빌라프랑카 델 비에르조 최고의 라이딩 경로

Path

Famous pass, feared by medieval pilgrims, practically connects the Bierzo with Galicia. The climb from Villafranca del Bierzo is no joke, but doable. Just take it easy.

Perfect road for a bike ride, you have to be careful in summer because of the vehicle traffic

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 stop on the Camino. In later centuries it was the capital of a county. Here we find the Santiago church from 1186, the 16th century castle, 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.

At the end of the 11th century, Osmundo, Bishop of Astorga, ordered the construction of a bridge (partly made of iron = pons ferrata) over the Sil for the pilgrims on the Way of St. James, near which a settlement was built. At the "pons ferrata", the iron bridge, the Knights Templar built a huge castle on a surface area of 160 x 90 m to protect the pilgrims on the Way of St. James. The medieval castle complex was inhabited by the Knights Templar from 1178 to 1312. Source: Wikipedia

After a long and hard climb you finally reach the pass and can be proud of yourself.

Here you have finally reached the long-awaited pass.

One of the most beautiful places on the Way of St. James is this church on the O Ceibero. When you are there, you should definitely light a candle and read the pilgrim's prayer to reflect on yourself and the path.