19.Leon-Hospital de Órbigo

Sections

(1)Leon-(2)Trobajo del Camino: 0-4.5 km

(2)Trobajo del Camino-(3)Virgen del Camino: 4.5-7 (2.5km)

Alternative via Villar de Mazarife

(3)Virgen del Camino-(4)Fresno del Camino: 7-10 (3 km)

(4)Fresno del Camino-(5)Oncina: 10-11.7 (1.7 km)

(5)Oncina-(6)Chozas de Abajo: 11.7-17.3 (5.6 km)

(6)Chozas de Abajo-(7)Villar de Mazarife: 17.3-21.4 (4.1 km)

(7)Villar de Mazarife-(8)Villavante: 21.4-31 (9.6 km)

(8)Villavante-(9)Hospital de Órbigo : 21.4-36.3 (14.9 km)

Alternative via Villadangos

Virgen del Camino-Valverde de la Virgen: 7-11.6 (4.6 km)

Valverde de la Virgen-San Miguel del Camino: 11.6-12.8 (1.2 km)

San Miguel del Camino-Villadangos del Páramo: 12.8-21 (8.2 km)

Villadangos-San Martín del Camino: 21-25.3 (4.3 km)

San Martín del Camino-Hospital de Órbigo: 25.3-32.3 (7 km)

Elevation gain: 313 m

Elevation loss: 312 m

Stage Description

In this stage, there are two variants: via Villadangos and via Villar de Mazarife. Although the official route is via Villadangos and is 4 km shorter, this guide recommends following the Villar de Mazarife variant. The reason is that the Villadangos variant follows the N-120 road, which has a lot of traffic. The Villar de Mazarife variant is much more pleasant. In the author's opinion, the Villadangos route is the ugliest stage of the entire French Way.

(1)León-(2)Trobajo del Camino: 0-4.5 km

To leave León, we cross the Bernesga River and take Avenida Quevedo, which will lead us to Trobajo del Camino (photo 1). This is a town that, over time, has merged with León and feels like an extension of it.

(2)Trobajo del Camino-(3)Virgen del Camino: 4.5-7 (2.5 km)

The Camino crosses through Trobajo from end to end and enters an industrial zone that leads us to the N-120 road, which takes us into the town of Virgen del Camino (photo 2).

(3)Virgen del Camino-(4)Fresno del Camino: 7-10 (3 km)

We cross Virgen del Camino via its main street, which coincides with the N-120, and at km 8.0 (photo 3), at the end of the town, we take a road on the left that goes slightly downhill. After 300 meters, we will reach the point where the two Camino alternatives split (photo 4). Continuing straight will lead to Villadangos along the N-120 road. Turning left will take us through Villar de Mazarife. In this guide, we have chosen the second option, which, although 4 km longer, avoids the road.

From the fork, we cross two highways and arrive at Fresno del Camino via Avenida de la Oncina.

(4)Fresno del Camino-(5)Oncina: 10-11.7 (1.7 km)

We continue along the same secondary road that leads us directly to Oncina.

(5)Oncina-(6)Chozas de Abajo: 11.7-17.3 (5.6 km)

We cross the small town of Oncina via Calle Real, and as we leave, we take a dirt road that will lead us to Chozas de Abajo.

(6)Chozas de Abajo-(7)Villar de Mazarife: 17.3-21.4 (4.1 km)

We cross the small town of Chozas de Abajo and take a secondary road (photo 5) that leads us to Villar de Mazarife, a larger town with hostels and services.

(7)Villar de Mazarife-(8)Villavante: 21.4-31 (9.6 km)

We cross Villar de Mazarife via Calle del Carmen, which becomes Calle del Camino, and later turns into the CV-194 secondary road (photos 6 and 7). We continue along the road until it becomes a dirt path (photo 8) that takes us to the town of Villavante (photo 9).

(8)Villavante-(9)Hospital de Órbigo: 21.4-36.3 (14.9)

We cross Villavante, and upon leaving, we pass over a bridge that crosses the train tracks (photo 10). After the bridge, we turn left, following the train tracks (photo 11), and shortly after, we turn right towards the highway, which we will also cross. After crossing the highway, we take a secondary road for a few meters before turning left again. We pass by a small industrial area until we reach a roundabout (photo 12), where we meet pilgrims who chose the Villadangos variant.

We continue straight along Avenida Constitución until we reach the Órbigo Bridge (photo 13), which we cross to enter the town of Hospital de Órbigo.

Variant via Villadangos

Those opting to go via Villadangos will continue straight at km 8.3 of the stage (photo 4). The Camino then follows the N-120 road and veers away to cross the highway (Villadangos Alternative photo 1). It continues along a dirt path (Villadangos Alternative photo 2) until the Camino meets the N-120 again (Villadangos Alternative photo 3). From this point to Hospital de Órbigo, the Camino follows the N-120 (Villadangos Alternative photos 4, 5, and 6).