Stage 8 - León - Rabanal del Camino

ByTravesía Pirenaica
French Way / Photo: Jynus_ (CC BY-SA 2.5)
French Way / Photo: Jynus_ (CC BY-SA 2.5)
  • Distance: 73 km
  • Maximum height: 1157.26 m
  • Minimum height: 816.79 m
  • Positive difference in altitude: 742.71 m
  • Negative difference in altitude: 415.22 m

The Way of St. James Eighth Stage

This stage is clearly divided in two, until we reach Astorga, we continue with areas of large plains and large straights, and from Astorga, where we can already glimpse the beginning of the mountains and the ascent to the iron cross that leads to the region of El Bierzo.

Leaving León is a somewhat complicated task (as was the entrance) due to the poor signposting of the city. We don't really leave the city until we leave Trobajano del Camino (km 4) which is a dormitory town of León: this is followed by a construction zone and industrial estate until we reach Virgen del Camino (km 7.5). A kilometre further on, we come to a fork on the left towards Villar de Mazarife, another alternative to the historic route of the French Way. We recommend that you continue straight on towards a walkway that leads to Valverde de la Virgen (km 12) and 7 km further on, continuing along the walkway, you will find San Miguel del Camino. This walkway becomes monotonous and accompanies us to Hospital de Órbigo (where we cross its imposing bridge) (km 39), passing through Villadangos del Páramo, San Martín del Camino and Puente de Órbigo.

On leaving Órbigo and after crossing it, we are once again offered two alternatives on the path: straight ahead, the old path continues along a walkway parallel to the N-120; to the right, the Way advances towards Villares de Órbigo and Santibáñez de Valdeiglesias through a landscape of scrubland. Both options take up the same path again in Santo Toribio, the one on the left is shorter and more direct. A steep descent at this point leads us to Astorga, which we reach after a steep climb.

This city deserves a stop to observe its beauty. As we mentioned at the beginning, from here the landscape of the stage becomes different and we can already see the mountains of León, with its mythical ascent to the Cruz de Hierro.

After a slight descent we reach Murias de Rechivaldo (km 65), from here the route begins a slight but steady ascent along forest tracks to Santa Catalina de Somoza and later to El Ganso (km 69). Leaving this village behind and always ascending, be careful with the last 3 km that with the headwind can be especially hard, we arrive at Rabanal del Camino (km 73) of our stage, which leaves us to rest at the foot of the ascent to the Iron Cross, which we will climb tomorrow.

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