Villares de Orbigo

About this stop

A little about Villares de Orbigo

Villares de Órbigo is a small village with historical significance on the Camino de Santiago. It is located near the Órbigo River, which played an important role in the region's development. The village is known for its well-preserved medieval bridge, Puente de Órbigo, also called Paso Honroso. This 13th-century bridge has 20 arches and spans 204 meters, making it one of the longest and most impressive bridges along the Camino de Santiago.

The historical context of Villares de Órbigo is closely tied to the famous knightly tournament known as the "Paso Honroso." In 1434, a local knight named Suero de Quiñones challenged all knights who wished to cross the bridge to a jousting duel. He vowed to break 300 lances in honor of his unrequited love for a noblewoman. The event attracted knights from across Europe, and the story has been immortalized in literature, such as in the 16th-century book "El Victorial" by Gutierre Díaz de Games. Today, the village celebrates the Paso Honroso with an annual festival, which includes reenactments of the medieval tournament.