stage 7. Rabanal del Camino - Ponferrada
This stage is 32 kilometres long, and is the longest one on the Way of Saint James in the province.
Just over one kilometre outside Rabanal del Camino is the Fuente de los Peregrinos. Walk for another 4 kilometres and you come to the ruins of Foncebadón, with a small rest area and a fountain. 2 kilometres further on at the highest point of the pass (1,504 metros), you come to the hermitage of Santiago built in 1982 and the Cruz del Ferro, a true monument to the pilgrims. There is a fountain 80 metres to the left of the cross.
The custom here is to take a stone, turn your back to the cross and throw it as you make a wish, which many people swear actually come true.
The route goes downhill from here for 2 kilometres until you reach Manjarín (1,458 metres), an abandoned village where Tomás, a pilgrim who settled down here give years ago, offers accommodation and rings the bell as pilgrims walk by; an old custom used to prevent them from getting lost in the mist.
The descent continues and alternates between road and dirt track down to El Acebo, which you pass through along the road-track that divides the village. Now you’re getting close to Ponferrada, the capital of the Bierzo region. The landscape starts to change and you’ll see the first buildings of stone and slate that are typical of the region.
As you leave El Acebo you can see the Monument of the Pilgrim to your left. Erected in 1988, it pays homage to a German pilgrim who died on the pilgrimage.
The sharp descent takes you to Riego de Ambrós and five kilometres further on you come to Molinaseca, a carefully preserved village and prelude to the end of this stage. Just 8 kilometres more and you’re in Ponferrada.
Enter the city via the Barrio de la Borreca. The Calles Hospital, Salinas, the Plaza del Temple and the Calle del Comendador take you to the Plaza where you can see the Basilica of la Virgen de la Encina, patron saint of the Bierzo region.
Length of stage
32 Kilometres
TOWNS/VILLAGES ON THIS STAGE
Foncebadón
The village and its dilapidated houses have been abandoned, although one person still lives here. A hermit called Gaucelmo was the driving force behind the creation of the village. He provided care and accommodation to pilgrims in the 11th century.
Manjarín
This village had a pilgrims’ hospital in the 16th century. The village is now abandoned, which can be seen in the dilapidated buildings that evoke memories of better times in Manjarín.
El Acebo
Walk down the main street that divides the village and serves as a road, a route for the pilgrims and a meeting place for the fewer than twenty residents who still live in the village. At the exit, next to the monument to the pilgrim, the road goes down to Compludo, where a medieval smithy is still preserved
Riego de Ambrós
This small Leonese village takes you even closer to the Bierzo region. Here you can stop to rest near the fountain and visit the parish church of La Magdalena.
Molinaseca
The streets and large, emblazoned houses in Molinaseca are symbols of the importance of the town, which at one time had up to four hospitals for pilgrims. The 18th century sanctuary of Las Angustias, the bridge over the river Meruelo and the church of San Nicolás are worth a visit.
Campo
In Campo, 18th century parish church dedicated to San Blas.
Ponferrada
Ponferrada is the capital city of El Bierzo, a region next to Galicia. Historians of the Way of Saint James comment that the city was born as a result of the pilgrimage. In the late 11th century, the bishop of Astorga, Osmundo, ordered a bridge to be built over the river Sil, reinforced with iron railing (pons ferróte) which gave the city its name The Templars left their mark on the castle, which was built next to the 17th century Baroque church of San Andrés.
Landmarks of the city include the Hospital de la Reina, commissioned by Queen Isabella I of Castile in 1498-, the 16th century Torre del Reloj, built on one of the arches of the medieval wall and the Basilica of La Encina. The decision to declare the Virgin the patron of the Bierzo region in 1958 was based on the apparition of the Virgin Mary on a holm oak that was being cut to build the Templar castle.
Other sights not to be missed in Ponferrada are the 11th century Mozarabic church of Santiago de Peñalba and the 10th century church of Santo Tomás de las Ollas, a beautiful example of Spanish Pre-Romanesque architecture.
HOSTEL OF MANJARÍN
HOSTEL OF PEREGRINOS EL ACEBO
HOSTEL - MESÓN EL ACEBO
HOSTEL LA TABERNA DE JOSÉ
HOSTEL DE RIEGO DE AMBRÓS
PILGRIM HOSPITAL OF MOLINASECA
HOSTEL OF PONFERRADA
- Address:Next to the road (the only inhabited house in the village)
- Where:Manjarín
- Owner:Private
- Campsite available.
Not very well kept.
Open all year.
Price: voluntary donations.
35 mattresses on the floor; it has 15 more in another building.
No reservations.
Open all day.
SERVICES:
- Chemical toilet
- Drinking water
- Enclosed area for bikes
- Wash basins
- First aid kit
- Medical assistance (in summer)
- Common room, a corner to one side of the fireplace.
- Stables
- Kitchen
- Terraces
- Coffee machine
- Sockets for mobile phones
- Mobile phone coverage (Movistar)
- Address:Calle Real s/n
- Where:El Acebo
- +34987 695 074
- Owner:Neighbours' Association
- Well kept.
Opens only when the hostel in the Mesón is full.
10 beds, 2 of which are mattresses on the floor.
Closes at 22:30 (you can't leave after it closes, although they can be quite flexible about this).
No reservations.
Price: 5€.
Closed from 20 December to 10 January.
SERVICES:
- Hot water
- 1 shower
- 1 toilet
- First aid kit
- Coffee machine
- Sockets for mobile phones
- Coverage for mobile phones
NEARBY SERVICES:
- Telephone booth
- Restaurant and bars
- Internet available at restaurant
- Address:Calle Real nº 16
- Where:El Acebo
- +34987 695 074
- Owner:Private
Well kept.
24 bunk beds.
Open from 12:00 to 23:00 (leaving after the hostel is closed is not permitted).
No reservations.
Price: 5€.
Closed from 20 December to 10 January.
SERVICES:
- Wash basins
- Washing machine and tumble dryer
- Hot water
- 3 showers
- 3 toilets
- First aid kit
- Drink’s machine
- Coffee machine
- Washing line
- Meeting room
- Dining room
- Terraces
- Public telephone
- Enclosed area for bikes
- Coverage for mobile phones
- Sockets for recharging batteries
NEARBY SERVICES:
- Telephone booth
- Restaurant and bars
- Internet available at restaurant
- Butchers'
- Address:Calle la Real nº 9
- Where:El Acebo
- +34987 695 074
- Owner:Private
- Well kept.
Opens only when the hostel in the Mesón is full.
14 bunk beds.
No reservations.
Open from 12:00 until it fills up (you can't leave after it closes, although they can be quite flexible about this).
Price: 5€.
Closed from 20 December to 10 January.
SERVICES:
- Wash basins
- Hot water
- 1 shower
- 1 toilet
- Coffee machine
- Common room, there is a hall with a table.
- Dining room
- Terraces
- Enclosed area for bikes
- Coverage for mobile phones
- Sockets for recharging batteries
NEARBY SERVICES:
- Telephone booth
- Restaurant and bars
- Internet available at restaurant
- Address:Village plaza. Next to the Ermita de San Sebastián
- Where:Riego de Ambrós
- +34987 695 190 - +34 696 482 873
- Owner:Neighbours' Association
- 40 beds: 20 bunks beds and other 20 on a raised parquet floor.
Very well kept.
Space available for camping.
Open all year.
Price: 4.50€.
No reservations.
Open till 22:30 (there is a mobile phone number on the door when the hostel is closed). You can leave after it closes
SERVICES:
- 2 sinks
- Hot water
- Coal and wood burning stove
- 4 showers
- 4 toilets
- Fridge
- Lockers and wardrobes
- First aid kit
- Drink’s machine
- Coffee machine
- Kitchen
- Meeting room
- Dining room
- Terraces
- Enclosed area for bikes
- Coverage for mobile phones
- Sockets for recharging batteries
NEARBY SERVICES:
- Information for pilgrims
- Telephone booth
- Bar and hotel
- Internet
- Address: Calle Manuel Fraga Iribarne s/n
- Where: Molinaseca
- +34 987 453 080 - +34 615 302 390
- Owner: Town Hall
- Space available for camping.
In winter: 30 bunk beds. In summer: 55 mattresses, making a total of 85 beds.
Very well kept.
Price: 5€.
Open all year.
Open from 12:00 to 23:00.
SERVICES:
- Wash basins
- Washing machine and tumble dryer
- Heating
- Hot water
- 7 showers
- 4 toilets
- First aid kit
- Drinks and snack machines
- Coffee machine
- Washing line
- Kitchen
- Meeting room
- Dining room
- Terrace
- Public telephone
- Enclosed area for bikes
- Coverage for mobile phones
- Sockets for recharging batteries
NEARBY SERVICES:
- Information for pilgrims
- Pharmacy
- Grocer's
- Medical assistance
- Butcher's
- Baker's
- Bar-Restaurant (there are 40 bars)
- Internet
- Address: Calle de la Loma s/n
- Where: Ponferrada
- +34 987 413 381
- E-mail: peregrinosflue@terra.es
- Owner: Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de la Encina
- 180 bunk beds.
250 beds are made available in Holy Years.
Very well kept.
Opening times vary between 12:00 and 13:00, depending on the season. Closes at 23:00.
Open all year.
Price: voluntary contributions.
Contact the hostel beforehand if you are a large group.
There is an information panel about Ponferrada and its surroundings.
Chapel open all day. Prayers with pilgrims are held every night (there are plans to hold more prayer sessions in summer).
SERVICES:
- Wash basins
- Dryer and tumble dryer
- Heating
- Fridge
- Hot water
- 20 showers
- 16 toilets
- First aid kit
- 2 drinks machines
- Coffee machine
- Kitchen
- Meeting room
- Dining room
- Terrace (summer terrace)
- Public telephone
- Enclosed area for bikes (can be left in the patio)
- Coverage for mobile phones
- Sockets for recharging batteries
NEARBY SERVICES:
- Information for pilgrims
- Cash machine
- Pharmacy
- Repair workshop
- Grocer's
- Medical assistance
- Butcher's
- Baker's
- Bar-Restaurant
- Internet (available at hostel)