Murias de Rechivaldo

Stage 24 · Astorga – Rabanal del CaminoLeon Province
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What is there in Murias de Rechivaldo

Murias de Rechivaldo is a village in the municipality of Astorga, in the Maragatería district, in Leon Province, on the Camino Frances.

It is the first “real” Maragato village pilgrims meet: reddish stone houses with large wooden gateways through which the muleteers’ carts entered, dirt streets and a silence that contrasts with the bustle of Astorga, only five kilometres away. With just over a hundred residents, at 880 metres, Murias gathers around its parish church, topped by a bell gable where storks nest. Here pilgrims have a tempting option: a two-kilometre detour to neighbouring Castrillo de los Polvazares, one of the best-preserved Maragato villages and famous for its cocido. The official Camino, by contrast, goes straight on towards Santa Catalina de Somoza.

Accommodation in Murias de Rechivaldo

Hostel Municipal de Murias de RechivaldoHostelHostel Municipal de Murias de RechivaldoHostel Las Águedas Murias de RechivaldoHostelHostel Las Águedas Murias de RechivaldoRural House Las Águedas Murias de RechivaldoRural HouseRural House Las Águedas Murias de RechivaldoHotel Rural La Veleta Murias de RechivaldoHotelHotel Rural La Veleta Murias de Rechivaldo

Distances from Murias de Rechivaldo

From Murias de Rechivaldo to Santa Catalina de Somoza it is about 4.4 km.

To El Ganso it is about 8.5 km.

And to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, in Santiago de Compostela, about 258.5 km remain.

Murias on the Camino

On the Camino Frances from Astorga to Rabanal del Camino, Murias is the first fully Maragato village. Many pilgrims stop here for breakfast, and some take a detour to Castrillo de los Polvazares, a couple of kilometres away.

What to see in Murias de Rechivaldo?

Church
Iglesia de San Esteban Murias de Rechivaldo Camino de Santiago Frances 2 768x403

Church of Saint Stephen Murias de Rechivaldo

Parish Church of Saint Stephen in Murias de Rechivaldo In the heart of the Maragateria district, in Leon Province, lies

Where it is

It lies 3.5 km from Astorga, on the plain of the Jerga river, beside the LE-142 road, the old muleteers’ route that climbs to the Foncebadón pass and descends to Ponferrada.

The name

«Murias» is a common place name in the northwest, linked to old walls or ruins, and «Rechivaldo» seems to be a personal name of Germanic origin, that of some former owner of these lands.

Heritage

Church of San Esteban

The 18th-century church has a bell gable typical of the area and a Virgen del Pilar in a niche above the door. Inside there is an image of Saint Roch as a pilgrim.

The mill

On the banks of the Jerga an 18th-century flour mill survives.

Maragato architecture

The houses have the great gateways through which the muleteers’ carts entered, stone, red roofs and inner courtyards. Murias is one of the villages where this kind of architecture is best preserved.

Festivities

The village celebrates the Fiesta Sacramental, Our Lady and Saint Roch in August, and Saint Stephen, the patron.

Services

For its size, Murias has quite a lot on offer:

  • A small seasonal municipal hostel.
  • Albergue Casa Flor, with bunks and rooms.
  • Albergue Las Águedas, with bunks and private rooms.

There are also bars and restaurants; check opening dates out of season.

A tradition

The mutton feast

During the August festivities the residents gather to cook and eat a mutton together, a very old custom in the village.

In short

Murias de Rechivaldo is the gateway to the Maragatería: muleteers’ houses, a good breakfast and the first step towards the mountains of León.

CountrySpain
Autonomous communityCastilla y León
ProvinceLeon Province
ComarcaMaragatería​
Judicial districtAstorga
MunicipalityAstorga
Location42°27′37″N 6°06′15″O
Elevation880 m
Population113 inh. (INE 2017)
Postal code24718
Dialling code987
Camino de Santiago Frances
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