The best road cycling routes around Bembibre

The Basilica of Our Lady of the Holm Oak, located in the old town of Ponferrada, is one of the most emblematic churches in the Bierzo region and a key point on the Camino de Santiago. It was built on the remains of a 12th-century medieval church known as Santa María. Construction of the current basilica began in 1573 and was completed a century later.

The Bishop's Palace of Astorga is one of only three buildings that Antoni Gaudí built outside Catalonia.

It is also known as Cruz de Fierro (Iron Cross). A mountain landmark (1504 m) that stands on the French Way in the mountains of León as it passes through the province of the same name, corresponding to the autonomous community of Castilla y León. 230 km from Santiago. It is one of the best-known and most symbolic places of all the Jacobean routes, and perhaps for this reason the most mythologised and exciting, with the Monte do Gozo de Santiago, the first place from which pilgrims on the French Way observe the city of Santiago.

In the heart of Astorga, right next to the cathedral, lies one of the most unusual bishop's residences on the Iberian Peninsula: the Palacio Gaudi. It was designed and built by the famous Spanish architect of the same name (Antonio Gaudi, 1852-1926). A visit to the museum housed here is worthwhile both for the exhibits on display and, of course, for the imaginative architecture of the building.

The "iron cross" here on Monte Irago, which is legendary for many pilgrims on the Camino Frances to Santiago de Compostela to the grave of the Apostle James the Greater, has since been replaced by a copy at the original location. The cross, which appears comparatively small due to its enormous height, stands out from a constantly growing pile of stones at the top of a very long tree trunk. Many pilgrims take a stone with them on the Way of St. James and lay it here. This stone symbolizes the burdens and needs of the pilgrims (or their family members and friends at home), who in this way symbolically cast off their worries at this point with the stone, and can thus move on free of them.

A nice and good place to take a break. With many opportunities to stop

On June 24, 1889, the prelate's name day, the first stone was laid. They had planned to complete the work on the palace in June 1894, but the bishop died in 1893, and this event radically changed the course of the work, paralyzed by the hostility between Gaudí and the Diocesan Council. Finally, Antonio Gaudí resigned from his post as chief architect, very upset by the treatment he received. In 1905, D. Julián de Diego y Alcolea ruled the diocese of Astorga and tried to convince Gaudí to return to the works of the palace, but he did not succeed. Ricardo García-Guereta, diocesan of León, was appointed architect and completed the work on October 12, 1913, as bishop D. Julián de Diego y Alcolea

The "iron cross" here on Monte Irago, which is legendary for many pilgrims on the Camino Frances to Santiago de Compostela to the grave of the Apostle James the Greater, has since been replaced by a copy at the original location. The cross, which appears comparatively small due to its enormous height, is on the top of a very long tree trunk and protrudes from a constantly growing pile of stones. Many pilgrims take a stone with them on the Way of St. James and place it here. This stone symbolizes the burdens and hardships of the pilgrims (or their family members and friends at home), who symbolically cast off their worries at this point with the stone and can thus move on free of them.