The best traffic-free bike rides around Benuza

The Lambrión Chupacandiles statue in Ponferrada is a bronze tribute to one of the most iconic figures of the local Semana Santa tradition. Installed in 2024 at the Church of San Andrés, the statue depicts a Nazareno in a black hooded robe, holding a bell—just as he parades through the city each year to announce the arrival of Holy Week. The figure, which originated in the 17th century, is linked to the Hermandad de Jesús Nazareno and takes its name from a legend that says he tasted wine and even oil from candlesticks along the way. Designed by Tomás Bañuelos and Soraya Triana, the sculpture has become a recognizable symbol of Ponferrada's religious heritage.

When viewing the rock formations of Las Medulas, it's important to remember that this landscape is not natural, but rather the (sad) remains of a mountain range that was ruthlessly exploited for its gold ore as early as the Roman Empire. Nevertheless, this landscape of ruins is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A 15-minute film documentary about it (although only available in German) is available in the ARD media library as part of the highly recommended series "Treasures of the World - Heritage of Humanity" =>> https://www.zdf.de/swr/schaetze-der-welt/page-video-ard-las-mdulas-und-seine-goldminen-spanien-100.html

The Mirador de Orellán is a spectacular observation point located in the town of Orellán, in the municipality of Borrenes, León. This viewpoint offers stunning panoramic views of the cultural landscape of Las Médulas, an ancient Roman gold mining complex declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Near the viewpoint, you can visit the underground galleries that were part of the Roman gold mining system. Entry costs €3 and a helmet with headlamp is provided for the visit.

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

This small shrine, built in honor of the Mother of God, consists of a square pillar made of natural stone, on top of which a statue of the Virgin Mary is enthroned. It is rather small in comparison to the massive pillar (perhaps the word tower would be more appropriate). Larger and more conspicuous, however, is the wooden cross attached to the stone pillar, which stands out clearly against the dark background of the stone due to its light color. The simple cross has no corpus, but the characters for "Alpha" and "Omega" hang down from the side arms of the crossbeam. These are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet and refer to the words from the Revelation of John, the last book of the New Testament: "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. If anyone is thirsty, I will give him a free drink from the spring of the water of life" (Rev 21:6).

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.

There is a wonderful view of Ponferrada from here.