Camino Frances: Stage 4 Leon to O Cebreiro

Make your way to León, the starting point of this fourth section of the Camino Frances. León is an important Jacobean capital where a visit to the Cathedral, Gaudí's Casa Botines, and the San Marcos Hospital are all a must. A walk through the old town and a stop in the Barrio del Húmedo is also highly recommended.

This is the variant of the Historical Way of St. James. It runs parallel to the national N-120 and is a flat route that runs through the cities of San Miguel and Fresno, and among the grain fields characteristic of the area.

At this stage you will start to tackle some hills, which will get bigger the closer you get to Galicia. You’ll walk through Villadangos de Páramo and the Hospital de Órbigo, which you reach via a magnificent bridge over the river. Your destination will be the small town of Astorga, full of remains from the Roman period and where the French Way and the Vía de la Plata (The Silver Way) meet. It is also the capital of the Maragatería region.

Your route gets hillier as you delve deeper into the Montes de León, eventually arriving in Foncebadón.

At this point you leave the Maragatería region and hike to El Bierzo. Today is hilly, and the first climb takes you to a mythical place on the Camino de Santiago, the Cruz de Ferro on Mount Irago, the highest point of the French route, at 1,500 meters. From there you start a descent that leads you to the city of Ponferrada, the capital of the Bierzo region. This entire region is known for its rich gastronomy with typical dishes such as botillo and especially for its wines with its own designation of origin.

In the middle of the Bierzo region, today you will walk along quite comfortable hiking through fields and vineyards. In Villafranca del Bierzo you can visit the Church of Santiago, known for the Puerta del Perdón, which opened only in the Jacobean years, as well as the Holy Door of the Cathedral of Santiago

Today is a flat stage, as well as relatively short, allowing you to rest up for tomorrow’s wonderful stage to O Cebreiro. The route follows the old N-VI and runs down the Valcarce river for a final stretch of almost two kilometers.

Today is the mythical climb to O Cebreiro, the gateway to the French route to Galicia and the biggest climb in Spain. Many say that it is the most beautiful stage on the way, and possibly the most exciting. You’ll gain 700 meters of elevation as you ascend La Faba Hill, but the arrival in the beautiful village of O Cebreiro is worth it. You’ll find out why it’s of immense Jacobean tradition and great anthropological interest, and the entry into the magical Ancares make the hard days walk worth it.

¡Buen Camino! See you next time.