Table of Contents
Discover a fantastic trip through León by motorhome. A destination that will surprise you!
If you don't have a motorhome or camper and you have to rent, a little gift before continuing:
Roadsurfer, camper rental professionals, has given us a gift for you! We do not charge any commission if you reserve a Roadsurfer camper, but in this case the discount they give you I think is very worth it for you, so we leave it here in case it helps you:
Roadsurfer will give you a €100 discount on your campervan or motorhome rental if you book through this link for 5 days or more and use the code: KUCAVANAEUR
About @sin_codigo_postal
Edu, Rocío, and their dog Cuzco are the members of the Sin Código Postal (Without Postal Code) project. Since completing their first month-long trip through Europe in their camper van, they've fallen head over heels for the world of caravanning.
The impact was so inspiring that the couple were again encouraged to camper with their own hands another van in which they have been enjoying life for 3 years.
More than 30 countries traveled
After exploring more than 30 countries with his faithful four-legged companion, daring with two camperisations and living numerous adventures (or misadventures, in some cases) they have been encouraged to relate their experiences on their social networks (YouTube, Instagram Facebook) , to collect valuable information for other camper drivers on their website and to narrate all their learning by writing two books, one dedicated to the “Van Life” and the other to the camperization of vans.
Today they're telling you all about their trip to León . A destination that will surprise you! Don't miss it!
Discover the best route through León in a caravan, motorhome or camper van
León is a province with so much to offer. It undoubtedly combines the perfect elements for a caravan, motorhome, or campervan trip. The places to visit are incredibly diverse (nature, museums, castles, cities brimming with activities…) and are all within easy reach. The gastronomy is fantastic, and the province is famous for its charming neighborhoods where you can wander around enjoying tapas and delighting your palate. Another plus for León is that you can enjoy a peaceful overnight stay in a good number of designated campsites.
We do it often and we love it
Within the province of León, we particularly enjoy a route we take often. Regardless of the starting point, the following route encompasses the pristine nature of El Bierzo , the medieval culture of Ponferrada, the ancient city of Astorga and all the history it has accumulated over the years, the city of León, originally a military camp, and the Riaño and Mampodre Mountain Regional Park. After all, one wouldn't truly know the province of León without visiting its monumental mountains.
Las Médulas: starting point
We like to start this route at Las Médulas because it's not every day you get to see ancient gold mines exploited by the Romans in a landscape that's practically unique in Spain. Its orange hue fills us with energy and vitality for the entire route through León, whether in a caravan, motorhome, or campervan.
the bierzo
The entire Bierzo region has a touch of mystery, with routes leading to waterfalls that seem like they belong in enchanted forests, such as the Compludo waterfall. Or journeys back in time, like those you experience when entering many of Ponferrada's castles, such as the Templar Castle. Another of this land's charms is, without a doubt, its wine culture. All of this makes a weekend the minimum time needed to explore the region .
In Las Médulas we can find an area without services adapted by the town of (level and asphalt) where we can spend the night for free and with views of Las Médulas. [42 ° 27'41.2 ″ N 6 ° 46'02.8 ″]
Astorga, to feel like an emperor of Rome
Astorga and its museums
Just 45 minutes from the capital of El Bierzo, we find Astorga, or as many know it, Asturica. This city is closely linked to Roman culture. Its important past can be appreciated in museums, tours of its Roman sewers, and archaeological sites.
On the Camino de Santiago
But it's not just its connection to Roman history that makes this city so well-known. It's also a very important stop on the Camino de Santiago. Pilgrims flock to the Cathedral of Santa María . This imposing monument has the distinction of being located next to one of the few works that Gaudí left outside his native Catalonia. To the surprise of many, Astorga boasts Gaudí's Episcopal Palace among its rich artistic heritage .
As a tourist destination like Astorga, it's appreciated that, even though it's not in the city center, they've taken care of our tourists by providing a free area with all the necessary services where we can spend the night in our caravan, motorhome, or campervan. [N 42º 27′ 04″ / W 06º 03′ 56″]
Take a guided tour and savor delicious tapas
Walk through charming streets
If we drive an extra 55 kilometers along this route through León in a caravan, motorhome, or campervan, we can enjoy everything there is to see in the city . Whenever we visit big cities, we like to immerse ourselves completely in their history, and we do this through a guided tour. It seems that afterward, walking through the streets, knowing what has happened there, makes you see places differently: León Cathedral, the Basilica of San Isidoro (where the Holy Grail is kept, one of them 😀), Gaudí's Casa Botines, the MUSAC, and of course, finishing by recharging our batteries with some delicious tapas in the Barrio Húmedo (the old town) and watching the sunset on the terrace of the Hotel Conde Luna.
In León we can find an area with services, very central, where we can spend the night. [N 42º 36 ′ 17 "/ W 05º 35 ′ 06"]
Heading to nature
Riaño
After the hustle and bustle of the city, we love to unwind in nature, so we drove less than an hour and a half to Riaño to finish our León road trip in a caravan, motorhome, or campervan, surrounded by nature, mountains, and in this case, its famous reservoir. And what better way to work off all that culinary delight than by hiking one of the most popular routes in the area to Pico Gilbo?
Picos de Europa
If we do not get close to Riaño, you cannot miss out on visiting Maraña and its Mampodre Circus route, visiting the Mountain Cathedral or Lois Church and ending the route with a special dinner from our caravan, motorhome or camper van in the Pan Recreational Area. de Rueda, which will reward us with views from our window to the Picos de Europa.
If we wish to spend the night in Riaño, we must do so in the area provided free of charge by the town council, in an open area near the reservoir in the town. [42°58'31.5″N 5°00'11.8″W].
If we stay in Maraña, we could visit the Maraña Hostel where all services are covered for €9, or spend the night for free in an open area where free overnight stays are permitted 200 meters from the hostel. [43°02'54.9″N 5°11'08.1″W]
And that concludes our route through León by caravan, motorhome, or campervan. While there are, of course, a million other places and routes to visit, this is our favorite way to explore León.
The location of the place to spend the night in Las Médulas does not work .. 🙁
Oysters, thank you for communicating it, we will review it with the authors. Thanks!