Attractions and Places To See around Castropodame - Top 20

The "iron cross" here on Monte Irago, which is legendary for many pilgrims on the Camino Frances to Santiago de Compostela to the grave of the Apostle James the Greater, has since been replaced by a copy at the original location. The cross, which appears comparatively small due to its enormous height, is on the top of a very long tree trunk and protrudes from a constantly growing pile of stones. Many pilgrims take a stone with them on the Way of St. James and place it here. This stone symbolizes the burdens and hardships of the pilgrims (or their family members and friends at home), who symbolically cast off their worries at this point with the stone and can thus move on free of them.

The Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción in Rabanal del Camino is a beautiful architectural gem along the Camino de Santiago. This church, located in the small village of Rabanal del Camino in the province of León, was built in the 12th century and has undergone several renovations and extensions over the centuries. The church is of Romanesque origin and is believed to have been built by the Knights Templar, who protected the pilgrims who crossed the Montes de León on their way to Santiago de Compostela.

At the end of the 11th century, Osmundo, Bishop of Astorga, ordered the construction of a bridge (partly made of iron = pons ferrata) over the Sil for the pilgrims on the Way of St. James, near which a settlement was built. At the "pons ferrata", the iron bridge, the Knights Templar built a huge castle on a surface area of 160 x 90 m to protect the pilgrims on the Way of St. James. The medieval castle complex was inhabited by the Knights Templar from 1178 to 1312. Source: Wikipedia

The Templars' heyday from the 12th to 14th centuries led to the construction of this mighty fortress, among other things to protect the pilgrims on the Way of St. James. The rampart on the city hill stands out impressively against the mountain backdrop and absolutely conforms to the stereotypical image of a knight's castle. It is sensationally well maintained and a feast for the eyes.

The order, often referred to simply as the "Order of the Knights Templar," whose full name is "Poor Knights of Christ and of Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem," takes us mentally back to the 13th century. Founded in the Holy Land, it spread surprisingly quickly to many countries in Central Europe, and this castle complex in Ponferrada, northern Spain, was one of its numerous branches. The order gained notoriety through its dissolution in 1312 by the French king and the pope, and many of its members were burned at the stake as alleged heretics. The main reason for the dissolution, however, was not the members' human and religious misconduct (heresy), which was merely a pretext, but the legendary wealth of this order. King Philip IV of France primarily wanted to secure the treasures to bolster his coffers.

Although the bridge is believed to be of Roman origin, its current structure is primarily medieval Romanesque, with some later renovations in the 18th and 20th centuries. It is built of ashlar and cobblestone and consists of seven spans of varying sizes. It is the starting point of the town's main street, Calle Real, which ends at a cross and is home to most of Molinaseca's rural houses, bars, and restaurants. If you ever have the opportunity to visit it, you will immerse yourself in the rich Jacobean tradition and enjoy its historical beauty. 🚶‍♂️🌉

The Templar Castle of Ponferrada is a superb building. It houses the Templar Library and the Ponferrada Center for Research and Historical Studies, with over 1,400 books, including facsimiles of works by Leonardo da Vinci. It was originally a Roman camp and later a citadel. In the early 12th century, the Templars took possession of the fortress, strengthening and expanding it to serve as a residential palace and as a protection for pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela. The building has an irregular square plan, and its most notable entrance is reached by crossing the moat over a drawbridge and, further on, two large crenellated towers joined by an arch. Its twelve original towers depicted the constellations.

Long, steep climb up to the Cruz de Ferro, as the track can be very rough, especially in poor weather. Be sure to recover at one of the albergues once you reach Foncebadón.