Murias de Rechivaldo

Murias de Rechivaldo sits in the province of Leon, a short walk west of Astorga, on the edge of the Maragateria region. The Camino runs through the heart of the village along its narrow stone street. This is the first proper Maragato village pilgrims reach on the route west out of Astorga.

The Maragateria is a small cultural region west of Astorga inhabited by the Maragatos, an ethnic group of disputed origin who held a monopoly on the muleteer trade between the Galician coast and Madrid for centuries. The Maragatos transported fish, wine, grain, and other goods on long mule trains across the mountains, and developed their own cuisine, dress, and architecture. Murias de Rechivaldo preserves the typical Maragato stone vernacular: thick-walled stone houses with low doorways, small windows for keeping out the mountain cold, and traditional flat roofs. The parish church of San Esteban anchors the village.

Services in Murias are modest but reliable for the Camino. There are albergues including the municipal albergue and the Casa Las Aguedas, a bar-restaurant, and a small shop. There is no pharmacy or ATM. Most pilgrims pause for a coffee and continue on to Rabanal del Camino.