Hotels in Las Médulas

Las Médulas village

This is the village that gives the site its name, right at the foot of the red peaks. Here you have the site’s visitor centre and the start of the Valiñas trail, so you can set out walking first thing, before the coaches and day-trip cars arrive. The houses are stone and slate, with chestnut trees around, and there are rural cottages and the odd restaurant.

It suits hikers and anyone wanting to see the landscape in morning light. At night there is no nightlife, just silence and mountains. In autumn, when the chestnuts change colour, being already inside the landscape is a real advantage.

Best-rated in this area: Lares · Cabañas Rurales, with a score of 9.9 from 37 reviews.

Orellán

This small settlement is up high, near the viewpoint and the galleries that bear its name. It is the place for anyone who wants the panoramic view of the site at hand and to walk back to their room after sunset. The choice is very limited and the road up is narrow and winding, so arrive in daylight with your booking confirmed. From Orellán you can also walk down to Las Médulas village on waymarked paths, so a two-night stay lets you see the site without moving the car.

Carucedo and the lake

Carucedo sits by the lake of the same name and on the N-536 road, which follows the Sil valley between Ponferrada and O Barco. It has a few more services than the hamlets up the hill and is convenient if you are driving and want to combine Las Médulas with other Bierzo villages. Families enjoy the lakeside walk.

If you prefer a city, Ponferrada has the Templar Castle, an old town with bars and more restaurants. From there you can split your days between Las Médulas, Villafranca del Bierzo and the Bierzo designation wineries.