Hospital de Órbigo

Historia

Hospital de Órbigo is a municipality located in the province of León, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2010 census (INE), the municipality has a population of 1,031 inhabitants.It is a stopping point along the Camino de Santiago and has a long stone medieval bridge, which was recently restored. The town itself is part of the community of Puente de Órbigo, puente meaning bridge.HistoryDuring the Middle Ages there was a small village along the left side of the Órbigo river with a small church dedicated to the Virgin Mary, called Puente de Órbigo. In the 16th century the Knights Hospitaller established a pilgrims hospital on the right side of the river that came to be called Hospital de Órbigo.The town was a battle site in 456 between forces loyal to Theuderic I and Rechiar. Due to the bridge it was also important during the battles during Spain's Reconquista with Almanzor passing through the town at least once. Closer to the modern era in the 19th century, the town's inhabitants destroyed their iconic bridge to slow the advance of Napoleon's forces into Spain.