Ponferrada is a medieval town and an important pilgrimage stop on the way to Santiago de Compostela. Its most famous monument is the Templar Castle.
The settlement in the place of today's city already existed in ancient times. They are inhabited by the Iberians, and monuments have been found that testify to the presence of Celts. It was then that the first fortress was built, which was extended by the Romans and Visigoths. On its foundations in the Middle Ages a Templar Castle was erected to protect the pilgrimage route to the tomb of St. Jacob.
In the hands of the Knights Templar, the extended and reinforced castle remained until the dissolution of the order at the beginning of the 14th century. Then it became the property of the king, who gave it to the local knightly family. The fortress has been preserved to this day in the version from the 15th century, when the last great expansion took place. It presents itself very attractive, and inside you can see not only original buildings, but also interesting exhibitions telling about the history of this place.
The town of Ponferrada itself remains somewhat overshadowed by a mighty castle. It has a nice, historic center with several churches and historic tenement houses. The town is geared mainly to serving pilgrims going to Santiago de Compostela, and therefore there is a lot of accommodation here.
