Stage 22: León → Villadangos del Páramo

A New Stage Day – Introduction & Atmosphere

With the departure from León begins a new section of the French Way. Behind you lie the Cathedral, San Isidoro, and the vibrant capital of the old Kingdom of León. Ahead of you spreads the open land of the Páramo – wide, flat, and crossed by the N-120 road.

Today’s stage is marked by contrasts: from the urban and industrial exit from León to pilgrimage sites such as La Virgen del Camino and finally the silence of Villadangos del Páramo. Whoever walks here feels: the path continues further out into the open, and Santiago now draws noticeably closer.

Route & Elevation Profile

Distance: 21.0 km (to Villadangos)
Elevation gain/loss: +120 m / –110 m
Difficulty: easy
Character: Mix of city, industrial areas, and long stretches parallel to the road; open fields of the Páramo.

Description of the Path – With All Senses

From the Basílica de San Isidoro in León, the Camino leads you via Calle Renueva to Plaza de San Marcos. Across the Puente de San Marcos you cross the Río Bernesga. Soon follow streets full of traffic, shops, and industrial estates – not the most beautiful part, but marked by yellow arrows and shells in the pavement.

After about 4 km you reach Trobajo del Camino, once a farming village, today a suburb with industry and commerce. The Ermita de Santiago here recalls the old pilgrim tradition.

Shortly afterwards the Camino leads to La Virgen del Camino. This place is considered an important spiritual point: in 1506 the Virgin is said to have appeared to a shepherd and asked him to build a chapel. The modern sanctuary dates from 1961 and is a well-known pilgrimage site.

Here the path divides: the Villar de Mazarife variant (quieter, along country roads and fields) or the main route along the N-120 via Valverde and San Miguel. The main route leads through Valverde de la Virgen, a village with the church of Santa Engracia, and on to San Miguel del Camino, where a pilgrim hospital already existed in the 12th century.

From here long paths stretch along the national road until finally Villadangos del Páramo appears – a small village with all services and the church of Santiago, which highly venerates the Apostle as patron.

Intermediate Places & Special Features

Place	Distance from León	Special Feature	Tip
Trobajo del Camino	4.2 km	Ermita de Santiago, pilgrim monument	First short rest after the city area
La Virgen del Camino	4 km further	Pilgrimage site, legend of 1506, modern sanctuary	Ideal for reflection or mass
Valverde de la Virgen	4.2 km	Church of Santa Engracia, small supplies
San Miguel del Camino	1.6 km	12th-century pilgrim hospital, church of San Miguel	Small historical stop
Villadangos del Páramo	7.2 km	Church of Santiago, strong pilgrim patronage	Stage destination

Packing & Shopping Tips

In León and La Virgen del Camino you will find supermarkets and everything you need. Afterwards, bars and small shops in Valverde and San Miguel are the last options until Villadangos.
Sun protection is essential – the fields of the Páramo are open and without shade.
Those who feel strong can continue 4.5 km further to San Martín del Camino, an alternative stage destination.

Food, Accommodation & Services

León: Huge choice of albergues, hotels, and guesthouses.
Trobajo del Camino: Hostales & hotels.
La Virgen del Camino: Pilgrim albergue (donativo) and several hostales.
Valverde & San Miguel: Small albergues.
Villadangos del Páramo: Albergue (donativo), Hostal Alto Páramo, Hotel Avenida III.

The Special Aspect Today

Especially impressive is the legend of La Virgen del Camino. In 1506 the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to a simple shepherd named Alvar Simón Fernández and commissioned him to build a chapel at this place. This event made the location into a significant pilgrimage center of the province of León. The modern sanctuary, built in 1961, recalls how deeply popular devotion and the Camino are interwoven here.

The Villar de Mazarife variant, which branches off at La Virgen del Camino, deserves brief recognition: it leads through quieter, agriculturally influenced areas away from the national road. Those seeking silence and authenticity will find a more peaceful path here. The main route, on the other hand, stays closer to infrastructure, passes through several villages, and facilitates supply. Both routes meet later again in Hospital de Órbigo – both have their own beauty.

In San Miguel del Camino, ruins and chronicles recall a 12th-century pilgrim hospital, whose carved statue of the Apostle is today preserved in the Archaeological Museum of León. A quiet testimony to how long care has been given here to pilgrims.

Finally, the destination Villadangos del Páramo: a small village, but with strong pilgrim patronage. The church is dedicated to Santiago himself, and festivals in his honor are still celebrated here today. For many pilgrims it becomes tangible: the Apostle accompanies the way, even in small places.

Reflection at the End of the Stage

Today’s stage may seem unspectacular at first glance – industry, roadside, small villages. Yet it shows the diversity of the Camino: from the big city León, through places of legend such as La Virgen del Camino, to the quiet Páramo. In the evening in Villadangos you feel the calm of the plain – a contrast to the last days, which allows you to gather yourself inwardly.

📊 Tabular Overview

Stage	Start	Goal	Distance	Elevation Gain/Loss	Difficulty	Intermediate Places
22	León	Villadangos del Páramo	21.0 km	+120 / –110 m	easy	Trobajo, La Virgen del Camino, Valverde, San Miguel