Foncebadón
❯ Ponferrada
26,8km
STAGE DISTANCE
Stage 24 · French way
Information
The stage between Foncebadón and Ponferrada has an approximate distance of 26.8 km, a duration close to 6 hours and 30 minutes, and a profile marked mainly by descent. It accumulates about 232 meters of ascent against more than 1,100 meters of descent, so your legs will have to work especially hard during the second half of the day.
The first kilometers climb the Mountains of León until reaching the Cross of Iron, one of the most symbolic places of the French Way. Later you will pass through Manjarín and reach the maximum elevation of the route, situated around 1,505 meters. From there begins a long descent toward El Bierzo.
The landscape changes completely with respect to previous stages. You will leave behind La Maragatería to enter El Bierzo, crossing El Acebo de San Miguel, Riego de Ambrós, and Molinaseca before arriving at Ponferrada. Mountain paths, forests, and small villages replace the vast Castilian plains here.
Route map
Recommendation from The Way
Recommendation in stage 24: Foncebadón – Ponferrada
This stage requires special attention on the descents. You will find stony tracks and steep gradients, especially on the descent toward El Acebo and between Riego de Ambrós and Molinaseca. It is best to walk without haste and control each step carefully, especially if the terrain is wet.
You should also take weather conditions into account. The first kilometers take place at considerable altitude and the weather can change rapidly, especially outside summer months.
If you do the Way by bicycle, the stony paths of the descent can be quite technical. If you don’t have experience on this type of terrain, using the LE-142 on the most difficult sections can be a more comfortable alternative, always being extremely careful with traffic.
For people with reduced mobility, this is one of the days when it is most advisable to study the route in advance, as the steep descents and irregular surface can make several sections of the Way difficult.
Stage profile
A stage of 26.8 km, with approximately 232 m of ascent and 1,122 m of descent. The difficulty comes mainly from the strong negative elevation and the irregular terrain of some descents.
The Way passes through Cruz de Ferro, Manjarín, El Acebo de San Miguel, Riego de Ambrós, Molinaseca, and Campo before ending in Ponferrada.
Itinerary
· Foncebadón
The stage begins by traveling Calle Real of Foncebadón. At the exit you will leave to the left the ruins of an ancient sanctuary and begin gaining altitude via a mountain track.
Shortly after you will reach the LE-142 road, cross it, and continue via a path that leads toward one of the best-known points of the entire French Way.
Km 1.9
· Cruz de Ferro
The Cruz de Ferro is located at about 1,500 meters elevation and is one of the great symbols of the Jacobean route. A simple iron cross rises over a long wooden post surrounded by an enormous pile of stones left by pilgrims.
The tradition consists of bringing a stone and leaving it at the foot of the cross, a gesture to which many pilgrims give personal or symbolic significance.
Although this place is usually identified as the highest point in this area, the route reaches its maximum elevation, about 1,505 meters, after Manjarín.
From the Cruz de Ferro you will continue via a path close to the LE-142 until reaching Manjarín.
Km 4.2
· Manjarín
Manjarín is a tiny nucleus situated at about 1,458 meters elevation. For decades it was practically abandoned and became known among pilgrims for the Templar shelter created in 1993.
At the exit you will continue via paths close to the road. You will still gain some altitude until reaching 1,505 meters, the maximum elevation of the French Way according to this stage’s profile.
From here begins the day’s great descent. At first the gradient is moderate, but becomes much steeper and more stony before reaching El Acebo.
Km 11.2
· El Acebo de San Miguel
El Acebo de San Miguel is the first El Bierzo locality you will encounter in this stage. Its structure is very characteristic of the Way: an elongated nucleus that follows practically the direction of the Jacobean route.
Among its heritage elements stands out the parish Church of San Miguel.
You will cross Calle Real in descent and initially continue via the LE-142. Slightly further on you will take a path to the left that leads toward Riego de Ambrós.
Km 14.5
· Riego de Ambrós
Riego de Ambrós is a small locality surrounded by increasingly green landscape. Among its points of interest are the Church of Santa María Magdalena and the Hermitage of San Sebastián.
At the exit begins another of the most beautiful, but also most delicate, sections of the day.
You will descend through a wooded area until briefly meeting the LE-142 again. Later you will return to taking dirt and stone paths to continue descending toward Molinaseca.
Final Section of Descent
· Riego de Ambrós → Molinaseca
This section combines forest, dirt tracks, and stony paths, so it is especially important to control the descent pace.
Shortly before Molinaseca you will return to the LE-142. You will pass beside the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Sorrows and continue to the Bridge of the Pilgrims over the Meruelo River.
Km 19.1
· Molinaseca
Entry into Molinaseca is one of the most beautiful of this part of the Way. You will cross the Bridge of the Pilgrims over the Meruelo River and enter directly into its Calle Real.
Molinaseca preserves an urban center very linked to the Way, with traditional houses, wooden galleries, and coats-of-arms buildings. Besides the bridge and the Sanctuary of Sorrows, stands out the Church of San Nicolás de Bari, built from the second half of the seventeenth century onward.
You will cross the locality via Calle Real and continue toward Ponferrada.
·
· Bifurcation toward Ponferrada
About three kilometers after Molinaseca you will find two possibilities.
You can continue via the road, which has a sidewalk and shortens the route by approximately 1.4 km, or follow the marked Way to the left and pass through Campo. In this itinerary we will follow the route via Campo, which is also the one that places the total distance of the stage at 26.8 km.
Km 23.5
· Campo
Campo belongs to the municipality of Ponferrada and is already very close to the end of the day. The Way crosses this population before definitively entering the urban nucleus of the Bierzo capital.
Among its heritage is the parish Church of San Blas, in addition to other religious elements linked to the locality.
From here you will continue toward Ponferrada and cross the Boeza River via the Mascarón bridge.
Final Section
· Entry into Ponferrada
After crossing the Boeza, the Way continues through Ponferrada’s outer neighborhoods.
The route then enters the old center beside the ancient Hospital of the Queen, founded to care for pilgrims. Next you will border the Castle of the Templars and arrive at Plaza de la Encina.
From there, Calle del Reloj passes under the ancient gate of the wall and leads directly to Plaza Mayor.
Km 26.8
· Ponferrada
The stage ends in Ponferrada, main city of El Bierzo and one of the great stage endings of the French Way.
Its most representative monument is the Castle of the Templars, a large fortified ensemble whose history is closely related to the presence of the Order of the Temple in the city. The enclosure occupies about 8,000 m².
Very nearby are the Basilica of Our Lady of the Oak, the Clock Tower, and Plaza Mayor, so it is worth dedicating the rest of the day to exploring the historic center.
What to See
Cruz de Ferro
The Cruz de Ferro is one of the places with the greatest symbolism of the Way of Santiago.
The small iron cross rises over a large wooden mast surrounded by thousands of stones that pilgrims have been leaving over time.
Church of San Miguel
The Church of San Miguel is one of the main heritage elements of El Acebo de San Miguel.
The temple is located within the nucleus that the Way crosses and accompanies the pilgrim’s passage through this first Bierzo locality of the day.
Church of Santa María Magdalena
The Church of Santa María Magdalena is located in Riego de Ambrós and forms part of the locality’s religious heritage along with the Hermitage of San Sebastián.
Sanctuary of Our Lady of Sorrows
The sanctuary appears just before entering Molinaseca and forms a direct part of the Way’s route.
Although there are references to an earlier place of devotion, the current building is mainly a result of works carried out between the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries.
Bridge of the Pilgrims
The Bridge of the Pilgrims allows crossing the Meruelo River and constitutes the traditional entrance to Molinaseca.
Its stone structure leads directly to Calle Real, making this point one of the most characteristic images of the Way passing through El Bierzo.
Church of San Nicolás de Bari
The Church of San Nicolás de Bari overlooks Molinaseca from an elevated area close to Calle Real.
The current temple began to be built during the second half of the seventeenth century and stands out for its monumental entrance.
Castle of the Templars
The Castle of the Templars is Ponferrada’s great monument.
The fortress was enlarged and transformed during different periods and maintains a close relationship with the Templar presence in the city. Currently it is one of Ponferrada’s main cultural and heritage spaces.
Basilica of Our Lady of the Oak
The basilica is located in the historic center and very close to the castle.
It is a temple of Renaissance origin whose construction lasted several centuries and houses the image of Our Lady of the Oak, patroness of El Bierzo.
Clock Tower
The Clock Tower rises over one of the ancient gates of the wall and connects Calle del Reloj with Plaza Mayor.
The Way itself crosses this point during its entry into Ponferrada’s historic center.
Localities
Foncebadón
Foncebadón is the starting point of the stage and is located in the heart of the Leonese mountains.
From here you will begin the climb toward the Cruz de Ferro before definitively leaving La Maragatería and heading toward El Bierzo.
Manjarín
Manjarín is a small nucleus belonging to the municipality of Santa Colomba de Somoza, situated at about 1,458 meters elevation.
For decades it was practically abandoned and was known among pilgrims for the singular Templar shelter that functioned in the locality.
El Acebo de San Miguel
El Acebo de San Miguel belongs to the municipality of Molinaseca and is the first El Bierzo locality on this day.
Its elongated form follows the Way’s very route and among its heritage elements stands out the Church of San Miguel.
Riego de Ambrós
Riego de Ambrós is a small population of the municipality of Molinaseca situated between El Acebo and Molinaseca.
From here you will undertake one of the stage’s main descent sections, via dirt and stone paths that cross wooded areas.
Molinaseca
Molinaseca is one of the most representative localities of the Way in El Bierzo.
The pilgrim enters by crossing the Bridge of the Pilgrims over the Meruelo River and continues via Calle Real, surrounded by traditional houses. The Sanctuary of Sorrows and the Church of San Nicolás complete its main heritage.
Campo
Campo belongs to the municipality of Ponferrada and forms part of the marked itinerary between Molinaseca and the city.
From here little more than three kilometers remain to the end of the day. Among its heritage stands out the parish Church of San Blas.
Ponferrada
Ponferrada is the main city of El Bierzo and the end of this stage.
The Way enters its historic center passing beside the Castle of the Templars and the Basilica of the Oak before crossing Calle del Reloj and reaching Plaza Mayor.
Its Templar heritage, its Jacobean tradition, and the quantity of available services make it one of the main rest points of the French Way.
Route map
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