Camino del Manzanal

[Niels]

I was wondering, why there is no forum for the Camino through Manzanal. Not just that, but there doesnønt seem to exist a single post on the subject in the forum. It seems like a very interesting variation of the Camino Frances, and it seems like, the villages and towns along it have been trying to promote it during these Covid 19 times. Not with much luck. Even though it has its own web-site; https://www.caminodelmanzanal.es/ Has anybody on the forum been walking it?

 

[SabsP]

I was wondering, why there is no forum for the Camino through Manzanal. Not just that, but there doesnønt seem to exist a single post on the subject in the forum. It seems like a very interesting variation of the Camino Frances, and it seems like, the villages and towns along it have been trying to promote it during these Covid 19 times. Not with much luck. Even though it has its own web-site; https://www.caminodelmanzanal.es/ Has anybody on the forum been walking it?

Because it seems a quite recent local intiative, in terms of making it a more " offcial route "...
A good alternative though!

El Camino del Manzanal pide paso

La Asociación de Municipios implicados en la ruta alternativa al itinerario francés de peregrinaje a Compostela, crea una página web para ponerla en valor

www.lanuevacronica.com

 

[David Tallan]

An interesting route, an alternative to part of the Camino Frances to spread the pilgrim traffic (and spending) around to other communities in Spain. It does seem somewhat "the long way around", so I doubt there is much historical basis. I think it will chiefly attract people who have done the Camino Frances a number of times and are looking to see other parts of the region. The fact that it means missing the Cruz de Ferro will be a disincentive to many.

 

[C clearly]

there doesnønt seem to exist a single post on the subject in the forum.

If you search for the word "Manzanal", you will find a few posts referring to this route. It only got official status one year ago, but this thread includes some information from @Kathar1na on its historical routes.

It does look like an interesting alternative - one could walk all the way from Astorga to Santiago, off the main Camino Frances except for the crossing at Ponferrada.

This could be considered a variant of the Camino Frances.

 

[geraldkelly]

Ah jaysus! Not another Camino!

 

[Niels]

An interesting route, an alternative to part of the Camino Frances to spread the pilgrim traffic (and spending) around to other communities in Spain. It does seem somewhat "the long way around", so I doubt there is much historical basis. I think it will chiefly attract people who have done the Camino Frances a number of times and are looking to see other parts of the region. The fact that it means missing the Cruz de Ferro will be a disincentive to many.

No hisorical basis? Oh boy, this is one of the routes with most historical basis. This is the old monasterio route with lots of monasteries. Alone the presence of Monasterio de San Juan de Montealegre would make the detour worthwhile.

 

[Niels]

If you search for the word "Manzanal", you will find a few posts referring to this route. It only got official status one year ago, but this thread includes some information from @Kathar1na on its historical routes.

It does look like an interesting alternative - one could walk all the way from Astorga to Santiago, off the main Camino Frances except for the crossing at Ponferrada.

This could be considered a variant of the Camino Frances.

In medieval times pilgrims crossed Río Sil in a ferry. Maybe, if the route turns out to be popular, this could be an option today, too. The pilgrims went to Congosto, crossed the Sil, continued to Cubillos del Sil and Cabañas Raras beore joining the Frances at Cacabelos.

 

[Niels]

If you search for the word "Manzanal", you will find a few posts referring to this route. It only got official status one year ago, but this thread includes some information from @Kathar1na on its historical routes.

It does look like an interesting alternative - one could walk all the way from Astorga to Santiago, off the main Camino Frances except for the crossing at Ponferrada.

This could be considered a variant of the Camino Frances.

I seem to remember that thread vaguely. katharina threw in the pic responding to a post from me.

 

[Kathar1na]

I seem to remember that thread vaguely. katharina threw in the pic responding to a post from me.

I had completely forgotten about the thread and what I had posted. However, I had known about the Manzanal pass for quite some time, and I had actually thought about going over this pass on my way to Santiago instead of going over the Foncebadon pass. At the time, the local Camino groups walked sections of the Manzanal trail but it wasn't as developed as it is apparently now, and I dropped the whole idea and crossed the Montes de Leon at the Foncebadon/Cruz de Ferro pass instead.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

An interesting route, an alternative to part of the Camino Frances to spread the pilgrim traffic (and spending) around to other communities in Spain. It does seem somewhat "the long way around", so I doubt there is much historical basis. I think it will chiefly attract people who have done the Camino Frances a number of times and are looking to see other parts of the region. The fact that it means missing the Cruz de Ferro will be a disincentive to many.

If this route is little traveled, I wonder if foliage overgrowth would mean long pants, a pair of gaiters and a bit of bushwacking might be needed.

 

[Kathar1na]

There are numerous ways to cross the mountain range knows as Montes de Leon in the east/west direction. All of them (see image below) are Ways to Santiago taken by medieval pilgrims and by later pilgrims.

The Manzanal pass is 1230 m high, compared to the Foncebadon/Cruz de Ferro pass which is 1500 m high. Lower is often better. A major Roman road (Via Nova) went over the Manzanal pass. It has always been and still is today a major traffic artery.

The author of a popular guidebook, perhaps the Brierley of his time for German and Flemish speaking pilgrims, wrote in 1495: If you follow my advice you turn right and you will have no mountains to climb. You will leave all these mountains to your left. I advise you to mistrust Rabanal. And if you follow my recommended route you will soon arrive in Ponferrada.

 

[Niels]

If this route is little taveled, I wonder if foliage overgrowth would mean long pants, a pair of gaiters and a bit of bushwacking might be needed.

I'd like to walk the route and tell you about it ... or maybe you'll be the one to tell me about it.