# Pilgrim cross, Templar castle and red gold mountains – by camper from León through the Maragatería into the Bierzo

> From León's cathedral of glass past Gaudí's Bishop's Palace and the Cruz de Ferro down into the Bierzo, to the Valley of Silence, the Roman gold mines of…

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/guides/rf-451-leon-bierzo-medulas-astorga/

**At a glance:** 7-day road trip of about 186 km (116 mi) with 14 stops, from León to Cacabelos. About 2 h 34 min of driving in total. Best time to go: May–June and August–October. Tolls and vignettes for a car: about €5 (Spain). From León's cathedral of glass past Gaudí's Bishop's Palace and the Cruz de Ferro down into the Bierzo, to the Valley of Silence, the Roman gold mines of Las Médulas and the Mencía cellars of Cacabelos: around 230 kilometres on and beside the Camino.

| | |
|---|---|
| Distance | approx. 186 km (116 mi) |
| Driving | 2 h 34 min |
| Suggested days | 7 |
| Stops | 14 |
| Route | León → Cacabelos |
| Countries | Spain |
| Best time to go | May–June and August–October |
| Tolls and vignettes | ≈ €5 |
| Updated | October 1, 2026 |

[Download GPX file](https://camping-spirit.com/gpx/rf-451-leon-bierzo-medulas-astorga.gpx)

Practical guides for this route: [Spain and Portugal by motorhome: tolls, low-emission zones, where to stay and autumn weather](https://camping-spirit.com/magazine/eu-spain-portugal-by-motorhome/), [Alpine passes in a motorhome: gradients, closures and tunnels](https://camping-spirit.com/magazine/eu-alpine-passes-camper/)

*From León's cathedral of glass past Gaudí's Bishop's Palace and the Cruz de Ferro down into the Bierzo, to the Valley of Silence, the Roman gold mines of Las Médulas and the Mencía cellars of Cacabelos: around 230 kilometres on and beside the Camino.*

## The spirit of the route

Beyond Astorga the land goes quiet. The Meseta breaks up into heath and broom, the stone villages of the Maragatos crouch under slate roofs, and on the narrow road over the Montes de León pilgrims with scallop shells on their rucksacks walk alongside your camper. Up at the Cruz de Ferro lies a mound of stones left here by people from all over the world; after that the road drops in hairpins into the Bierzo, a green basin of chestnuts, cherry trees and vineyards. From the sliding door you see the battlements of the Templar castle of Ponferrada, and in the evening the red earth pinnacles of Las Médulas, which the Romans washed out of the mountain while mining for gold. This route thrives on short stages, long lunches over cocido maragato or Mencía, and nights on small municipal pitches. Traces of the fire summer of 2025 are part of it today.

## Stage-by-stage plan

### Stage 1: León to Astorga (via Hospital de Órbigo) (approx. 50 km)

- **The drive:** Leave León westwards on the N-120 across the flat Órbigo plain with its irrigation channels and rows of poplars – parallel to the Camino Francés, where you will keep seeing pilgrims. At Hospital de Órbigo turn off the main road briefly, then continue via San Justo de la Vega up to Astorga. Wide, level country road, just under an hour of pure driving time. The parallel AP-71 is a toll road and saves hardly any time.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - León in the morning, deliberately brief: the Gothic cathedral of Santa María with almost 1,800 m² of medieval stained glass, best seen with morning sun, and the Real Colegiata de San Isidoro with the Panteón de los Reyes, whose Romanesque vault paintings are among the best preserved in Europe.
  - Puente del Passo Honroso in Hospital de Órbigo: one of the longest medieval bridges in Spain with around 20 arches, pedestrians only. Here the knight Suero de Quiñones is said to have defended the bridge against all challengers for weeks in 1434.
  - Astorga: the Bishop's Palace designed by Antoni Gaudí with the Museo de los Caminos, the cathedral right next door, plus remains of the Roman city wall of Asturica Augusta.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Astorga's área de autocaravanas next to the bullring on the Carretera de Sanabria, around 15 minutes' walk uphill to the old town: free, open all year, fresh water and disposal for grey and black water, no electricity. Surface mostly gravel, dusty when dry, muddy after rain; users report taps occasionally out of order, and according to user reports the neighbouring helipad can be active during the day. With full service: Camping Municipal in Hospital de Órbigo by the river (open in season only, check times in advance).
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** The pitch in Astorga is the legal and practical solution; there is no room for motorhomes in the walled old town and by the cathedral anyway. In León there is a municipal área de autocaravanas a good 1.5 km west of the cathedral across the Bernesga, as well as private pitches; overnighting on streets in the city centre is impractical because of parking zones and delivery traffic.
- **Insider tip for campers:** Leave the camper in León on the área by the Bernesga and walk into the old town – the Barrio Húmedo and the area around the cathedral are narrow and partly traffic-calmed. In Astorga, mantecadas (butter cakes) and chocolate from the former chocolate town belong in your provisions; the Museo del Chocolate covers the subject.

### Stage 2: Astorga to Molinaseca (via Castrillo de los Polvazares and the Cruz de Ferro) (approx. 50 km)

- **The drive:** On the LE-142 through the Maragatería: a short detour to Castrillo de los Polvazares, then via Santa Catalina de Somoza and Rabanal del Camino steadily up to Foncebadón (around 1,440 m) and the Cruz de Ferro (around 1,500 m). After that narrower and twistier via Manjarín and through the tight main street of El Acebo, then a long, steep descent with tight hairpins via Riego de Ambrós to Molinaseca. About 1.5 hours of driving, in a low gear on the descent.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Castrillo de los Polvazares: Maragato village of reddish-brown rubble stone with cobbles and the large courtyard gates of the former carters; the village centre is closed to cars.
  - Cruz de Ferro: a simple iron cross on a tall wooden pole above a mound of stones that pilgrims bring from home – one of the highest points of the Camino Francés, with views over the Montes de León.
  - El Acebo: a one-street slate village with wooden outside balconies and views down into the Bierzo; at the end of the village, the memorial to a cycling pilgrim who died in an accident.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Small área de autocaravanas on the edge of Molinaseca with only a few places, water and disposal; arrive early, in summer it fills up quickly. If you find no space, drive the 8 km on to the área in Ponferrada (stage 3).
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** At the entrance to Castrillo de los Polvazares there are large parking areas (tarmac and earth) on the LE-142, where motorhomes may park under the basic Spanish rule unless signs say otherwise; at weekends they are full. On the pass near Foncebadón and at the Cruz de Ferro there are only small lay-bys, occupied during the day by pilgrim coaches and support vehicles – unsuitable for overnighting and windy and cold in winter.
- **Insider tip for campers:** On the LE-142 pilgrims walk and cycle partly on the carriageway, especially between Foncebadón and El Acebo and on the bends: drive slowly and overtake with plenty of room. In El Acebo balconies jut into the narrow passage; motorhomes over 3 m high should drive down the middle at walking pace. Don't overtax the brakes on the descent to Molinaseca – better to stop twice. In the Maragatería, cocido maragato is eaten in reverse order: first the meat, then chickpeas and cabbage, the soup last.

### Stage 3: Molinaseca to Ponferrada (approx. 8 km)

- **The drive:** A short town day: on the LE-142 through Campo into the new town of Ponferrada and to the Templar castle. Ten minutes' driving; time for Molinaseca in the morning and Ponferrada in the afternoon.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Molinaseca: the Romanesque pilgrim bridge over the Meruelo and, on the edge of the village, the dammed river bathing spot, the village meeting place on hot days.
  - Castillo de los Templarios in Ponferrada: medieval castle complex with curtain walls, towers and a library of facsimiles of historic manuscripts; from the wall walk, views over the Sil and the old town.
  - ENE.Museo (Museo de la Energía) in the former Compostilla coal-fired power station on the Sil – the industrial history of the Bierzo, which lived from mining until a few decades ago.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Área de autocaravanas in Ponferrada a few hundred metres east of the Templar castle, with room for around two dozen vehicles, fresh water and disposal; the castle and the old town are within walking distance. The best service point on this route – fill and empty your tanks here before Peñalba and Las Médulas.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** The área is the designated place for motorhomes in Ponferrada. In the centre and the old town there are parking zones with time limits, and motorhomes will hardly find suitable spaces there.
- **Insider tip for campers:** Regional products such as botillo (stuffed pork stomach), dried peppers and pimientos asados del Bierzo are sold in the specialist shops of the old town. Fill up and shop here for the days in the western Bierzo – out in the country, shops become scarce.

### Stage 4: Ponferrada to Peñalba de Santiago (Valle del Silencio) (approx. 22 km)

- **The drive:** Out of Ponferrada over the bridge on the Boeza to San Esteban de Valdueza and on the LE-5228 up the Oza valley via Valdefrancos and San Clemente to San Cristóbal. The last 2 km or so to Peñalba are steep and narrow, with hairpins and few passing places; with oncoming traffic, someone has to reverse. About 40 minutes. The variant via San Andrés de Montejos and San Adrián de Valdueza is even narrower and unsuitable for larger vehicles.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Iglesia de Santiago de Peñalba: 10th-century Mozarabic church with a double horseshoe arch on the south portal and remains of early wall paintings – the only surviving building of the former monastery.
  - Walk into the Valle del Silencio to the Cueva de San Genadio, the hermitage of the monastery's founder, on a stony path beneath the rock faces of the Montes Aquilianos.
  - Peñalba itself: a listed slate village with wooden balconies, closed to cars.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Above the village Peñalba has several small parking areas with only a few places between them and no services whatsoever; according to user reports quiet and level, with mobile signal. For anything over around 7 m long the access road is an ordeal – in that case stay another night on the área in Ponferrada and make the day trip by small vehicle, taxi or bicycle.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** The parking areas belong to the village and are meant for parking; chairs and an awning turn it into camping, which nobody tolerates here. In the villages of the Oza valley the lanes are so narrow that even leaving the vehicle can become a problem – outside the villages, do not park on bends or in passing places.
- **Insider tip for campers:** Plan the trip to Peñalba on a weekday and early in the day; at weekends and in August there is more oncoming traffic on the LE-5228. In rain, fog or snow, better postpone: the road can then become impassable. The church's opening hours vary; check in advance with Turismo Castilla y León.

### Stage 5: Peñalba de Santiago to Las Médulas and Lago de Carucedo (approx. 70 km)

- **The drive:** Carefully back down the LE-5228 to Ponferrada, the first quarter of an hour downhill in a low gear, then on the N-536 south-west through the Sil valley, past Priaranza del Bierzo to Carucedo, then on a narrow side road up to the village of Las Médulas. For the Mirador de Orellán, go back to Carucedo and via Borrenes to Orellán; the last few kilometres are narrow and winding. In the evening to the Lago de Carucedo and the overnight spot near Carracedelo. Just under two hours' driving in total, plus a full day on foot – if you overnighted in Peñalba, start early.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Las Médulas (UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997): in the 1st and 2nd centuries the Romans removed mountains here using the technique of “ruina montium” – water brought in through channels blew apart tunnels and slopes; what remained are red earth pinnacles, caves such as La Cuevona and La Encantada, and a network of old water channels. Trails start in the village.
  - Mirador de Orellán: viewing platform above the entire mining area, rebuilt after the 2025 fire. Next to it, tunnels of the Galería de Orellán (admission; reception building rebuilt after the fire) lead to a rock balcony. In morning or evening light the pinnacles glow most intensely.
  - Lago de Carucedo: shallow lake at the foot of the mining area which, according to current interpretation, was dammed by the spoil of Roman mining; lakeside path and bathing spot.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Camping Bierzo in Villamartín de la Abadía near Carracedelo, about 10 km north of the lake: campsite with electricity, sanitary facilities and a service point, near the monastery of Santa María de Carracedo; check the season and pitch size in advance. Small alternative: the pitch at the river bathing spot of Toral de los Vados, with only a few places.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** Las Médulas is a Monumento Natural and World Heritage Site; camping is prohibited there. At the large visitor car park at the village entrance a motorhome may park under the basic Spanish rule, but camping behaviour is off limits; the signs on site show whether restrictions apply at night. At the Mirador de Orellán parking space is scarce, recently subject to a fee and not intended for overnighting.
- **Insider tip for campers:** From Orellán the road to the mirador is unpleasant for large vehicles – motorhomes over 7 m are better left in the village of Orellán or below it, walking the last stretch. The 2025 fire damaged chestnut groves, parts of the trails and visitor facilities; the restoration of the Aula Arqueológica in the village had not yet been completed. Ask in advance at the Fundación Las Médulas or at the information points in the village which trails are open. Take water with you; in summer it is hot in the red earth.

### Stage 6: Carracedelo to Villafranca del Bierzo (approx. 20 km)

- **The drive:** A short drive on country roads through orchards and vineyards, past Cacabelos (you return there on the last day) and on the N-VI to Villafranca del Bierzo at the confluence of the Burbia and Valcarce. Around half an hour; the old town lanes are too narrow for motorhomes.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Monasterio de Santa María de Carracedo near Carracedelo: monastery ruin with the surviving “Palacio Real” and Gothic kitchen, worth a morning visit before you set off.
  - Iglesia de Santiago in Villafranca with the Puerta del Perdón: sick pilgrims who could go no further received the same graces here as in Santiago de Compostela.
  - Calle del Agua with noble palaces and coats of arms, plus the castle-palace of the Marquises of Villafranca (private, exterior only).
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Free área de autocaravanas on Calle Fuente Cubelo on the northern edge of town near the river bathing spot, just under ten places with fresh water and disposal; according to user reports the tap has no thread (use a jerrycan or adapter), many places are sloping, and in summer it is full and noisy with bathers and festivals. Do not follow the satnav through the old town: take the N-VI towards Galicia through the tunnel, then follow the signs to the river; from around 7 m in length the access gets tight. With full facilities: Camping Valle do Seo in the Valcarce valley west of the town, towards O Cebreiro, or back to Camping Bierzo.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** In the town centre and on the riverside promenade along the Burbia there are parking zones and narrow lanes; for overnighting use only the designated area. Away from the towns the vineyards are on private land – do not block farm tracks to vineyards, least of all during the autumn harvest.
- **Insider tip for campers:** Villafranca is the gateway to the climb to O Cebreiro and on into Galicia; the uplands to the north with the Ancares and Ribeira Sacra are covered in the CampingSpirit guide to Ribeira Sacra, Ancares and Somiedo. For this route you turn round here and finish in Cacabelos. Bierzo cherries and apples (reineta) are sold in summer and autumn at roadside stalls between Villafranca and Cacabelos.

### Stage 7: Villafranca del Bierzo to Cacabelos (approx. 10 km)

- **The drive:** On the N-VI eastwards via Pieros, past Castro Ventosa, to Cacabelos on the Cúa. A quarter of an hour's drive; the rest of the day belongs to the cellars.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Wine cellars in and around Cacabelos: the D. O. Bierzo stands for red wine from Mencía and white wine from Godello, and many wineries offer tastings – book ahead, and the driver sticks to water.
  - Castro Ventosa between Cacabelos and Pieros: a hill with remains of the Roman settlement of Bergidum Flavium, views over the wine country.
  - Museo Arqueológico de Cacabelos (MARCA) with finds from the Bierzo from prehistory to Roman times.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Aparcamiento de autocaravanas in Cacabelos, a simple parking area for motorhomes in the town; check facilities on site. With electricity and sanitary facilities: Camping Bierzo in Villamartín de la Abadía, around 8 km away. To empty tanks before the journey home, use the área in Ponferrada.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** In Cacabelos the pitch is the obvious solution. If you won't want to drive after a wine tasting, plan the night there from the outset – at 0.5‰ there is little leeway, and the Guardia Civil carries out regular checks in the Bierzo.
- **Insider tip for campers:** The Bierzo harvest usually falls in September and early October: tractors with trailers are then out on the country roads, and many cellars have little time for visitors. The toll-free A-6 leads back to León and towards Madrid; if you are heading north, take the AP-66 toll road from León through the Huerna tunnel into Asturias.

## Camping practice & local rules

### Wild camping & overnight parking

- Basic Spanish principle: sleeping in a legally parked vehicle is allowed, camping with anything that extends beyond the vehicle's outline is not. Since 1 October 2026 Real Decreto 518/2026 (new Art. 92.4 of the Reglamento General de Circulación) explicitly defines when a motorhome is correctly parked: no parts beyond the vehicle's outline, resting on its tyres only (levelling chocks allowed), no discharge of liquids. Municipalities may still regulate parking times, zones and maximum duration, but according to the DGT may not issue penalties solely on the basis of vehicle type; rules for protected areas and coasts apply independently of this. Implementation on the ground may take time – follow the signs.
- In Castile and León, camping outside campsites is heavily restricted; municipalities issue their own bylaws with time windows or bans, and signs such as “Prohibido acampar” or “Prohibido pernoctar” take precedence. On the áreas, as a rule only parking is allowed, no camping behaviour.
- Protected areas: Las Médulas is a Monumento Natural and UNESCO World Heritage Site; Peñalba de Santiago and the Valle del Silencio are under monument and landscape protection. Camping outside designated places is prohibited there; drone flights in protected areas generally require a permit.
- Wildfire: in summer 2025 large fires in the province of León also hit Las Médulas and chestnut groves in the Bierzo. During the summer danger period a strict ban on fires applies in and near forests, with barbecues only in designated facilities; at high alert levels the Junta de Castilla y León closes trails. Emergency number 112.
- Tools: park4night, Campercontact and Áreas AC; user comments usually show faster than official sites whether a service point is broken or a pitch is closed. There are many pilgrim hostels along the Camino – their car parks are for guests, not for motorhomes.

### Waste disposal & supplies

- Water and waste services are called “punto de vaciado” or “área de servicio”. On this route they are offered by the áreas in Astorga, Molinaseca, Ponferrada and Villafranca del Bierzo and by the campsites; in Peñalba, Las Médulas and at the Cruz de Ferro there is nothing. Only empty grey water at a service point – since October 2026 draining it onto the street is also explicitly a parking offence.
- Drinking water: tap water in the towns is drinkable. There are many fountains along the Camino; only put water marked “agua potable” in your tanks. Fill the fresh-water tank before Peñalba and Las Médulas.
- Gas: foreign cylinders are neither exchanged nor refilled in Spain; Spanish butane and propane cylinders are hard for non-residents to obtain, and Campingaz cylinders are available in DIY stores. Autogas (GLP) can be found at a few filling stations in León and Ponferrada, not in the mountains – fill refillable cylinders or gas tanks in the towns and carry a Euro adapter (Euronozzle).
- Heating: in the Montes de León and the Oza valley the nights are cool even in summer, and frosty in spring and autumn. A second full gas cylinder matters more on this route than on the coast.
- Shopping and fuel: large supermarkets and cheap filling stations in León, Astorga, Ponferrada and Cacabelos; in the Maragatería and the mountain villages there are hardly any shops, and the few there are close at lunchtime.

### Vehicle size & traffic rules

- Speed limits: motorhomes up to 3.5 t 120 km/h on autopista and autovía, 90 km/h on country roads; over 3.5 t and car-caravan combinations 90 km/h on autopista and autovía, 80 km/h on country roads. In built-up areas 50 km/h on roads with two or more lanes in each direction, 30 km/h on roads with only one lane in each direction. On the LE-142 and LE-5228 realistic averages are 30–40 km/h.
- Tolls: the A-6 (León/Astorga–Ponferrada–Villafranca) is toll-free, as are the N-120, N-VI, N-536 and the LE roads. Tolls apply on the AP-71 between León and Astorga and on the AP-66 between León and Asturias; two-axle motorhomes without twin wheels generally pay the car rate.
- Low-emission zones (ZBE): León and Ponferrada have designated Zonas de Bajas Emisiones in their centres; neither has permanent driving bans, and restrictions by DGT sticker are only planned during air-pollution episodes. Foreign vehicles cannot obtain a DGT sticker. Regardless of this, León's old town is closed to through traffic, and Ponferrada monitors access to pedestrian zones by camera. Safest option: only drive the camper as far as the área on the edge of town and check the rules on the town councils' websites before you travel.
- Dimensions and mountain roads: the general limits are 4 m height, 2.55 m width and 12 m length. The passage through El Acebo, the road to the Mirador de Orellán and the last section to Peñalba de Santiago are hardly suitable for large vehicles. Drive downhill in a low gear and overtake pilgrims and cyclists with at least 1.5 m clearance.
- Winter: there is no general winter-tyre requirement, but snow can lie on the LE-142 over Foncebadón and on the A-6 at the Puerto de Manzanal between October and April; when chains are mandatory (“cadenas obligatorias”), vehicles without chains or approved alternatives may not continue.
- Other rules: warning triangles from your home country are sufficient for foreign vehicles; the V16 light is only mandatory for vehicles registered in Spain; wear a hi-vis vest when getting out on the carriageway. Loads overhanging on a rear carrier need the red-and-white V-20 warning panel. Alcohol limit 0.5‰, 0.3‰ for novice drivers; handheld phones at the wheel are banned. Emergency number 112, Guardia Civil de Tráfico 062.

## CampingSpirit packing & preparation checklist

- Two-step levelling chocks: the pitches in Astorga, Peñalba and Las Médulas are gravel or earth and rarely level – chocks are explicitly allowed under the new Spanish parking rule, levelling jacks are not.
- Fresh-water jerrycan of 10–20 litres and a funnel, to top up at fountains marked “agua potable” where there is no service point.
- Good hiking boots and poles for the stony paths in Las Médulas and the Valle del Silencio; the red earth is slippery after rain.
- Head torch for the tunnels of the Galería de Orellán and the walk back from the Valle del Silencio at dusk.
- Euro gas adapter and a second full gas cylinder for cold nights in the Montes de León.
- Cool box or wine crate with dividers, so that the Mencía and Godello from the cellars of Cacabelos survive the gravel tracks.

_As of 2026-10. Closures, fees and booking rules change: check official sources before you go._

## Sources

- [BOE – Real Decreto 518/2026 (Reglamento General de Circulación)](https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-13889)
- [Autofácil – Aparcar autocaravanas: qué cambia el 1 de octubre](https://www.autofacil.es/nueva-normativa-aparcar-autocaravana-real-decreto-518-2026/)
- [Diario de León – Las Médulas, un año después del incendio](https://www.diariodeleon.es/bierzo/260809/2093730/medulas-ano-despues-incendio.html)
- [Diario de León – Concluye la reparación del acceso a la Galería de Orellán](https://www.diariodeleon.es/bierzo/260131/2074160/concluye-reparacion-acceso-galeria-orellan-medulas.html)
- [El Debate – Finaliza la reconstrucción del Mirador de Orellán](https://www.eldebate.com/espana/castilla-y-leon/20251121/finaliza-reconstruccion-mirador-orellan-medulas-incendio-pasado-verano_357724.html)
- [Diario de León – Mapa de la Zona de Bajas Emisiones del centro de León](https://www.diariodeleon.es/leon/251106/1948399/mapa-interactivo-calles-definitivas-zona-bajas-emisiones-zbe-centro-leon.html)
- [RACE – La ZBE en Ponferrada: mapa, restricciones y accesos](https://www.race.es/zonas-de-bajas-emisiones/mapa-zbe-ponferrada)
- [Diario de León – Bonificación del peaje de la AP-71 León–Astorga](https://www.diariodeleon.es/leon/260716/2091404/junta-convocara-primeros-2027-ayudas-bonificar-peajes-ap-6-ap-51-ap-61-ap-71.html)
- [Turismo Castilla y León – Camping El Bierzo (Villamartín de la Abadía)](https://www.turismocastillayleon.com/es/servicios/dormir/campings/bierzo)
- [park4night – Área de autocaravanas Villafranca del Bierzo](https://park4night.com/de/place/312318)

## Which stops are on the route from León to Cacabelos?

1. **León** (Spain)
2. **Hospital de Órbigo** (Spain)
3. **Astorga** (Spain)
4. **Castrillo de los Polvazares** (Spain)
5. **Foncebadón** (Spain)
6. **Cruz de Ferro** (Spain)
7. **Molinaseca** (Spain)
8. **Ponferrada** (Spain)
9. **Peñalba de Santiago** (Spain)
10. **Las Médulas** (Las Médulas, Spain): Red peaks among chestnut trees, left by Roman gold mining that washed away whole mountains; a World Heritage Site. Walk from the village, then drive to the Mirador de Orellán for the view from above.
11. **Mirador de Orellán** (Spain)
12. **Lago de Carucedo** (Spain)
13. **Villafranca del Bierzo** (Spain)
14. **Cacabelos** (Spain)

## When is the best time for the route from León to Cacabelos?

The most pleasant months are usually May–June and August–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in March–April, July and November. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)

## What should you know before driving the route from León to Cacabelos?

Tolls and vignettes for a car: about €5 (Spain).

- **Spain: Tolls on some roads, bridges or tunnels.** Many former toll motorways are now free; some AP roads still charge. Motorway limit for cars: 120 km/h.

## FAQs

**How long is Pilgrim cross, Templar castle and red gold mountains – by camper from León through the Maragatería into the Bierzo?**
7-day road trip of about 186 km (116 mi) with 14 stops, from León to Cacabelos. About 2 h 34 min of driving in total.

**How many days do you need for Pilgrim cross, Templar castle and red gold mountains – by camper from León through the Maragatería into the Bierzo?**
We suggest 7 days: about 2 h 34 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.

**Where does Pilgrim cross, Templar castle and red gold mountains – by camper from León through the Maragatería into the Bierzo start and end?**
It starts in León and ends in Cacabelos.

**Which countries does Pilgrim cross, Templar castle and red gold mountains – by camper from León through the Maragatería into the Bierzo pass through?**
Spain.

**Where can you camp along Pilgrim cross, Templar castle and red gold mountains – by camper from León through the Maragatería into the Bierzo?**
OpenStreetMap lists 37 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 20 km of the stops on this route. For example: Camping Ciudad de León, Camping Reino de León and Camping Bierzo.

**How much are the tolls on the route from León to Cacabelos?**
Tolls and vignettes for a car: about €5 (Spain). Estimate with typical rates; motorhomes pay more, and vehicles over 3.5 t often pay by distance.