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Wise Pilgrim APPMontamarta sits above the Embalse de Ricobayo, where the Esla river was dammed in the 1930s. Overlooking the village from the far side of the reservoir is the Ermita de la Virgen del Castillo. The municipal albergue is along the N-630 before the camino reaches the village, and the Hostal Asturiano is just south of it.
When reservoir levels are high, the camino's crossing may be impassable — in that case, take the N-630 over the water.
Montamarta's first written mention dates to the reign of Ferdinand I of Leon in 1038, during the medieval repopulation campaigns that pushed the Christian frontier southward. The village sits in the Tierra del Pan, the bread country between Zamora and Benavente that has supplied grain to the region for centuries. The construction of the Ricobayo dam in the early 20th century transformed the landscape and economy -- most of the fertile bottomland is now underwater.
The way from Montamarta crosses part of the reservoir, which may be impassable when water levels are high. When that's the case, take the N-630 to cross the water instead.
In 4.5 km the camino crosses over the A-66. It then crosses a few small rivers and returns to cross back over the A-66 once again. From here it follows a straight path directly to Fontanillas de Castro. Along the way, a signed detour leads to the ruins of the Castillo de Castrotorafe, a former stronghold of the Order of Santiago -- worth the side trip if you have the energy.
