Villafranca del Bierzo, what to see at a key site on the Camino de Santiago

La Bierzo region to the north of the province of León It has enough attractions to make a getaway for a weekend or a long weekend.

There you will be able to see spectacular landscapes, such as Las Médulas, ancient Roman gold mines, their various waterfalls or Los Ancares Valley, with its pallozas and old forts.

Also corners of rural stone architecture , the Penalba de Santiago at the Valley of Silence, with its interesting Mozarabic church.

Or monumental places like the castle of the Templars of Ponferrada or the old one Cistercian monastery of Santa María de Carracedo.

You can also do wine tourism visiting wineries and tasting the Mencia red wines y white Godella that characterize this wine region of the DO Bierzo.

But from a historical and heritage point of view, a key corner of the Bierzo region is the town of Villafranca.

Villafranca del Bierzo on the Camino de Santiago

Did you know the bierzo It is one of the key points of Camino de Santiago French?

Specifically, Villafranca del Bierzo known as the little Compostela because its history is closely linked to pilgrimages.

But above all, it is the place where the Door of Forgiveness which is opened so that pilgrims who cannot reach Santiago due to illness can gain indulgences.

Curiosities of the history of Villafranca del Bierzo

Founded in the 11th century, it is thought that Villafranca del Bierzo arose from the burgs that arose around a monastery of French Benedictines settled to serve the pilgrims, who also brought the cultivation of the vine.

In the 12th century this population received the title of Manor, and later, at the end of the 15th century, the Catholic kings They gave her the title Marquisate of Villafranca del Bierzo.

But from a historical point of view there is another key moment in the history of this region, which is when during the Liberal triennium, from 1821 to 1823, the bierzo It became one of the provinces of Spain.

After the rivalry with Ponferrada to be the capital of the then called province of Vierzo (yes, with V), it was finally Villafranca the town that had that title, also covering the judicial districts of the aforementioned Ponferrada, Toreno and the Valdeorras ship.

What to see when visiting Villafranca del Bierzo (our experience)

After the experience of our recent visit, I can tell you that when you arrive at Villafranca del Bierzo, you find a town of about 2.600 inhabitants located at the foot of the mountains that separate Lion de Galicia.

Surrounded by vineyards, these remind us that we are in a wine area which extends at the confluence of the Burbia and Valcarce rivers.

Having as its main axis the street that connects the Plaza Mayor ’s relationship with the Alameda Garden, Villafranca del Bierzo You will be able to see some interesting heritage corners.

Villafranca del Bierzo Collegiate Church

good place to to park the car It is next to the aforementioned Alameda Garden, where you will see the building of the collegiate church in the place where the aforementioned was located Benedictine monastery.

La Villafranca del Bierzo Collegiate Church It was built in the 16th century to reflect the power of the marquisate of that time.

The church that we can now see is late gothic style with elements renaissance y baroque, although it is an unfinished building.

Inside there are three naves and enormous vaults, as well as a neoclassical altarpiece at the High altar.

Saint Nicholas the Royal

Also next to the Alameda Garden, the imposing building of Saint Nicholas the Royal, which was built in the 17th century to be a school of the company of Jesus.

After the expulsion of the Jesuits in the 18th century, it later became the headquarters of the deputation of the aforementioned province of Villafranca del Vierzo, and currently it is a inn which opens in spring and summer.

Water Street

Likewise, it is worth walking along the pedestrian water street, which was the one with the greatest commercial and artisanal activity linked to the the Camino de Santiago.

It was also known as wine street by the warehouses that housed their houses.

Here now you can see some stately buildings that remind us of past times of great strength, among which the Palace of the Marquises of Villafranca and the Torquemada Palace, both from the 17th century.

For its part, in the Plaza Mayor, mostly pedestrian and with arcades, you will be struck by the 18th century building that currently houses the Gil y Carrasco Theater and it is also the headquarters of Villafranca del Bierzo City Council.

Door of Forgiveness in the church of Santiago in Villafranca del Bierzo

From the monumental and historical point of view, the most outstanding heritage corner of Villafranca del Bierzo is Church of Santiago, which is located at the entrance to the town through the aforementioned the Camino de Santiago.

Built in 1186 rural Romanesque style, this church is a very special point of the the Camino de Santiago because on its side it has its own Door of Forgiveness, which is opened to pilgrims who during the Holy year They arrive sick and cannot continue their pilgrimage.

When these pilgrims arrive at Villafranca de Bierzo, they can request a special permit for the exceptional door opening, so that it serves them win the jubilee without needing to reach Santiago de Compostela.

From the architectural point of view, the Door of Forgiveness is Romanesque transitional style to Gothic.

The interior of the Church of Santiago It consists of a single nave, with an apse in two parts with a barrel and quarter vault.

To highlight the Gothic Christ of the 14th century in the chancel and the side chapel that was added in the 18th century with an altarpiece from the same period.

Ave Fénix Pilgrims Hostel

The building located next to the church of Santiago will surely catch your attention, the Ave Fénix Pilgrims Hostel, property of a pilgrims association.

This is a personal project Jesus Jato, who bought the site where the ruins of an old pilgrim hospital from the 15th century were, and who built it with the help of the pilgrims themselves.

Church of San Francisco in Villafranca del Bierzo

Another heritage corner that is worth visiting in Villafranca del Bierzo is San Francisco church, which was part of an ancient Franciscan convent founded in 1213.

Only the church building built in romantic style with a later gothic extension.

Inside it stands out the enormous Mudejar coffered ceiling from the 15th century, which is considered the largest in Castilla y León.

You can also see an altarpiece from the 17th century churrigueresque baroque style, and also highlights the curious figure of the Pregnant Virgin Our Lady of the Hoz, Virgin of Good Birth, XNUMXth century.

Castle of Villafranca del Bierzo

Finally, in front of the church you can see how the very robust fortification of a castle XNUMXth century.

With a quadrangular plan and four robust towers, it is a private use castle belonging to the composer's family Christopher Halffter, who recently passed away.

Map: where Villafranca del Bierzo is and how to get there

Villafranca del Bierzo is located at an hour and a half west of León and one hour southeast of Lugo.

Photos of Villafranca del Bierzo

Here you have more photos of Villafranca del Bierzo, with highlights heritage corners in this region of the province of León.