stage 5. Villadangos - Astorga
Villadangos del Páramo is the starting point of one of the longest stages of the Way of Saint James in the province of Leon. You have to walk 26 kilometres to reach Astorga.
Leave Villadangos and take the dirt track for 3 kilometres to San Martín del Camino. At 7 kilometres, a track on the right takes you to Puente de Órbigo and 500 metres further on you cross the old bridge over the river Órbigo called the Passo Honroso.
You enter Hospital de Órbigo almost without realising it since the two villages are practically joined together. On the left hand side of the Calle Mayor, which is the route to take through the village, you can see the remains of the old pilgrims’ hospital that gave its name to the village, while on the other side of the street you can see the church of San Juan. Luis Pastrana comments in his guide to the Way of Saint James that the route used to pass through Estébanez de la Calzada, which is now separated by the N-120.
From Hospital de Órbigo, set off towards Villares de Órbigo, which is 2 kilometres further on.
A stretch of another two kilometres on an asphalt track takes you to Santibáñez de Valdeiglesias, where you can rest after reaching the halfway point of this stage.
Another eight kilometres and you reach San Justo de la Vega, almost at the gates of Astorga. Leave San Justo via the Calle de los Vientos and in one last effort walk the remaining 4 kilometres to Astorga, in the Calle Puerta Sol. Walk along the Calle Padres Redentoristas, Plaza de San Bartolomé, Calles Pío Gullón, Postas, Santiago and Santa Marta, the patron saint of the city, and you come to the Plaza de la Catedral.
LENGTH OF STAGE
26,5 Kilometres
TOWNS/VILLAGES ON THIS STAGE
San Martín del Camino
The parish church of this small village of 500 inhabitants is dedicated, according to Millón Bravo, to the Bishop of Tours, a patron saint of pilgrims, and the church altar also has statues of other protectors of the Way of Saint James: San Miguel, San Roque and San Antonio Abad.
Puente de Órbigo
The name of the village comes from one of the most famous bridges on the Way of Saint James in Spain. Originally built by the Romans, it has undergone many restorations and a monolith in the middle commemorates a famous battle of love won by the Leonese knight, Suero de Quiñones.
Hospital de Órbigo
Practically united with Puente de Órbigo, the village’s name comes from the pilgrim’s hospital built by Hospitallers of St. John. The church of San Juan and the ruins of the hospital can still be seen.
Villares de Órbigo
The parish church of the village, like so many others on the Way, contains an image of Santiago. An image of Santiago Matamoros can be seen at the High Altar.
Santibáñez de Valdeiglesias
The church of the Trinidad has sculptures of San Roque Peregrino and Santiago Matamoros.
San Justo de la Vega
The cross of Santo Toribio, bishop of Astorga, tells you that you are close to San Justo de la Vega. Other symbols of the Way are the carving of San Roque that according to Millón Bravo, was kept in the church of the Santos Justos y Pastor until 1965, and a pilgrims’ hospital that once existed here.
Astorga
The capital of the Maragatería region received the titles of August and Magnificent in the events held to commemorate 2,000 years of the city’s existence. Other titles of the city include Most Noble, Loyal and Praiseworthy.
The Way of Saint James and the Vía de la Plata join together in Astorga. Episcopal see and home to a major monastic movement since the 7th century, the 24 hospitals for pilgrims that once existed here make it a major centre on the Way of Saint James.
Astorga is a living monument in itself. Enter the city through the Puerta Sol, and walk past the Monastery of the Padres Redentoristas towards the old Rúa de los Francos, now called the Plaza de San Bartolomé, the Roman dungeons, the Town Hall where two mechanical “maragatos” strike the hours, The Episcopal Palace, a neo-Gothic building designed by Gaudí, where you can visit the Museum of the Ways, with a room, La Jacobea, given over to the Way of Saint James, and the Gothic Cathedral of Santa María, next to the Hospital de San Juan.
The Cathedral museum, the Parque del Aljibe, the Seminary and the Jardín de la Sinagoga (Garden of the Synagogue) are just some of the many historical landmarks of the city.
MUNICIPAL HOSTEL OF HOSPITAL DE ÓRBIGO
HOSTEL OF PEREGRINOS VIATORIS
HOSTEL OF PEREGRINOS DE SANTIBÁÑEZ
HOSTEL OF ASTORGA
HOSTEL OF PEREGRINOS DE SAN JAVIER
HOSTEL OF PEREGRINOS SIERVAS DE MARÍA
- Address: El Camping s/n
- Where: Hospital de Órbigo
- +34 987 388 206 (Town Hall of Hospital de Órbigo), 08:00 to 15:00, Monday to Friday.
- Owner: Municipal
Well kept.
Open all year. Price 3.50€.
30 beds, 30 of which are mattresses on the floor.
No reservations.
Open from 08:00 to 23:00. Leaving the hostel after closing time is prohibited.
SERVICES:
- Wash basins
- 2 electric panels for heating
- Hot water
- 2 showers
- 4 toilets
- Lockers and wardrobes
- First aid kit
- Drink’s machine
- Coffee machine
- Kitchen
- Meeting room
- Dining room
- Terrace
- Public telephone
- Enclosed area for bikes
- Stables
- Coverage for mobile phones
- Sockets for recharging batteries
NEARBY SERVICES:
- Information for pilgrims
- Telephone booth
- Cash machine
- Pharmacy
- Repair workshop
- Grocer's
- Medical assistance
- Butcher's
- Baker's
- Bar-Restaurant
- Internet
- Address: Iglesia de la Trinidad
- Where: Sahagún
- +34 987 780 001 (Sahagún Town Hall)
- Owner: Municipal
If the hostel is closed, there is a tourist office nearby (+34 987 782 117).
Beds for 100 persons, 64 in bunks and 36 mattresses on the floor
Room for people who snore and service for disabled persons
No reservations Open from 10:00 to 22:00 (leaving the hostel after closing time is not permitted).
Only for pilgrims with stamped accreditation.
- Address: Calle Caromonte bajo nº 3
- Where: Santibáñez de Valdeiglesias
- +34 987 377 698
- E-mail: gvsara@latinmail.com
Parish hostel, well equipped.
Open from 12:00 to 22:30.
Open from Holy Week to September. Price 4 €.
30 bunk beds.
SERVICES:
- Hot water
- 2 toilets
- Space for bikes
- Drinking water
- Wash basins
- First aid kit
- Electric lighting
- Washing line
- Kitchen
- Terraces
- 2 showers
- Lounge
- Sockets for mobile phones
- Fridge
- Dining room
- Coverage for mobile phones
NEARBY SERVICES:
- Medical assistance
- Address: Calle Matías Rodríguez nº 24 (in winter); Plaza de los Marqueses nº 3 (in summer)
- Where: Astorga
- +34 602 870 660 - +34 987 547 751
The hostel is in good condition.
Situated in a city of major importance in the Roman period: Astorga had up to 25 pilgrims' hospitals. Behind the city walls is the Episcopal Palace, designed by Gaudí after the previous one was destroyed in a fire The hostels are managed by the Asociación de Amigos del Camino de Santiago de Astorga.
Open all year. Price 3€.
36 bunk beds in winter and 195 in summer.
The hostel changes its location to a school in summer, where camping areas are available to increase capacity.
SERVICES:
- Hot water
- 9 toilets
- Space for bikes
- Drinking water
- Wash basins
- First aid kit
- Public telephone
- Heating
- Electric lighting
- Washing line
- 11 showers
- Sockets for mobile phones
- Dining room
- Coverage for mobile phones
NEARBY SERVICES:
- Tourism and Information Office
- Cash machine
- Pharmacy
- Workshop for bikes
- Grocers
- Medical assistance
- Butcher's
- Baker's
- Restaurant and bars
- Internet cafe
- Address: Calle Portería nº 6
- Where: Astorga
- +34 987 618 532
- Owner: Private
The hostel is very well kept.
Open all year. Price 6€.
120 beds, available as follows: 104 bunk beds and 16 beds.
No reservations. Only pilgrims with stamped credentials accepted.
Open from 09:00 to 22:30. Leaving the hostel after closing time is prohibited.
SERVICES:
- Wash basins
- Washing machine and tumble dryer
- Heating
- Fridge
- Hot water
- Showers
- 10 toilets
- First aid kit
- Drinks and snack machines
- Towels and soap
- Coffee machine
- Washing line
- Kitchen equipped with crockery and cutlery
- Meeting room
- Dining room
- Terrace
- Public telephone
- Enclosed area for bikes
- Stable service available
NEARBY SERVICES:
- Information for pilgrims
- Telephone booth
- Cash machine
- Pharmacy
- Repair workshop
- Grocer's
- Medical assistance
- Butcher's
- Baker's
- Bar-Restaurant
- 2 computers with Internet connection
- Coverage for mobile phones
- Sockets for recharging batteries
- Address: Plaza San Francisco nº 3
- Where: Astorga
- +34 987 616 034 - +34 618 271 773
Opened for the first time in July 2006, very well kept.
Open all year. Price 4€.
145 bunk beds. Rooms are for 2, 4, and 6 persons, with other special rooms for groups.
No reservations. Only pilgrims with stamped credentials accepted.
Open from 08:00 to 23:00. Leaving the hostel after closing time is not permitted.
SERVICES:
- Wash basins
- Washing machine and tumble dryer
- Heating
- Fridge
- Hot water
- 13 showers
- 15 toilets
- First aid kit
- Towels and soap
- Coffee machine
- Washing line
- Kitchen
- Meeting room
- Dining room
- Terrace
- Public telephone
- Enclosed area for bikes
NEARBY SERVICES:
- Information for pilgrims
- Telephone booth
- Cash machine
- Pharmacy
- Repair workshop
- Grocer's
- Medical assistance
- Butcher's
- Baker's
- Bar-Restaurant
- Coverage for mobile phones
- Sockets for recharging batteries