One of the most beautiful and pleasant villages in El Bierzo and the province of León is Cacabelos, a small town of barely 5,000 inhabitants located on the Way of Saint James near Ponferrada.
Cacabelos has a long history that goes back to Roman times, when the city of Bergidum Flavium, later called Bergido y Ventosa, was located in this area.
Cacabelos is first mentioned in the 10th century, and it is precisely in the Middle Ages when the town experienced great growth at the dawn of the Pilgrim’s Way of Saint James to Santiago de Compostela. As a result, numerous churches and hospitals were built there.
Cacabelos is now a lively town, especially in the summer months, thanks to the large influx of pilgrims and tourists, who come to enjoy its attractions such as museums, its heritage and the river beach.
We will now tell you what you should visit in Cacabelos.
- Plaza de San Lázaro
- Calle Santa María
- Puente Mayor [Main Bridge]
- Archaeological Museum
- Wine Museum
- Hermitage of San Roque
- Sanctuary of the Sorrows
- Things to see nearby
- Where to eat in Cacabelos
- Where to stay in the province of León
Plaza de San Lázaro
Plaza de San Lázaro is the square that welcomes pilgrims on their way from Ponferrada to the town. The old San Lázaro hospital, one of the five pilgrims’ hospitals in the town during the Middle Ages, was located on this small site. Unfortunately, nothing remains of that hospital, which was demolished in the 18th century.
In the area around the square, you will see some popular architecture houses, with the characteristic wooden balconies and arcades underneath or with slate roofs.
Calle Santa María
Calle Santa María is the main street that runs through the centre of Cacabelos, from east to west. Numerous streets converge there since the town’s two main gates, Cimadevilla Gate and San Andrés Gate, were located at both ends.
There are notable examples of civil and religious architecture in that street, with beautiful stone mansions that have large doors and coats of arms that attest to the importance of the families that lived there.
There are also some temples such as the chapel of San Roque and the church of Nuestra Señora de la Plaza, which only preserves the Romanesque apse of its 12th century origins since the rest of the temple was rebuilt in the 16th and 20th centuries, with its pointed neo-Romanesque tower.
Puente Mayor [Main Bridge]
The town of Cacabelos ends to the west on the banks of the river Cúa, where the Main Bridge stands, an elegant six-span viaduct built in the 16th century to replace an earlier Roman bridge.
The Battle of Cacabelos took place near the bridge on 3 January 1809 between French and English troops during the Peninsular War, a battle in which General Colbert, a knight of the French Legion of Honour and whose name is inscribed on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, was killed.
Today, beside the bridge there is a magnificent river beach which is very popular in the summer.
Archaeological Museum
The Cacabelos Archaeological Museum (M.AR.CA.) is another tourist attraction in the town. Its permanent exhibition has major archaeological pieces that cover the different periods of history, with a large presence of Bergidum Flavium, the ancient Roman town located in the area.
The museum was opened in 1964 in view of the many archaeological findings and, since 2008, it has been housed in a building in the centre of Cacabelos.
Wine Museum
Wine is one of the main gastronomic heritages of El Bierzo and in Cacabelos it is represented in a small museum. The Cacabelos Wine Museum forms part of the Spanish Wine Museums Association and brings together various implements, machines and other devices related to wine production. It is a good opportunity to get to know the oenology and wines of El Bierzo. You can complete your wine tour by visiting one of the wineries in the area.
Hermitage of San Roque
The hermitage of San Roque or Vera Cruz is located at the start of Santa María Street and is another of the characteristic churches in Cacabelos. Built in the 16th century, it replaced an original Romanesque hermitage from the 10th century and was dedicated to Saint Roch after the 1599 plagues. It is an essential stop for pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela when entering Cacabelos.
Sanctuary of the Sorrows
On the way out of Cacabelos towards Santiago after the Main Bridge, the Sanctuary of the Fifth Sorrow or of the Sorrows is the last stop of the Way of Saint James in this town. It is a large 18th-century church with seven altarpieces in which the image of the patron saint, Our Lady of the Fifth Sorrow, stands out, dressed like the Castilian widows of the 15th century. This is also the location for the town’s pilgrim hostel.
Things to see nearby
Cacabelos is in the heart of the El Bierzo district, a Castilian-Leonese territory with a particular idiosyncrasy that makes it similar to Galicia. You do not have to go far from Cacabelos to find places of interest. A few kilometres away, the district capital Ponferrada, with its Templar Castle, and Villafranca del Bierzo are two interesting places to visit.
If you are looking for natural areas near Cacabelos, Las Médulas, the Valley of Silence and the Ancares Sierra are three exceptional ideas of incomparable beauty that are a must.
Where to eat in Cacabelos
If you pass through Cacabelos, the gastronomy of the El Bierzo district must be present in your meals. You can try it in one of the best restaurants in Cacabelos:
- Casa Gato: a family restaurant with excellent stews and local specialities in generous portions.
- La Moncloa de San Lázaro: a restaurant where you can taste the delicacies of the El Bierzo gastronomy such as botillo sausage.
- Apóstol: known for its meats and dishes from the El Bierzo area such as botillo sausage, cecina beef, minced pork and stew.
Where to stay in the province of León
If you want to explore the province of León, you can do so by staying in the provincial capital which, thanks to its location and good communications, is an excellent option for trips throughout the beautiful province of León.
In León you will find two Barceló hotels, the Barceló León Conde Luna and the Occidental León Alfonso V, both four-star, modern and located in the heart of the city.
