Free walking tours in Montes de Valdueza and what to see

Must-sees

Montes de Valdueza is a small hamlet in El Bierzo, in the municipality of Ponferrada, hidden in the Oza valley, in the heart of the Montes Aquilianos. The area is known as the Tebaida Berciana, because in the early Middle Ages it filled with hermits and monasteries. Its big visit is the Monastery of San Pedro de Montes, founded by Saint Fructuosus in the 7th century and later rebuilt by Saint Genadius. The tower, the cloister and the church façade, with some pre-Romanesque capitals, stand out in the present building.

The village itself is a cluster of stone houses with slate roofs on a hillside, surrounded by chestnut and oak trees. From here paths follow old Roman canals to the Cave of San Genadio and to Peñalba de Santiago, at the end of the so-called Valley of Silence, with its Mozarabic church. It is a place to visit unhurriedly and enjoy the silence and the mountains.

Free tours and guided visits

There are no free walking tours or regularly organised visits in Montes de Valdueza. The monastery opens on specific dates, so ask at the Ponferrada tourist office before you go. Trips around El Bierzo leave from Ponferrada, and some guided hikes cover the Tebaida Berciana and the Valley of Silence.

How long to spend

An hour is enough to see the village and the outside of the monastery, not counting the drive along a narrow, winding road. If you want to walk to Peñalba de Santiago along the Roman canal path, set aside the whole day. The most complete plan is to spend a day in the valley, combining Montes de Valdueza and Peñalba, and sleep in Ponferrada or nearby.

Where to stay

Accommodation in Montes de Valdueza itself is minimal, and there are hardly any services. In Peñalba de Santiago and other valley villages you will find a quieter rural house or two. The most practical option is to stay in Ponferrada, with much more variety and restaurants, and drive up to the valley.