Las Herrerías

Las Herrerias sits in the province of Leon at the upper end of the Valcarce valley, the last sustained village before the steep climb to O Cebreiro begins. The Camino runs through the heart of the village along the riverside road, with the mountains rising ahead.

The village name, Las Herrerias, means the ironworks or the forges. Medieval iron-working operations powered by the Valcarce river were established here as early as the 11th century, and produced iron for the surrounding regions for several centuries. The village was also the site of a medieval English pilgrim hospital, the Hospital de los Ingleses, which sheltered English-speaking pilgrims on the Camino through the Middle Ages and gave the area a strong association with the English Camino community. The parish church of San Julian dates from the medieval period.

Services in Las Herrerias are useful for the climb ahead. There are albergues including the municipal albergue and private albergues, bar-restaurants, and a small shop. There is no pharmacy or ATM.