Page 357 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Spain

C ASTILLA Y LEÓN  355

churches and convents compete
for attention. Particularly worth
seeing are the fine sculptures
adorning the north portal of the
simple, Romanesque Iglesia de
Santiago (open Jul–mid­Sep).
At the church’s Puerta del Perdón
(Door of Mercy), pilgrims who
were too weak to make the final
gruelling hike across the hills of
Galicia could obtain dispensation. The imposing Templar castle of Ponferrada
Also sample the local speciality,
cherries in aguardiente, a spirit. both iron and coal de posits, 10th­century Mozarabic church
Ponferrada has expand ed into has horseshoe arches above its
Environs a sizable town. double portal.
One of the finest views over El Most of its attractions are
Bierzo is from Corullón, to the confined to the small old quar­ 4 Puebla de
south. This village with grey stone ter. Ponferrada’s majestic castle
houses is set in a sunny location was constructed between the Sanabria
above the broad, fertile basin of 12th and 14th centuries by Zamora. * 1,500. £ @ n Muralla
the Río Burbia where the vines the Knights Templar to protect Mariquillo, 980 62 07 34. ( Fri.
of the Bierzo wine region flourish pilgrims. During the Middle _ Candelas (Feb), Las Victorias
(see pp82–3). Two churches, the Ages it was one of the largest (8–9 Sep). ∑ pueblasanabria.com
late 11th­century San Miguel fortresses in northwest Spain.
and the Romanesque San Standing on the main This attractive old village lies
Est eban, are worth a visit. Down square is the Baroque town hall beyond the undulating broom
in the valley, the Benedictine (ayuntamiento). One entrance to and oak scrub of the Sierra de
monastery at Carracedo del the square, one of the gateways la Culebra. A steep cobbled
Monasterio stands in splend our. of the medieval wall, is straddled street leads past stone and
Founded in 990, it was once by a tall clock tower. Nearby is slate houses with huge,
the most powerful religious the Renaissance Basílica de la overhanging eaves and walls
community in El Bierzo. Virgen de la Encina. The older bearing coats of arms, to a
Iglesia de Santo Tomás de las hilltop church and castle.
Ollas is hidden away in the The village has become the
town’s village­like northern centre of a popular inland hol­
suburbs. Mozarabic, Roman­ iday resort based around the
esque and Baroque elements largest glacial lake in Spain,
combine in the architecture of the Lago de Sanabria, now a
this simple church. The 10th­ nature park. Among the many
century apse has beautiful activities available are fishing,
horseshoe arches. Ask at the walking and water sports.
nearest house for the key. The Most routes beckon visitors to
neighbour will open it for you. Ribadelago, but the road to the
quaint hill village of San Martín
Environs de Castañeda gives better views.
A drive through the idyllic Valle There’s a small visitors’ centre
de Silencio (Valley of Silence), for the nature reserve in San
south of Ponferrada, follows a Martín’s restored monastery.
Puerta del Perdón of Villafranca’s Iglesia poplar­lined stream past several The village is very traditional –
de Santiago bucolic villages. The last and you may see cattle yoked to
most beautiful of these is carts, and women dressed
Peñalba de Santiago. Its completely in black.
3 Ponferrada
León. * 68,700. £ @ n Calle Gil
y Carrasco 4, 987 42 42 36. ( Wed &
Sat. _ Virgen de la Encina (8 Sep).
∑ ponferrada.org/turismo/en
A medieval bridge reinforced
with iron (pons ferrata), erected
for the benefit of pil grims
on their way to Santiago de
Compostela, gave this town its
name. Today, prosperous from The 12th-century church and 15th-century castle of Puebla de Sanabria

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