New albergue in Villares de Órbigo

[Albergue Villares]

:arrow: Hello,

We are a couple who opened a hostel on the Road to Santiago recently, on the french route.

Please find attached the basic information concerning our hostel.

Belén and Pablo

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Hostel Villares de Órbigo

Owners: Pablo y Belén

Our recently renovated hostel, an old courtyard house, is situated in the village of Villares de Órbigo, a very quiet place in the area of the Órbigo river. The heart of our hostel, the open courtyard, is used as the central meeting area. The church of Villares is dedicated to Santiago. There is also a traditional “lavadero” nearby, a big water basin where village people still do their laundry.

How to get there
We are 2 km from Hospital de Órbigo, 14 km to Astorga.
Important: Leaving Hospital de Órbigo do not take the route on the main road, but take the little road in direction Villares/ Santibañez de Valdeiglesias.

Contact details
Adress: C/Arnal, 21 – Villares de Órbigo – León
Telephone: +34 987 132 935
E-mail: info@alberguevillaresdeorbigo.com
http://www.alberguevillaresdeorbigo.com

Open all year
Daily opening times: from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Reservations possible

Description
Total beds: 32 (bunkbeds) in 5 rooms, one of them is located on the ground floor.
1 bedroom for 10 people
1 bedroom for 8 people
1 bedroom for 6 people
1 bedroom for 4 people
1 bedroom for 4 people with en-suite bathroom (shower/toilet), on ground floor.
2 communal bathrooms next to the bedrooms on the first floor (women/men), 2 showers, 2 washbasins and 1 toilet each.
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Fully equipped kitchen: cooker, refrigerator, microwave, pots, pans and cuttlery.
Living/ Dining room
Terrace: This hostal is a courtyard house, the open courtyard is the main meeting place.
Other spaces: an extra indoor living room with a library will open soon.
Covered bycicle parking
Horse stable: please call for further information.

Stone basin for laundry (hand wash)
Washing machine
Clothes line
Central Heating
Hot water
Plugs in bedrooms
Mobile phone reception
Internet: Wifi/ free use of computer

Prices
Bed (per person, per night): 6€ (Sheets are included)
Bedroom for 4 persons with own bathroom: 30€
Breakfast: 2.50€ (Bread, jam, tea/ coffee and orange juice)
Laundry service: 2.50€

Other facilities in the village
Medical services: Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Pharmacy (Mo- Fr 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. and 5-8 p.m.)
Little grocery store (Mo- Sat 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. and 4-9 p.m.)
Bar
BBQ- area nearby

 

[kaiel]

My friends and I stayed in this lovely albergue in April of this year - it is clean and fresh and friendly - a good night's sleep and toast for breakfast. It was not in my guidebook but we were told about it at another albergue. Also the bar across the street serves enormous platefuls of tasty food for 4.50 Euros. I had squid ink pasta salad, and it was one of the best meals I had during my camino.

 

[eano]

Looks fantastic. Hope it is going well Pablo and Belen. I have written this in my guidebook and hope to see you early June. Debbie

 

[KiwiNomad06]

Important: Leaving Hospital de Órbigo do not take the route on the main road, but take the little road in direction Villares/ Santibañez de Valdeiglesias.

I would recommend to everyone to turn off and take this side route from Hospital de Orbigo, whether you stay in the village of Villares or not. According to the signpost when I walked in 2008, it was only 1km more to take this side route, but I think most people took the main road. I loved this day's walk- one of my favourite parts of the whole Camino, as the countryside was so beautiful.

Here are a few photos to tempt your palate, and I am sure you will agree these views are much nicer than trudging along a busy highway!

Margaret

 

[KiwiNomad06]

And a couple more photos while I am at it!
Margaret

 

[Nandy61]

I totally agree Margaret- its a lovely day's walk. We had some amazing surprises on it. I'd upload some photos of those surprises if I knew how!!

 

[bardos]

This has got to be the best albergue I have been in on the Camino. Beautiful, that´s number one. The person in charge is very attentive, very nice person. I would plan on stopping here no matter what. It´s that good.

 

[mspath]

Continuing on the alternative path after Villares de Orbigo but before Santibañez de Valdeiglesias one arrives at another special refuge, Casa de los Dioses, just east of the Cross of Santo Toribio. It is run by David Vidal who takes great care to help passing pilgrims. You can rest in the huge barn or simply enjoy his wonderful goody shelf. Last November during a heavy rain although David was absent the thermos of coffee was hot and his cookies most delicious! His multilingual note read 'Welcome!'. After sitting sheltered, having a coffee and eating a cookie or two I left a donation and a brief note of thanks. Despite the cold rain this was a MOST welcome stop and a perfect example of yet another of the varied and generous caring alternatives available along the camino.... To each his own.

To read more in English about this special man and his special place see this Swedish pilgrim's blog. >> http://www.fyrfalk.se/caminoblogg/?page_id=2150

Margaret

 

[LollyPolly]

Thank you so much for reccommending this, it´s haven. Whist writing this my laundry is being done (for an extra 2.50), I´ve a had a great hot shower and now I´m enjoying a beer and looking forward to having a nap. I´ve not found the path mentioned above and Idid get slightly lost looking for it, which added around 3km to my jurney from Orbigo - but so far so very good, it was worth it. If someone has a photo of the sign perhaps it would be helpful to post it here. To more people here had the same problem...

It´s very clean and looked after by a very helpful nice lady. Breakfast/ dinner cost extra but optional. I´m being told that there is a shop nearby if you´d rather go for something cheaper. Defo one to be seen.

Margaret, thanks for the reccommendations once again, you seem to know them all. I´ll try to find Casa de los Dioses tomorrow. Fingers crossed!

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Casa de los Dioses

I think this is the building on the plateau after climbing the hill out of Santibanez. There is no running water, no toilets, and no electricity. Look a rock that says "Stefan and Nicole." The water for drink preparation comes from an untreated source a couple of hundred meters away, so you may want to stick to the beverages prepared from boiled water. It is a popular camping stop, and the hidden spots are open air latrines. About twenty minutes later, you will be at the cross above Astorga. The road into Astorga has several bars and restaurants.

Buen camino.

 

[LollyPolly]

Thank you. I hope I´ll find it... got slightly lost today

 

[Deleted member 3000]

If you are in Villares de Orbigo, there will be no more confusion about the path. Leaving Hospital is the only intersection that is a bit tricky.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

An excellent albergue if you have no further interest in Hospital. Photograph the bridge, and keep walking!

 

[supersullivan]

A wonderful addition on the C.F. , wonderful welcoming hosts in Pablo y Belen, a great dinner and a lovely imaginative upgrading of a fine building, a highlight of my recent camino.



Seamus

 

[annakappa]

I totally agree - the Albergue Villares de Orbigo is one of the very best Albergues on the Camino. Pablo and Belen are charming and go out of their way to help you. The old restored house is delightful. Apart from the dormitories, they also have a couple of private rooms.. Try them - you'll like them!!! Anne

 

[bardos]

This albergue was the highlight of my camino. Without the help of Pablo and Belén I would have never been able to finish the camino. They gave me advice on how to do the camino . Never forget my stay there.

 

[NoorvanderVeen]

This was an alternative route? I'm only finding out now! :mrgreen: Anyway, it was beautiful. It has a steep descent with a lot of loose stones (where I fell). David helped me with medical treatment and gave us some homemade lemonade. Some of the best camino memories.

 

[BeatriceKarjalainen]

Stayed there. Loved it and Paolo and Belén are so nice people. I hope more people find this place.

Had a really nice dinner and the breakfast, my god I didn't have to eat lunch.

 

[Fyrfalk]

Continuing on the alternative path after Villares de Orbigo but before Santibañez de Valdeiglesias one arrives at another special refuge, Casa de los Dioses, just east of the Cross of Santo Toribio. It is run by David Vidal who takes great care to help passing pilgrims. You can rest in the huge barn or simply enjoy his wonderful goody shelf. Last November during a heavy rain although David was absent the thermos of coffee was hot and his cookies most delicious! His multilingual note read 'Welcome!'. After sitting sheltered, having a coffee and eating a cookie or two I left a donation and a brief note of thanks. Despite the cold rain this was a MOST welcome stop and a perfect example of yet another of the varied and generous caring alternatives available along the camino.... To each his own.

To read more in English about this special man and his special place see this Swedish pilgrim's blog. >> [URL='http://www.fyrfalk.se/caminoblogg/?page_id=2150']http://www.fyrfalkcamino.se/?page_id=59[/URL]

Margaret

 

[jmcarp]

I totally agree - the Albergue Villares de Orbigo is one of the very best Albergues on the Camino. Pablo and Belen are charming and go out of their way to help you. The old restored house is delightful. Apart from the dormitories, they also have a couple of private rooms.. Try them - you'll like them!!! Anne

I totally agree. Our only regret was that we were there on a Monday night, the only night of the week when Pablo doesn't cook dinner for the guests. However, there is a bar/cafe across the street, so you won't go hungry if you happen to be there on a Monday.
Jim