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Wise Pilgrim APPHospital de Órbigo takes its name from the pilgrim hospitals that once operated along the river, but its fame comes from the bridge — the Puente del Paso Honroso, one of the longest medieval bridges in Spain, with 20 arches spanning roughly 204 meters across the Río Órbigo.
In 1434, a Leonese knight named Don Suero de Quiñones staged an elaborate jousting tournament on the bridge. Claiming to be a prisoner of love (he wore an iron collar around his neck every Thursday as proof of his devotion to his lady), he challenged all comers to break 300 lances. The tournament lasted a month, attracted knights from across Europe, and ended with Suero victorious — and his iron collar removed. The story may sound absurd, but it happened, and the town still celebrates it.
The bridge itself is a beautiful piece of medieval engineering, rebuilt several times but retaining its long, low profile across the broad river. Cross it in the late afternoon when the stone glows in the light.
Several albergues, bars, and restaurants line the main street. The town is a popular stopping point with a lively pilgrim atmosphere. All basic services available.
The Paso Honroso is reenacted annually during the first weekend of June, with medieval costumes, jousting, and a market. It's one of the better medieval festivals in León.
The Paso Honroso (Passage of Honor) of 1434 is the town's defining event. Don Suero de Quiñones and nine companions held the bridge for 30 days, from July 10 to August 9, jousting against 68 knights and breaking 166 lances before declaring the challenge complete. Suero was later killed in a quarrel unrelated to the tournament — an anticlimactic end to a romantic story.
From Hospital de Órbigo, the camino heads south through flat farmland toward Astorga, about 17 km ahead. The terrain is open and exposed.
