Cruz de Ferro (Spanish for “Iron Cross”) is a famous landmark on the
Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route in Spain. Located in the province of
León, it marks the highest point of the route. It stands at an altitude of 1,504 meters (4,934 feet). At the site, a tall wooden pole topped with a metal cross stands with a pile of stones at its base. As a tradition, pilgrims tradition bring a stone from their place of origin and place it on the pile of stones. The gesture symbolizes leaving behind their burdens, sins, or worries.
The history of Cruz de Ferro dates back to ancient times. Celts who inhabited the region originally built it as a pagan shrine. When the Romans conquered the area, they likely destroyed the shrine. Possibly, they replaced it with a Roman milestone or marker, which marked the distance from
Astorga to the city of Braga in Portugal.
During the Middle Ages, the Camino de Santiago became an important pilgrimage route. As a result, Cruz de Ferro became a significant landmark on the way to
Santiago de Compostela. In the early days of the pilgrimage, there were few other landmarks in the sparsely populated region. Thus, pilgrims used the pile of stones at the base of the cross as a marker to guide them.
Throughout the centuries, Cruz de Ferro has also been the site of various battles and conflicts. During the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s, Republican forces destroyed the cross. Later, local residents rebuilt the cross. Today, the site remains an important landmark and symbol of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage.
