Astorga – Cruz de Ferro (Iron Cross) loop from Astorga

Bike touring routes & trails

Astorga – Cruz de Ferro (Iron Cross) loop from Astorga

Hard

4.7

(86)

714

riders

Astorga – Cruz de Ferro (Iron Cross) loop from Astorga

06:45

97.4km

1,800m

Cycling

Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: September 2, 2026

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

810 m

Astorga

Highlight • Settlement

In Astorga, it's worth taking a short walk to enjoy the city's impressive architecture: Above all, of course, the cathedral and the Episcopal Palace, designed by Antoni Gaudí, the architect …

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29.1 km

Cruz de Ferro (Iron Cross)

Highlight • Monument

The prayer of the Cruz de Ferro reads: “Lord, may this stone, symbol of my effort on my pilgrimage, which I lay at the foot of the Cross of the …

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30.9 km

View of the Galician Mountains

Highlight • Viewpoint

Very nice view of the outstanding landscape

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39.0 km

View of El Acebo

Highlight • Viewpoint

Archetypal mountain town of Berciano. Here everything is local, even the stones of the houses, which come from a nearby quarry. As a crossing point on the Camino de Santiago, …

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48.7 km

Molinaseca is a beautiful town in the middle of nowhere. In summer season the river is full of people enjoying and refreshing themselves. It's nice to be able to find something like this after a long and hard route.

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48.7 km

Descent into Molinaseca

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

The descent from Puerto de Foncebadon (mountain pass 1504 m) to Molinaseca is simply terrific. You even have to be careful that the brake discs don't start to glow :-).

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68.3 km

Foncebadón Pass

Highlight • Mountain Pass

The Iron Cross, the highest point of the French Way, is a place of extraordinary charm. Pilgrims use to bring a stone from their homelands and leave it here as …

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96.5 km

Gaudí Palace

Highlight • Castle

There is a beautiful, shady park in front of the city walls. In the background you can see the city wall restored by Gaudi.

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97.4 km

End point

Train Station

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

92.6 km

4.20 km

511 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

93.5 km

3.30 km

328 m

271 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (1,490 m)

Lowest point (590 m)

Weather

Friday 9 October

21°C

6°C

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Comments

June 23, 2026,38. Tag San Justo - Ponferrada

The night was once again short due to the football match. Nevertheless, I set off in the morning, because today it was into the mountains – or at least the hills, depending on how you look at it. After the flat plains of the last few days, it was immediately noticeable that the character of the route was now changing …

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August 8, 2024,Camino Frances-Etappe 9: Astorga- Cruz de Ferro- Ponferrada

Stage 9 leads to the summit of the Camino at Cruz de Ferro. Wonderful landscape, sensational views and after a truly spiritual hotspot a spectacular descent to Molinseca. Scenically one of the highlight stages, the extended break at Cruz will also be remembered... Buen Camino!

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June 16, 2022,Astorga nach Ponferrada

From Astorga, the pilgrimage route (EV3) slowly but steadily climbed towards Puerto de Foncebadon. The ascent over the 25 km was pleasant and the approx. 700 meters in altitude were not so strenuous, as a refreshing breeze was blowing regularly. The area was again very varied and beautiful. The more than 10 km long descent from the "pass summit" was …

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