House of Ponferrada
“Pons Ferrata”
Origin: Lords of Ponferrada, guardians of the iron bridge
The lords of Ponferrada controlled the "iron bridge" crossing on the Sil river, a vital Camino de Santiago stop. Their Templar castle is one of the largest in northwest Spain.\n\nAfter the dissolution of the Templars, the family maintained the massive fortress and its pilgrimage infrastructure. The castle controlled access to the gold-rich Bierzo region.\n\nThe Bierzo's unique microclimate allowed the family to cultivate wines and crops unusual for northern Spain.