Alternative "Carracedo del Monasterio" just after Ponferrada

[Lirsy]

I saw an alternative Camino between Camponaraya and Cacabelos, passing through Carracedo del Monasterio.

Do you have an opinion about if Carracedo deserves the extra 3 km? Is this alternative road mainly going by road or by footpaths?

Tnx a lot for your help!!

 

[peregrino_tom]

I don't have experience of this detour, but here's what Gronze has to say (via google translate):
'Deviation to the monastery of Santa María de Carracedo. In Camponaraya there is a signposted detour (by local road) to the town of Carracedo del Monasterio (there is a private hostel), where the monastery of Santa María is located. The return to the official road is also by road, towards Cacabelos. The monastery of Santa María de Carracedo was an important Benedictine abbey founded in the 10th century. Today it is abandoned and in a state of deterioration. Guided tours are offered, lasting one hour, every day except Monday.'
That suggests there's a lot of road involved. Eroski site seems to have quite a lot about the monastery - seems it's being refurbished now.

 

[caminka]

isn't there also a gravel road paralleling the motorway from camponaraya to carracedo? no such luck further into cacabelos, if I recall correctly.

 

[Lirsy]

I will try to find the time for walking that before I start in the albergue.

Taking a look of that monastery may be quite interesting!!

Tnx a lot!

 

[peregrino_tom]

The wikipedia entry does make it sound worth a visit, especially if you can take one of the guided tours - good luck! And if you do it, please come back to this thread and let us know what you found.

 

[caminka]

correction: looking at the google maps, there is in fact a gravel road paralleling the river all the way to LE158/7 shortly before carracedo. probably not waymarked and slightly longer then the road, but it should be obvious and it's possible to start right at the roundabout with a little clock/bell tower in camponaraya.