A small town developed because of the pilgrimage route

Traveling westward in Spain ~ Leon (region) Ponferrada is the capital of the El Bieso region and one of the main stops on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela through the province of León. The town's historic district sits beneath the majestic castle built by the Templars. The earliest record of Ponferrada is a former castle from Roman times. Beginning in the 11th century, the rise of the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela promoted the emergence of the small village of Pons Ferrata, which is located on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. It is named after the bridge. In 1178, King Fernando II of Leon placed the prosperous settlement under the supervision of the Knights Templar. Using the remains of an original Roman fort, the Templars built a castle to allow them to settle while protecting pilgrims from the past. This facilitated population growth and led to commercial development in the area. #2024TravelReview #SpainTravel #Castilla-Leon