Camino Francés: Stage 17

You will leave Carrión de Los Condes going through a bridge and then you will cross the Monasterio de Zoilo monastery that is located in the outskirts of the village. You will see a marker that leads you to today’s route. You will cross a roundabout and then you will go straight forward through the Avenida de Donantes avenue.

You will cross the national road N-120 and then go through the PR-2411 to Villotilla. Before getting to Vía de Aquitania you will see the remains of an old abbey called Benvívere, a monastery from the 12 century that was destroyed during the Ecclesiastical Confiscations of Mendizábal. A few meters after you will get to the famous Roman road and you will go through it for approximately 10 kilometres, with no shades or shelter. In early times, pilgrims used to rest in one of the hospitals that were there but now there are no hospitals so you have to keep calm and be patient.

You will cross a recreation area that has no spring or fountain and then, in the crossing you should go straight forward. In summer you can find a mobile bar. A few kilometers after you will find a signpost that will indicate the famous Cañada Real Leonesa, one of the most important transhumance routes in Spain.

You will walk accompanied by black poplars to the first stop: Calzadilla de la Cueza, where you can buy some snacks and soft drinks. You will cross this village to the N-120 and then you will continue through the right to get into a path parallel to the national road. You will cross the remains of the old Monasterio de Santa María de las Tiendas monastery also known as Hospital del Gran Caballero. This place was founded by the Order of Santiago in the 12 century, and then it was built the monastery. It was working until the 19 century.

You will cross the road to continue again through a path that goes parallel to the national road to get to a recreation area where you will have two options: continue through the national road to Lédigos after crossing the road and continue through a right turn away; or leave this road to get into a path that after turning left goes next to a church. There are not many differences between both alternatives.

Once you get to Lédigos, you should visit the temple devoted to St. James and its three representations: the pilgrim, the apostle and Matamoros. Lots of pilgrims decide to stay the night in this village because it has two hostels. From this village, you will be able to see the end of today’s stage: Terradillos de Los Templarios.

Bear in mind

This stage is not a complicated stage, tage but you have to take into account that between Carrión de Los Condes and Calzadilla de la Cueza there are no available services and no springs or fountains. In summer you can find a mobile bar located a little bit forward from the Abadía de Benevívere abbey. You have to pay attention to the road crossings because there are a lot of traffic.

For cyclists, this stage is not complicated but for people with reduced mobility there could be some inconvenient, especially in Vía de Aquitania, so we recommend them go through the N-120 from Carrión de los Condes.

Your greatest enemy here will be heat in summer.