Camino Photo of the Day: Castillo de los Condes de Peña Ramiro

And we’re back! Villafranca del Bierzo has a castle! It’s not nearly as impressive as the one in Ponferrada, but then Villafranca is a small town, whereas Ponferrada is a city. This particular castle was inhabited by the Counts of Peña Ramiro, who at some point were also Marquises of Villafranca. The current construction dates to 1515 and stands atop a much older castle. During the Peninsular Wars it was looted and burned by the English in 1809 and then twice by the French, in 1815 and again in 1819. It is particularly notable to me as being the view from the café tables of an excellent little bar across the street.

Date: 24 April 2013
Place: Villafranca del Bierzo (Region of El Bierzo, Province of León, Castilla y León, Spain)
Today started: Cacabelos (Region of El Bierzo, Province of León, Castilla y León, Spain)