Official UK partner to the Paradors, Pousadas, Pestana Hotels & Resorts,
Teritoria, and European Hotels Collection. Keytours International,
formerly Keytel International, your agent in the UK.
Traditional Galician-style Hotel (4*)
The Parador de Villafranca del Bierzo is located at the entrance to the town of Villafranca and is built in a traditional Galician style, with a grey slate roof and walls combining stonework and whitewashed plaster. It enjoys a beautiful setting with the Sierra Ancares mountains rising beyond the gardens.
The Parador's ambience is enhanced by the use of traditional Castilian wooden furniture, wooden flooring and wrought-iron lamps throughout the building, and an attractive garden adorns the entrance to the Parador. Guestrooms offer the best views of the north-eastern El Bierzo region, Piedrahita del Cebreiro Pass and southern Ancares mountains. Villafranca’s Parador features multi-function rooms (which open on to the patio), a sauna, indoor and seasonal outdoor swimming pools, as well as a large exterior car park.
The Parador serves as a great example of a sustainable hotel, designed using advanced concepts in energy consumption and has set a new standard for tourism and gastronomy in the El Bierzo region. Walking, mountain biking, paragliding, fishing, swimming and canoeing are all possible locally, and back at the Parador you can relax in an elegant yet comfortable and informal atmosphere.
The small town of Villafranca del Bierzo lies between León and La Coruña. It was originally a traditional staging post for pilgrims heading for Santiago de Compostela and is easily accessible from major road networks. At one stage hundreds of thousands of pilgrims were passing through each year, as a result the town has a number of interesting places to visit with numerous churches and former pilgrim’s hospitals. Make sure to stroll along ‘Calle del Agua’ and the main square where you can appreciate the palaces and charming buildings. The 12th century Church of St James recognisable by its semi-circular apse and its Romanesque style meant that it was once among the most important churches along the pilgrimage route. One of the entrances to the church, known as the ‘Puerta del Pardon’, is a fascinating display of craftsmanship and welcomed pilgrims who, due to illness, could not continue on the route to reach the tomb of St. James.
While visiting the area it is worth the 30 minute drive south of Villafranca del Bierzo to reach Las Medulas. The UNESCO World Heritage site of Las Medulas was once the most important goldmine in the Roman Empire and the fascinating landscape which has resulted from their intervention demonstrates the innovation of Roman civilisation.
For seasonal Parador pool opening times please visit our information on pools page.
Restaurant opening times:
Breakfast is served from 8.00 to 11.00
Lunch: 13.30 to 16.00
Dinner: 20.30 to 23.00. It may be possible to arrive up to 22.30 and still enjoy a meal.
Cafe/bar is open from 11.00 to 23.30
The Parador is located at the entrance to the town (in the upper part) some 350 metres from the main N-VI road. Villafranca is at km 406 of the N-VI (Madrid-A Coruña), with a large entrance from the main road which passes the Parador and continues to the Plaza Mayor.
The Parador has a large, free exterior car park which can accommodate around 40 vehicles.
The largest of Spain's 17 Autonomous Communities, Castilla y León is unsurprisingly home to some of the countries most important cities, historic cultural sites and and 15 Paradors, so you can plan a leisurely itinerary across the region.
