Villadepalos: Circular Routes, Suspension Bridge and Rural Culture

Villadepalos combines several types of trails with a dense succession of historic traces. The circular Ruta de los Puentes Colgantes is 11.88 km long and can begin at Villadepalos School. Traditional mills can be seen along its section near Villadepalos. The 8.49 km circular route from Villadepalos to Peón de Arriba also starts at Villadepalos School.

Nature and Trails

The traditional footpath from Villadepalos to Peón crosses the Sil via a suspension bridge and leads through a large oak forest for 25 minutes. The Ruta de los Puentes Colgantes de Villadepalos y Villaverde de la Abadía follows a different course: from Villadepalos, it follows a path running parallel to the Sil to Villaverde de la Abadía. Its length, walking time, river crossing and forest section therefore represent different trail characteristics that can be perceived separately.

The connection between Villadepalos and the wider surrounding area is also reflected in the route descriptions. The route from Carracedo Monastery to Las Médulas passes through Villadepalos and crosses the Villadepalos suspension bridge. From there, it leads to a viewpoint flanked by the Campañana Reservoir and Lago de Carucedo.

Culture and Village Character

Examples of rural architecture in Villadepalos include ovens, wine presses and residential buildings. The Horno del Caño is a traditional oven dating from 1950. When the Ruta del Pan y del Vino was established in 2015, the Horno del Caño was incorporated into the route. This places an individual structure, its date and its connection to a named route side by side.

The Church of Santa María de Villadepalos is a modern building. Its predecessor was deliberately burned down in 1936. The present church building and the documented history of its predecessor thus belong to two different periods in the village's architectural character.

History on the Sil

Villadepalos was once a fishing village. In the past, the inhabitants caught fish with nets; the women then pickled the catch to preserve it. This historic use of the Sil and the associated division of labour complement the visible evidence provided by the trails and buildings with a local connection to everyday life.

The Villadepalos suspension bridge is also known as the “Puente de la Barca”. There used to be a crossing of the Sil at this location using cargo boats. There is a bathing area near the suspension bridge, by the football pitch.

Events and Orientation

The Peón de Arriba Trail was organised by the Ayuntamiento de Carracedelo in 2024 as its second edition. In the 2024 and 2025 editions, both the start and finish were at Plaza de la Cruz in Villadepalos. The two years therefore identify a recurring event location, while the routes showcase the landscape, the river and the connections to the surrounding destinations.

The various routes can be considered according to their respective focus: the two circular routes have specified lengths, the footpath combines a crossing of the Sil with an oak forest, and the route to Las Médulas links Villadepalos with Carracedo Monastery, the suspension bridge and the viewpoint.

Other places: Carracedo Del Monasterio

For the higher-level travel overview: Carracedelo.