What to do · Las Médulas
Orellán Viewpoint and Galleries
Information
- Price
- Viewpoint free · gallery €4, free up to age 14
- Duration
- 1 h 30
- Season
- Gallery from 1 March to 8 December; viewpoint all year
- Who it's for
- For everyone
The Orellán viewpoint is the classic view of Las Médulas: the red clay pinnacles among chestnut trees, seen from above, in the municipality of Borrenes. Just before the viewpoint you enter the Orellán gallery, a tunnel the Romans cut into the mountain to bring the water with which they brought it down and washed the gold: the system known as ruina montium. It is best to start here: from above you understand the whole landscape before exploring it from below.
Inside the mountain
The visit follows the old water channel through the interior of the rock, about a hundred metres according to Castilla y León Tourism, and ends at an exit that is a balcony in the middle of a vertical cut in the mountain, with Las Médulas at your feet. The floor is uneven and there are steps: closed shoes, and a torch or your phone just in case.
The viewpoint, restored after the fire
The outdoor viewpoint is free to enter. The fires of summer 2025 damaged its structure and the Junta restored it: new wooden floors, benches, railings and fencing, finished in November 2025. The Borrenes Town Council is also rebuilding the building at the entrance to the gallery.
Opening hours and price
- 27 March to 1 November: every day from 10:00 to 20:00.
- 1 November to 8 December: every day from 10:00 to 18:15.
- 9 December to 1 March: the gallery is closed.
Last entry is half an hour before closing, and the hours may change with the weather. Admission costs €4, €3 for groups; under-14s go in free. Payment is cash only, because there is no signal. Car parking at Orellán costs €4. Gallery telephone: 649 701 216.
Along the LE-6202 to Orellán
From the road from Ponferrada to Las Médulas, take the turning to Borrenes and Orellán (LE-6202). From the car park you walk up a short stretch to the entrance to the gallery and the viewpoint.
And then, below
From the viewpoint you see the landscape; below, you walk through it, on the Valiñas trail or the perimeter trail. To eat without leaving Orellán, O Palleiro has a dining room with views of the valley.
Tips
- Go here first From the viewpoint you understand the whole landscape; then, below, on the Valiñas trail, you walk through it.
- In the afternoon, better light With the low sun, the clay turns orange. Check the closing time before going up.
- Bring cash With no signal, you cannot pay by card at the gallery.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to go in?
The viewpoint is free. The gallery costs €4, free up to age 14, and parking €4.
Is the Orellán gallery open in winter?
The gallery is closed from 9 December to 1 March; the viewpoint is free to enter.
Can I go with children?
Yes. The walk is short and children like the tunnel. With a pushchair, the last stretch and the gallery are not practical.
Can I pay by card?
No, cash only.
How long does the visit to the Orellán gallery take?
An hour and a half including the gallery, viewpoint and the walk from the car park.
With young childrenAs a familyWith teenagers
