Two circular routes start at Colegio de Villadepalos; other route descriptions lead to the Sil, to Peón and Villaverde de la Abadía, and through the village on the route from Carracedo Monastery to Las Médulas. Rural architecture and historical links to fishing and river crossings add to the hiking theme. For your trip planning, you can compare routes by length, destination and the landscape features described.

Circular Routes and Paths Along the Sil

The circular Ruta de los Puentes Colgantes is 11.88 kilometres long and can start at Colegio de Villadepalos. A second loop runs from Villadepalos to Peón de Arriba; it also starts at the school and is 8.49 kilometres long. This makes the loop to Peón 3.39 kilometres shorter. The shared starting point and clearly different route lengths make it easy to compare their scope; each destination provides an additional point of reference when choosing.

The traditional footpath from Villadepalos to Peón crosses the Sil via a suspension bridge and passes through a large oak forest for 25 minutes. Traditional mills can also be seen along the section of the Ruta de los Puentes Colgantes near Villadepalos. For Peón, two measures are available: kilometres for the circular route and time for the stretch through the oak forest.

The route from Carracedo Monastery to Las Médulas passes through Villadepalos and over the village’s suspension bridge. One of the route’s features is a viewpoint flanked by the Campañana Reservoir and Lago de Carucedo. Another route runs from Villadepalos to Villaverde de la Abadía along a path parallel to the Sil. The route to the viewpoint includes the bridge in a connection between named destinations; the route towards Villaverde is distinguished by its parallel course alongside the Sil.

Rural Architecture and Local History

Examples of rural architecture in Villadepalos include ovens, wine presses and houses. Ovens and presses are mentioned alongside houses, so the building types described include both facilities for processing and residential buildings. The Church of Santa María de Villadepalos is a modern building; its predecessor was deliberately burned down in 1936. Its history of construction therefore adds a distinct note alongside the examples of rural architecture.

The suspension bridge in Villadepalos is also known as Puente de la Barca. In the past, the Sil was crossed here using cargo barges. Near the bridge, there is a swimming spot by the football pitch; conditions there can vary seasonally.

Villadepalos was once a fishing village. Residents caught fish using nets; the women then pickled the catches to preserve them. Fishing and the former crossing by cargo barge connect local history with two different uses of the Sil: as a fishing ground and as a river to be crossed.

Discover more destinations: Carracedo Del Monasterio

Go to the main travel overview: Carracedelo.