stage 6. Astorga - Rabanal del Camino
A good starting point is the Plaza de la Catedral. Walk down the Calle Leopoldo Panero and pass through the Puerta Obispo to come to the Calle San Pedro de Afuera. Once you leave Astorga behind and cross the Nacional VI, set off along the LE-142 provincial road.
1.5 kilometres further on you come to the hermitage of Ecce Homo and, on the right hand side, the village of Valdeviejas, where there was a pilgrims’ hospital in the 15th century. Two kilometres further on, you come to Murias de Rechivaldo, where you leave the road and continue along a track that takes you close to Santa Catalina de Somoza, 5 kilometres from Murias.
On this part you passed by the village of Castrillo de los Polvazares on the right, an important part of the province de Leon, declared a Historic–Artistic Monument and famous for the delicious “cocido maragato” (regional stew) that can be enjoyed at any of the village restaurants.
Take the Calle Real to leave Santa Catalina de Somoza and go back onto the LE-142 towards El Ganso, 4 kilometres ahead There are still 7 kilometres to go before the end of the stage at Rabanal del Camino. Almost four kilometres from El Ganso, you cross the Bridge of Pañote, above Arroyo de las Reguerinas.
This is one of the most remarkable parts of this stage, because on the right hand side you can visit some Roman gold mines, the mine of La Fucarona. The reddish colour of the mine workings, similar to the famous Roman mine at Las Médulas in El Bierzo, is quite striking.
When you come to the hermitage of Bendito Cristo de la Vera Cruz, you have arrived at Rabanal del Camino, the end of the stage.
Length of stage
20 Kilometres
TOWNS/VILLAGES ON THIS STAGE
Valdeviejas
This village, which has no more than 170 inhabitants, is just over 1 kilometre from Astorga. It used to belong to the town of Castrillo de los Polvazares. The village has a parish church (San Verísimo) and had a pilgrims’ hospital in the 15th century. At the exit of Valdeviejas, you can see the medieval hermitage of Ecce Homo, which has been restored, the most recent restoration work took place in the 20th century-.
Murias de Rechivaldo
Now you are in La Maragatería, a large Leonese region that joins up with El Bierzo as you go along the Way. The parish church of San Esteban, was built in the 18th century and contains an image of San Roque the pilgrim.
Santa Catalina de Somoza
This village is near Monte Irago, and pilgrims pass through it along the Calle Mayor. The parish church of Santa María contains a relic of San Blas, the patron saint of the village. Before the 15th century, it had a hospital called the Virgen de las Candelas. The village celebrates its local festivals in the first weekend of August.
El Ganso
Less than fifty people live in this tiny Leonese village. Like many of the villages on the Way of Saint James, the patron saint of the village festivals is Santiago, to whom the parish church is also dedicated. In the porch of the church there is a small chapel called the chapel of Cristo de los Peregrinos.
There are records of the pilgrims’ hospital in the 12th century, and of a 12th century convent attended by Premonstratensian nuns of the Cluniac Order. Many guidebooks on the Way of Saint James mention the houses with thatched roofs in the village, which are a prelude to a similar type of construction seen in El Bierzo and Galicia: the pallozas (round or oval building with thatched roof pulled down).
Rabanal de Camino
The 18th century hermitage of the Bendito Cristo de la Vera Cruz greets you at the entrance to the village. The cobbled Calle Real takes you to different points of interest.
The chapel of San José built in the 18th century contains an image of Santiago. You can also see the house that was the old Hospital de San Gregorio and the building called the Casa de las Cuatro Esquinas, where King Felipe II once stayed.
The 12th century Romanesque apse of the parish church is well worth seeing. A 12th century house of the Templars is believed to have existed next to the church.
HOSTEL OF MURIAS DE RECHIVALDO
HOSTEL LAS ÁGUEDAS
HOSTEL JUNTA VECINAL DE SANTA CATALINA DE SOMOZA
Hospedería San Blas
HOSTEL OF THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO
Hostel El Tesín
Hostel Gaucelmo
HOSTEL MUNICIPAL DE RABANAL
HOSTEL NUESTRA SEÑORA DEL PILAR
- Address: Carretera de Santa Colomba
- Where: Murias de Rechivaldo
- +34 987 691 150
Located in the next village after Astorga: Murias de Rechivaldo, where you can see the beautiful 18th century church of San Esteban.
The hostel opens when pilgrims start to arrive and close at 22:30. You can leave the hostel once it is closed.
It has 24 beds, 18 are bunks beds and the other are mattresses on the floor.
Open all year.
Price: voluntary donations.
SERVICES:
- Hot water
- 2 toilets
- Space for bikes
- Drinking water
- Lockers and wardrobes
- First aid kit
- Electric lighting
- Washing line
- Terraces
- 2 showers
- Lounge
- Sockets for mobile phones
- Dining room
- Coverage for mobile phones
NEARBY SERVICES:
- Medical assistance
- Restaurant and bars
- Address: Calle Camino de Santiago, 52
- Where: Murias de Rechivaldo
- +34 636 067 840 - +34 987 616 765 - +34 987 691 234
- E-mail: lasaguedas@yahoo.es
- Website:lasaguedas.com
- Owner: Private
You can find this charming rural hotel at the exit of Murias de Rechivaldo without having to leave the Way of Saint James. Part of its charm lies in the local materials used in the construction.
There is a shop selling food and basic necessities inside the hostel (La Despensa de Las Aguedas). There are bars in the village but no shops.
The grounds can be used for camping and there are facilities for pilgrims on horseback.
Breakfasts are served at the hostel.
Open all year, from 12:00 to 22:00. Price: 6€
60 beds in three rooms.
Pets allowed.
Reservations allowed.
Excellent service.
SERVICES:
- Hot water
- 4 toilets
- Space for bikes
- Drinking water
- Wash basins
- Lockers and wardrobes
- First aid kit
- Washing machine
- Heating
- Electric lighting
- Washing line
- Kitchen
- Drink’s machine
- Terraces
- 6 showers
- Towels and soap
- Stables
- Lounge
- Sockets for mobile phones
- Fridge
- Dining room
- Coverage for mobile phones
NEARBY SERVICES:
- Grocers
- Restaurant and bars
- Internet cafe
- Address: Calle La Escuela s/n
- Where: Santa Catalina de Somoza
- +34 987 691 819
- Owner: Town Hall
Santa Catalina de Somoza is a typical village of stone built houses. There used to be a refuge here for pilgrims.
Open all year. Price 3€.
Open from 15:00 to 22:00.
38 bunk beds.
SERVICES:
- Hot water
- 2 toilets
- Space for bikes
- Drinking water
- First aid kit
- Public telephone
- Electric lighting
- Washing line
- Terraces
- 2 showers
- Stables
- Sockets for mobile phones
- Coverage for mobile phones
NEARBY SERVICES:
- Restaurant and bars
- Address: Calle Real nº 11
- Where: Santa Catalina de Somoza
- +34 987 691 411 - +34 637 464 833
- Website:santacatalinadesomoza.tk
- Owner: Private
Open all year, from 10:00 to 22:30-23:00.
24 beds available: 20 bunk beds, 4 beds; another 2 mattresses can also be put on the floor. The hostel has two double rooms with bathroom.
Reservations accepted.
It also has a bar and restaurant, along with a shop selling food and typical products of the region.
Price: 5€. Double rooms: 35€.
There is a pilgrims' menu for 7.50€ and breakfast for 1.20€ to 3.00€.
SERVICES:
- Hot water
- 6 toilets
- Space for bikes
- Drinking water
- Lockers and wardrobes
- First aid kit
- Washing machine
- Public telephone
- Heating
- Electric lighting
- Drink’s machine
- Terraces
- 4 showers
- Coffee machine
- Towels and soap
- Lounge
- Sockets for mobile phones
- Dining room
- Coverage for mobile phones
NEARBY SERVICES:
- Grocers
- Butchers'
- Baker's
- Restaurant and bars
- Address: Calle Las Eras (old schools)
- Where: El Ganso
- +34 987 691 088
- Owner: Neighbours' Association
Not very well kept
16 bunk beds.
No opening time specified.
Open all year.
Price: voluntary donations.
SERVICES:
- Wash basins
- Public telephone
- Electric lighting
- Washing line
- Sockets for mobile phones
- Coverage for mobile phones
NEARBY SERVICES:
- Phone box in a seasonal bar open from May to November.
- Medical assistance on Fridays.
- Bar-Restaurant: several open from May to November
- Address: Calle Real s/n
- Where: Rabanal del Camino
- +34 650 952 721 - +34 696 819 060
34 beds.
Open all year
SERVICES:
- Hot water
- 6 toilets
- Space for bikes
- Drinking water
- Wash basins
- Lockers and wardrobes
- First aid kit
- Heating
- Electric lighting
- Washing line
- 6 showers
- Towels and soap
- Lounge
- Sockets for mobile phones
- Coverage for mobile phones
NEARBY SERVICES:
- Grocers
- Medical assistance
- Baker's
- Restaurant and bars
- Address: Calle Calvario nº 4
- Where: Rabanal del Camino
- +34 987 691 901
- Owner: Obispado de Astorga
Managed by an English association called Saint James and the Asociación de Amigos del Camino de El Bierzo.
It has 66 beds, 46 are bunks beds and the other 20 are mattresses on the floor.
There is a grassy area nearby for campers.
Open from April to October.
Price: voluntary donations.
Reservations not accepted.
Open from 14:00 to 22:30.
SERVICES:
- Hot water
- 6 toilets
- Space for bikes
- Drinking water
- Wash basins
- First aid kit
- Public telephone
- Electric lighting
- Washing line
- Kitchen
- Terraces
- 6 showers
- Lounge
- Sockets for mobile phones
- Dining room
- Coverage for mobile phones
NEARBY SERVICES:
- Grocers
- Medical assistance
- Baker's
- Restaurant and bars
- Address: Plaza Jerónimo Morán Alonso, s/n
- Where: Rabanal del Camino
- +34 987 691 272 - +34 687 617 445
- Owner: Municipal
This recently opened hostel is managed by volunteer hospitallers.
Well kept.
45 beds, available as follows: 22 in bunks, 23 in mattresses on the floor.
Open from 15 May to 15 October. Price: 3€.
Open from 11:00 to 23:30.
SERVICES:
- Hot water
- 2 toilets
- Drinking water
- Wash basins
- First aid kit
- Heating
- Electric lighting
- Washing line
- Kitchen
- 4 showers
- Lounge
- Sockets for mobile phones
- Dining room
- Coverage for mobile phones
NEARBY SERVICES:
- Grocers
- Medical assistance
- Baker's
- Restaurant and bars
- Address: Plaza Jerónimo Morán Alonso
- Where: Rabanal del Camino
- +34 987 631 621 - +34 616 089 942
- Owner: Private
This village of 60 inhabitants is a good place to rest, but you'll soon have to cross the Monte de Irago to get to El Bierzo. That's why there are three hostels in such a small village. There are buses to Astorga every Tuesday.
The hostel has a beautiful interior patio.
72 bunk beds and 30 mattresses on the floor.
Opens very early and closes at 23:00.
Open all year. Price 5€.
Reservations available for groups.
SERVICES:
- Hot water
- 5 toilets
- Drinking water
- Space for bikes
- Wash basins
- First aid kit
- Public telephone
- Heating
- Electric lighting
- Washing line
- Kitchen
- Drink’s machine
- Terraces
- 5 showers
- Lounge
- Coffee machine
- Towels and soap
- Fridge
- Sockets for mobile phones
- Dining room
- Coverage for mobile phones
NEARBY SERVICES:
- Grocers
- Medical assistance
- Baker's
- Restaurant and bars
- Internet cafe