Arlanza – Camino de Santiago, Mills and Mining History

Arlanza lies on the Camino Olvidado, a Camino de Santiago route; from Santiago, the town is 210.830 km away along this route. Arlanza’s thematic range includes the pilgrimage route, religious heritage and traces of rural history.

Pilgrimage Route

On the route from Labaniego to Arlanza, chestnut trees accompany a large part of the Camino de Santiago. Arlanza is reached after crossing the Noceda River. Another way to gain an overview of the surrounding area on foot is the route Ruta del dios COSUE: It leads through seven small villages in the area around Bembibre, including Arlanza, is not very demanding, offers various options and runs mostly along paths or unpaved tracks. The two route options clearly differ in their design: the Camino Olvidado describes the connection from Labaniego to Arlanza with a river crossing, while the Ruta del dios COSUE covers seven villages, variants and predominantly paths or unpaved tracks.

Culture

Traces of the area’s older religious history can be seen in several surviving stelae dedicated to the god Cossus. The patron saint of Arlanza’s church is Nuestra Señora de la Asunción. Its most solemn festival is the Corpus celebration.

An old reconstructed wine press is located next to the Nuestra Señora de la Asunción church. Milling is also part of the village’s heritage: three mills have been preserved in Arlanza, one of which was recently restored. There is also a restored mill on the Noceda River, considered a noteworthy stop. The fountain with washhouse in Arlanza is likewise considered a noteworthy stop.

The traditional village landscape includes traditional rural houses with a ground floor and an upper floor. They are built of stone, clay, slate and wood. Agricultural and industrial buildings have also been preserved, including clay and masonry ovens, wine presses, wine cellars, stables and haylofts.

Mining

Arlanza is home to the mining facility known as Cargadero de la Mina Sorpresas. The village’s mining history dates back to 1858, when the “Ramoncita” mine was exploited.

Museum

The Museo del Bierzo Alto is located in the “Casa de las Culturas” cultural centre in Bembibre. Its collection includes, among other things, votive altars dedicated to Asturian deities and a replica of the edict of Augustus, which was discovered near the village in 1999.

The historical heritage exists in different forms: religious tradition, craft use, rural architecture and an industrial past appear as separate traces of the village. The surviving elements can therefore be considered according to their functions, without combining the church, mills, buildings and mining facility into a single attraction.

When choosing a holiday apartment in Arlanza, travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions can be taken into account. This information stands alongside the routes, architectural forms and historical sites described and helps assess accommodation matters separately from the various thematic ways of approaching the village.

Other Places

Santiago Millas, Castrocontrigo, Aralla de Luna, Revilla, Pereda De Ancares, Beberino, Valdepiélago and Candín

For the higher-level travel overview: León.