Ponferrada

Route 7 Camino de Santiago - Ponferrada

Ponferrada , the proud heart of El Bierzo region, is a city that has played a crucial role in the history of Leon, and its rich heritage is recognized as a Site of Cultural Interest with the category of Historic Ensemble . Strategically located on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route, Ponferrada stands as a crucial enclave on the Way of St. James, which has shaped its evolution throughout the centuries.

The city's origins date back to the 11th century, when Osmundo, Bishop of Astorga, ordered the construction of a bridge over the Sil River to facilitate the passage of pilgrims traveling along the Camino de Santiago. This iron bridge, called the pons-ferrata (iron bridge), gave the city its name and was the seed of what we know today as Ponferrada. During the Middle Ages, the settlement grew around this strategic crossing point, becoming a key commercial and communications hub for the region.

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Herreria de CompludoMore information
On the occasion of the 13th commemoration of San Fructuoso in 1966, the beginnings of this type of industry are associated with the origins of the monastery of Compludo, founded by the saint in the 7th...
Hermitage of Santa CruzMore information
18th-century shrine that has kept some remains of the first building, such as visigoth and mozarab reliefs from the 10th century.
Monastery of San Pedro de MontesMore information
Founded in the 7th century by San Fructuoso, it remained active until the Muslim invasion. It was restored later by San Genadio. The reconstruction dates from the 12th to the 13th centuries. Nowadays it...
Church of Santa Maria de VizbayoMore information
The church has a single nave with semicircular chevet. It is a simple construction of irregular ashlar blocks. The nave is covered by a barrel vault separated from the chevet by a triumphal arch supported...
Monastery Church of SantiagoMore information
The hermit monk San Genadio, who later became Bishop of Astorga, founded this monastery, built between 909 and 916. The church is of a later date. It was consecrated in 1105.In 1968 the reconstruction...
Castle of PonferradaMore information
The castle consists of a lar polygonal enclosure (more than 8,000 m2) with double and triple battlements, turrets, rooms and a large low courtyard or albacar.It was one of the largest fortress of north-western...
Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la EncinaMore information
This renaissance church with a latin cross ground plan was started before 1573 according to the plans of Juan Alvear. It contains an interesting altarpiece, by members of the school o Gregorio Fernández,...
Minero Siderurgica de Ponferrada Thermal Power StationMore information
An architectural ensemble of Spain's industrial history that has its origins in the early 20th century, with the construction of the original building dating back to 1920. The thermal power station and...
Tower of the ClockMore information
Rising up over one of the gates in the wall, this arch leads to Ponferrada’s liveliest street. It was erected during the reign of Charles I in the 16th century and his coat of arms appears on the entrance...