Villafranca del Bierzo Castle

Villafranca del Bierzo takes its name from French immigrants who (re)populated the region after the Reconquista and built a castle. Villafranca thus became a stage of the Camino. In later centuries it was the capital of a county.
Here we find the Santiago church from 1186, the 16th century fortress, the authentic Calle del Agua, the Plaza Mayor, the San Nicolas church, a Jesuit monastery and a former monastery church of San Francisco. Francis of Assisi founded the monastery in the 13th century on his pilgrimage to Santiago.

Stage of the Camino de Santiago. It goes from the vineyards of Bierzo to the green mountains of the mythical O Cebreiro pass

Villafranca is well worth a visit, because there are a number of old, mostly sacred buildings. But you can also find cafes. Who is on the Way of St. James, should strengthen here before the next stage. It then becomes exhausting.