Day 47 Thu 08 May
A very pleasant days walk through the small market gardens until Camponaraya where we were tempted by a morning wine when passing the local winery. Then continued through the vineyards to Cacabelos, 16 kilometers for the day.
Ermite San Blas at Columbrianos
Stork looking after its young
Farmers ploughing
Poppies follow the sun
Old house shows traditional building methods
Woman heading out to work the fields
Santiago on a house
Church at Fuente Nuevas with its covered bell verandah
Bodega Viñas del Bierzo, perfect stop for morning wine
Morning vino & tapa at Viñas de Bierzo
Vineyards of Mencía grapes used for the local red wine
San Roche in the chapel at Cacabelos
Cacabelos - Sanctuary of the Virgen of the Angustias, 18th century Baroque
Day 48 Fri 09 May
Instead of taking a day off we walked an easy 9 kilometers to the lovely pueblo of Villafranca del Bierzo, taking the old Camino via Valtuille de Arriba. A glorious day meandering along dirt roads between the rows of Mencía grapes used to make the region’s red wines. Legend has it that a French pilgrim, many years ago, planted a cutting of Cabernet Franc which became naturalized in El Bierzo to become Mencía. Villafranca del Bierzo is a lovely town, perfect for a half day. The town’s motto is “the art is the street” and there are many well preserved old buildings to admire. Such was its importance that in the 15th century, any sick pilgrim who entered the Church of Santiago in Villafranca by the door Puerta del Pedrón was given the same indulgence by the Pope as if he had completed the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela Cathedral itself.
Mencía vines in El Bierzo
Old house in the small village of Valtuille de Arriba
Approaching Villafranca de Bierzo
Castle of the Marques of Villafranca, 16th century
Church of Santiago, classic Romanesque 12 th century
Puerta del Perdón in the Church of Santiago
Convent of San Nicholas, 16th century
San Francisco, Gothic 13th century, Villafranca
Santa María, 16th century
Day 49 Sat 10 May
An easy 17 kilometer walk gradually uphill following the river to Vega de Valcarce (pop 250). We enjoyed a trout from the river for lunch.
We followed the Valcarce River all day
The pueblo of Ambasmestas, now below the motorway
Pam enjoys a Galician white and tapas in Vega
Castillo de Sarracin, 11th century, near Vega