Leon information:
Ponferrada information
The first information that we have of Ponferrada
is as a former citadel in Roman times. From the 11th century,
the rise in pilgrimages to Santiago de Compostela spurred the
appearance of the hamlet of Pons Ferrata (Bridge of Iron), situated
on the Pilgrim's Road to Santiago de Compostela and named in this
way because of the building of a bridge reinforced with iron.
In the 12th century, the King Fernando II of León placed
this flourishing settlement under the custody of the Order of
the Temple. The Knights Templar (Los Templarios) used the place
of a primitive Roman fortress in order to build a castle in which
they settled and which, at the same time, protected the passing
pilgrims.
Oficina de Turismo: Calle Gil y Carrasco, 4
24400 Ponferrada (León)
Tel. +34 987424236 Fax. +34 987424236
Source: Web server of Instituto de Turismo de España, TURESPAÑA.