A city in two distinct halves: the unspoilt and picturesque old quarter and, across the river Sil, the modern and commercial area. The imposing 12th c. Castillo de los Templarios is everyone’s idea of a medieval Templar castle. Admission 6€. Other museums of interest in the Casco Viejo are Museum del Bierzo and the Radio Museum. Further out from the centre is the Energy Museum. All museums are closed on Mondays and are free on Wednesdays. The Plaza del Ayuntamiento has an impressive 17th c. City Hall. The Church of Nuestra Señora de la Encina (holm oak) is also worth seeing. The Chapel of the Convento de la Purísima Concepción, located on the Calle del Reloj on the left of the street leading to the Plaza Mayor, has a beautiful ceiling.

Church and Mass - Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Encina. Mass daily at 11:00 & 20:00. Iglesia de San Pedro - Mass daily 20:00.

Possible excursion in Ponferrada: Santo Tomás de las Ollas is a delightful 10th c. Mozarabic church with Moorish horseshoe arches and Visigothic elements, in a village on the eastern side of the city. Go up the main NVI, here called the Avda de Astorga, and turn up by Hospital Camino de Santiago. Not a long walk. If closed, ask at number 7 on the right for the key.

The route out of Ponferrada: start in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento where a smart embossed concha on a newsvendor’s kiosk indicates the descending road down to the bridge across the river where waymarks, blue panels with yellow arrows indicating the route, are attached to street lights and other street furniture. You will find the first panel attached to a post indicating a turn to the right almost immediately after crossing the bridge. You may walk through town, or take a pleasant stroll along the River Sil through Concordia Park.