucía Private
Doctor Vélez, 17
29 9€ |
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2 |
Casa Rural Molino Galochas Casa Rural
Galochas
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Accommodation in Puente de Orbigo
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B&B Puente de Órbigo Casa Rural
Reguerón, 2
Booking.com |
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Camino de Santiago Map 18
Where there are rivers with bridges there is always history to be found. Not much exists on paper, but historians theorize about Suevi and Visigoths battling in the 5th century as well as a few other skirmishes during the 10th century. All of these have been overshadowed by the...
A medieval jousting competition is held in early June, recreating the saga of Don Suero. San Juan is celebrated on the 24th of June.
Minor Detour via Villares de Órbigo
When leaving town, the camino once again splits. The preferred (though unofficial) path is to the right, passing through nearby Villares de Órbigo and scenic countryside. Both routes now rejoin in Santibañez, though if...
Accommodation in Hospital de Orbigo
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Albergue San Miguel Private
Alvarez Vega, 35
30 8-10€ Booking.com |
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Albergue Verde Private
Fueros de León, 76
26 11€ |
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Albergue La Encina Private
Suero de Quiñones
22 11€ Booking.com |
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Albergue Casa de los Hidalgos Private
Álvarez Vega, 36
18 10€ Booking.com |
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Albergue Parroquial Karl Leisner Parochial
Álvarez Vega, 32
90 5€ |
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Bed & Breakfast El Caminero Casa Rural
Sierra Pambley, 56
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Casa Rural Nuestra Señora de Lourdes ⭑⭑ Casa Rural
Sierra Pambley, 40
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Hostal Don Suero de Quiñones ⭑⭑ Hostal
Álvarez Vega, 1
Booking.com |
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Hotel El Paso Honroso ⭑⭑⭑ Hotel
Carraterra N-120
Booking.com |
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The church here is dedicated to St. James. So too is the church in Santibañes. Both are worth a peek for their representations of Santiago.
Accommodation in Villares de Órbigo
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Albergue El Encanto Private
Camino Santiago, 23
10 14*€ Booking.com |
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Albergue Villares de Órbigo Private
Arnal, 21
23 10€ Booking.com |
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The church is often locked up, but if you ask around for the key the locals are always happy to unlock it for pilgrims.
Between here and San Justo de la Vega there are no facilities, but a small kiosk run by pilgrims operates during the busier seasons. Just before the steep descent into San Justo de la Vega is the Cruceiro de Santo Toribio overlooking Astorga in the distance....
Accommodation in Santibáñez de Valdeiglesias
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Albergue Camino Francés Private
Real, 68
22 10€ |
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Albergue Parroquial Santibánez Valdeiglsias Parochial
Caromonte
20 6€ |
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Passing through San Justo, keep an eye out for a bar on the left-hand side called Bar Oasis. It has a corner entrance, a Foosball table, a littered floor, and the BEST tortilla in all of Spain. It is also the thickest tortilla and not to be missed if you are hungry. The owner and his wife are avid travelers and talkers.
Accommodation in San Justo de la Vega
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Hostal Juli ⭑ Hostal
Real, 56
10 Donativo€ Booking.com |
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In Astorga you may notice a sudden increase in the number of pilgrims, new faces will appear amongst the regular crowd you have grown accustomed to. They are likely Spanish, as this is a common starting point for Spaniards, or they have come from Sevilla along the Via de la Plata. A quick peek at their boots will tell the two apart.
Here you will take first notice of the Maragato culture, the ancient tribe of red-headed Iberians that served as the muleteers between the coast and the interior of Spain. They maintain several curious customs by modern...
At the junction of several Roman roads it is no wonder that Astorga is full of Roman ruins. Several dig sights are ongoing and can be toured, and nearly every structure in town has some Roman foundation. This was an important crossroad for the Romans and the gateway into El Bierzo...
Santa Marta is celebrated during the last week of August.
Market day is Tuesday.
The camino here leaves the last of the plains behind and begins, slowly at first, to climb. The ascent is slow and gradual until Rabanal, where it begins a more steep ascent to the alto and an equally quick descent into Molinaseca. On the way up it passes through several small but...
Accommodation in Astorga
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Albergue Só Por Hoje Private
Rodríguez de Cela, 30
10 20*€ Booking.com |
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Albergue San Javier Private
Portería, 6
95 10€ |
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Albergue de Peregrinos Siervas de María Association
Plaza San Francisco, 3
165 5€ |
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Pensión García Pension
Bajada de Postigo, 3
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Hostal La Peseta ⭑⭑ Hostal
Plaza de San Bartolomé, 3
Booking.com |
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Hostal Delfín ⭑ Hostal
Carretera N-VI, 417
Booking.com |
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Hostal Coruña ⭑⭑ Hostal
Ponferrada, 72
Booking.com |
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Hotel SPA Vía de la Plata ⭑⭑⭑⭑ Hotel
Padres Redentoristas, 5
Booking.com |
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Hotel Gaudí ⭑⭑⭑ Hotel
Ingeniero Eduardo de Castro, 6
Booking.com |
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Hotel SPA Ciudad de Astorga ⭑⭑⭑⭑ Hotel
Sitios, 7
Booking.com |
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Hotel Astur Plaza ⭑⭑⭑ Hotel
Plaza España
Booking.com |
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Valdeviejas sits adjacent to the camino and most pilgrims never go into town. There is not much cause to do so unless you plan to stay at the municipal albergue here.
Accommodation in Valdeviejas
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Albergue de Peregrinos Ecce Homo Municipal 10 5€ |
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The town is one of a dozen that is considered to be a part of the Maragatería, whose inhabitants are characterized by their red hair, their hard work ethic, and their honest reputation.
Accommodation in Murias de Rechivaldo
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Albergue de Peregrinos Murias de Rechivaldo Municipal
Santa Colomba, 52
20 5€ |
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Albergue las Águedas Private
Camino de Santiago, 52
40 9€ Booking.com |
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Albergue Casa Flor Private
Carretera Santa Colomba, 54
15 10€ Booking.com |
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Casa Rural La Veleta ⭑⭑⭑ Casa Rural
Plaza Mayor, 1
Booking.com |
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Hostería Casa Flor ⭑⭑ Casa Rural
Carretera Santa Colomba, 52
Booking.com |
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