Piedrafita - (Castilla-y-León / Galicia)

Start Town	Altitude (m)	Elevation Gain (m)	Length (km)	Gradient (%)	Difficulty	Rating
Villafranca del Bierzo	1107	477	13.8	3.5	244	***

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Piedrafita is a very gentle and steady climb of low difficulty.

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Roads & Traffic

The road is in very good condition throughout.

There is litle traffic on the road. The climb used to be one of the main road passes between León and Galicia, but the new high speed motorway running parallel to the climb now carries the vast majority of traffic.

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Climb Description

Piedrafita is one of the main climbs on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route. It is a pleasant climb with little traffic and nice scenery, although it only real opens up and becomes spectacular once your turn left at Piedrafita do Cebreiro, and continue ascending towards the historic village of O'Cebreiro.

For cyclists who are not doing the Camino de Santiago, this is a nice climb to include in a long circular route with either Ancares or Llano de las Ovejas.

The climb begins in Villafranca del Bierzo - the wine capital of the region. The Bierzo wine that is produced here has a very distinctive taste owing to the micro-climate in which it is grown. Definitely try to get hold of a glass or two if you can!

Piedrafita is open throughout the year. In the winter there can be very short term closures due to snow, but they are usually quickly cleared.

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Other sides

Piedrafita can also be reached from both the north-west and the south-west; however, these routes are much more rolling in character rather than a sustained climb.

Nearby Climbs

Ancares
Llano de las Ovejas

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Tours

Piedrafita is climbed on our Camino de Santiago cycling tour, and can also be climbed as an extension on our Ancares & Somiedo self-guided cycling holiday.