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  4. Stage 25

Stage 25 · Camino Francés

Ponferrada → Villafranca del Bierzo

206km km to Santiago
24,2 km Distance +270 m Ascent −190 m Descent 26,9 km Effort 8 h 24 Time needed · On foot

Bierzo vineyards to Villafranca

A pleasant stage of medium difficulty, 24.2 kilometres of gentle undulations across the Bierzo basin, between villages that almost touch each other and vineyards of mencía. Getting out of Ponferrada takes a while, through the suburbs and Compostilla, Columbrianos and Fuentes Nuevas, almost all asphalt, as far as Camponaraya at about kilometre ten, with enough bars and shops for a good breakfast.

After that the walking turns lovely: the route crosses the motorway and slips into vines and fruit orchards on earth tracks to Cacabelos, on the banks of the Cúa, the mid-sized town of the stage and the natural place for lunch. On the way out, at Pieros, you can stay on the road or, better, turn right through Valtuille de Arriba, a stretch of track among the vineyards, slightly longer and with the odd short climb, that rejoins the route not long before the end.

You enter Villafranca del Bierzo by the church of Santiago, with its Puerta del Perdón, where sick pilgrims could gain the jubilee without reaching Compostela. It is a noble town, with the Calle del Agua, a castle, a collegiate church and every service.

Tips

Leave early in summer: El Bierzo is a basin and the midday heat among the vines is fierce.

Have breakfast in Camponaraya and lunch in Cacabelos; in between there is the odd bar, but not many.

At Pieros take the Valtuille de Arriba variant if your legs are willing: more earth and fewer cars.

Bierzo wine is the tradition of the district; try the botillo too if it is in season.

You enter Villafranca by the church of Santiago: stop at the Puerta del Perdón before dropping into the centre.

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Profile and services

Elevation profile of the stage from Ponferrada to Villafranca del Bierzo, 24.2 kilometres, with services placed at their kilometre point.

The elevation for this stage has not been loaded yet.

Ponferrada 24.2 km Villafranca del Bierzo

The weather

18°C

Cloudy

Feels like
18 °C
Wind
2 km/h
Daylight
08:36 – 19:47
  1. Today ⛅ 27° 13°
  2. Wed 🌫️ 29° 13°
  3. Thu ⛅ 29° 13° 3 %
  4. Fri ⛅ 26° 11° 4 %
  5. Sat ⛅ 23° 12° 8 %
  6. Sun ⛅ 20° 9° 9 %
  7. Mon ⛅ 16° 2° 11 %

Data from Open-Meteo, refreshed every half hour.

What's there today

Nobody has reported anything on this stage.

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Tips from people who walked it

The things that do not expire: where the fountain actually is, which bar opens at six, where not to go in the rain.

None here yet. If you have just walked this stage, you know something tomorrow’s pilgrim does not.

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Emergencies

Call 112

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Say where you are I am walking the Camino Francés, on the stage from Ponferrada to Villafranca del Bierzo.

The map

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What to see on this stage 22

  1. Iglesia de San Andrés Church km 0,0
  2. Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Encina Church km 0,0
  3. Iglesia de San Pedro Church km 0,8
  4. Iglesia Bautista de Ponferrada Church km 0,9
  5. Salón del Reino Church km 1,0
  6. Iglesia Bautista de Ponferrada Church km 1,0
  7. Iglesia de Santa María Church km 3,1
  8. Iglesia de San Esteban de Columbrianos Church km 4,6
  9. Ermita de San Blas y San Roque Church km 5,3
  10. Ermita del Divino Cristo Church km 7,5
  11. Iglesia de la Asunción de Fuentesnuevas Church km 8,0
  12. Iglesia de San Ildefonso de Camponaraya Church km 9,8
  13. Capilla de la Soledad Church km 10,5
  14. Iglesia Church km 11,2
  15. Ermita de San Roque Church km 15,4
  16. Salón del Reino Church km 15,4
  17. Iglesia de la Asunción de Cacabelos Church km 15,6
  18. Santuario de la Quinta Angustia Church km 16,1
  19. Iglesia de San Martín de Pieros Church km 17,8
  20. Iglesia de Santiago Apóstol Church km 22,9
  21. Iglesia de San Francisco Church km 23,2
  22. Capilla de la Omaña Church km 23,2

What you will find 428