![\"The](\"https:\/\/elcaminoapedales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/457-2-1024x576.png\")
<\/figure>\n\nThe K\u00fcnig Way originates from the exploratory journey undertaken by Hermann K\u00fcnig between the summer of 1488 and the end of 1490. Antonio Alabanti, Prior General of the Order of the Servites, commissioned this work because he wanted a detailed guide for pilgrims heading to Santiago. <\/p>\n\n
In this guide, K\u00fcnig made several recommendations to pilgrims, such as: If you are starting from Le\u00f3n, avoid the Rabanal del Camino route (Puerto de Foncebad\u00f3n) and detour through Santa Marina del Rey, Cogorderos, and Bra\u00f1uelas, entering El Bierzo through Cerezal de Tremor and Bembibre. He also proposed avoiding the climb to O Cebreiro, passing through Pedrafita, As Nogais, Becerre\u00e1, Baralla, O Corgo, and Lugo, where it connects with the Primitive Way. <\/p>\n\n
Route, distances, and kilometers: Where does the K\u00fcnig Way start and where does it pass through?<\/h2>\n\n
The K\u00fcnig Way extends approximately 199 kilometers, from San Mart\u00edn del Camino (Le\u00f3n) to Lugo. The route is divided into 9 stages: <\/p>\n\n
- \n
- Stage 1<\/strong>: San Mart\u00edn del Camino – Porqueros (25 km)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Stage 2<\/strong>: Porqueros – Torre del Bierzo (21 km)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Stage 3<\/strong>: Torre del Bierzo – Ponferrada (26 km)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Stage 4<\/strong>: Ponferrada – Villafranca del Bierzo (24 km)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Stage 5<\/strong>: Villafranca del Bierzo – Pedrafita do Cebreiro (24 km)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Stage 6<\/strong>: Pedrafita do Cebreiro – As Nogais (14 km)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Stage 7<\/strong>: As Nogais – Baralla (25 km)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Stage 8<\/strong>: Baralla – O Corgo (21 km)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Stage 9<\/strong>: O Corgo – Lugo (19 km)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
What are the infrastructures and hostels like on the K\u00fcnig Way?<\/h2>\n\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/elcaminoapedales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/456-2-1024x576.png\")
<\/figure>\n\nThe K\u00fcnig Way is a route that has been recovered relatively recently, so the infrastructures are limited and scarce. However, signage has improved in recent years, especially on the Galician sections. <\/p>\n\n
In Le\u00f3n, the municipality of Santa Marina del Rey inaugurated in 2024 the first municipal hostel on the Way, called “El paso de K\u00fcnig.” However, in the rest of the route, guesthouses and pensions predominate. It is advisable for pilgrims to plan in advance where they will spend the night. <\/p>\n\n
Places and monuments along the K\u00fcnig Way<\/h2>\n\n
The K\u00fcnig Way contains a great deal of historical heritage, impressive landscapes, and popular tradition. Along the itinerary you will find numerous monuments and places: <\/p>\n\n
- \n
- Statue of Hermann K\u00fcnig in Pedrafita do Cebreiro<\/strong>: in homage to the monk who gives the route its name.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Templar Castle in Ponferrada<\/strong>: A 12th-century castle that served as a welcoming point for pilgrims.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- \u00d3rbigo Bridge in Hospital de \u00d3rbigo<\/strong>: A medieval engineering bridge over 10 meters in length.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Castro de O Castelo in As Nogais<\/strong>: An unexcavated Celtic settlement, with the chapel of Santa Olaia on its summit.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Royal Way of Charles III:<\/strong> An 18th-century dirt and gravel section that preserves its original layout.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Church of San Pedro de Cadoalla in Becerre\u00e1<\/strong>: An 18th-century church with a beautiful fountain.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Chapel of San Benito de Horta in Cruzul<\/strong>: a hermitage next to the bridge over the River Nar\u00f3n.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Lugo City Walls<\/strong>: A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the arrival point of this itinerary before joining the Primitive Way.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Episcopal Palace of Astorga<\/strong>: A work by Antoni Gaud\u00ed, it is one of the most unique monuments in the area.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
What is the K\u00fcnig Way? The K\u00fcnig Way is a historical variant of the French Way that was described by […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3095,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_joinchat":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3096","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sin-categorizar"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/elcaminoapedales.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3096","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/elcaminoapedales.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/elcaminoapedales.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elcaminoapedales.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elcaminoapedales.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3096"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/elcaminoapedales.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3096\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3097,"href":"https:\/\/elcaminoapedales.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3096\/revisions\/3097"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elcaminoapedales.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3095"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/elcaminoapedales.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3096"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elcaminoapedales.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3096"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elcaminoapedales.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3096"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
- Templar Castle in Ponferrada<\/strong>: A 12th-century castle that served as a welcoming point for pilgrims.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Stage 2<\/strong>: Porqueros – Torre del Bierzo (21 km)<\/li>\n\n\n\n