# Basílica de la Virgen de la Encina de Ponferrada, Spain: what it is and when to go

> Basílica de la Virgen de la Encina de Ponferrada is a church building in Ponferrada, Spain (Peñalba de Santiago). Interests: History and Temples. The best time to visit is March to June and September to October. In June there are 15 h 06 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 54. It has articles in 5 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in Spain: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. Here is what it is, where it lies, when to come, how to get there and what else is nearby to turn it into a trip.

- Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/basilica-de-nuestra-senora-de-la-encina/
- Reviewed on: 2026-10-02
- Language: en

## In a nutshell

- **What it is:** Church building in Ponferrada, Spain · History, Temples
- **Where:** Spain · Plaza Virgen de la Encina, Ponferrada
- **Best time:** March to June and September to October.
- **Nearest airport:** MAD Madrid, 340 km as the crow flies
- **Protection:** Protected heritage
- **Coordinates:** 42.54421, -6.59173

## What it is and where

Basílica de la Virgen de la Encina de Ponferrada is a church building in Ponferrada, Spain (Peñalba de Santiago). It has articles in 5 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in Spain: one to enjoy at a calmer pace.

It is in [Peñalba de Santiago](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/penalba-de-santiago/), where this site lists 15 more places to see, 14 km from the centre.

Its coordinates are 42.54421, -6.59173; the nearest main airport is Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (MAD, Madrid), 340 km as the crow flies. How to get around Spain (train, car, bus) is covered in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/#moverse).

- [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=42.544212%2C-6.591728)
- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=42.544212%2C-6.591728)

- **Protection:** Protected heritage

It is one of the [History](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/historia/) and [Temples](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/espiritual/) places in Spain. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap.

## When to go

The best time to visit Basílica de la Virgen de la Encina de Ponferrada is **March to June and September to October**.

| Mes | Época | Hours of daylight |
| --- | --- | --- |
| January | Possible | 9 h 13 |
| February | Possible | 10 h 20 |
| March | Best time | 11 h 39 |
| April | Best time | 13 h 10 |
| May | Best time | 14 h 26 |
| June | Best time | 15 h 06 |
| July | Possible | 14 h 50 |
| August | Possible | 13 h 44 |
| September | Best time | 12 h 16 |
| October | Best time | 10 h 49 |
| November | Possible | 9 h 31 |
| December | Possible | 8 h 54 |

In June there are 15 h 06 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 54. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather.

| What you come for | Best time | Possible |
| --- | --- | --- |
| History | March to June and September to October | November to February and July to August |
| Temples | March to June and September to October | November to February and July to August |

It is not the same trip whatever you come for: Basílica de la Virgen de la Encina de Ponferrada has a different season depending on what you want to do here, and [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) puts it in the right month for you.

When to go to Spain in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/#cuando-ir).

## Before you go to Spain

To enter Spain there are 6 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “Valid ID card or passport”: they are all, with their deadlines, in [the Spain checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/#antes-de-salir). Currency: Euro (EUR); plugs: Type C and F · 230 V · 50 Hz; emergencies: 112.

In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it.

## What is nearby

- [Templar statue](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/el-milagro-de-la-encina/): Statue in Ponferrada, Spain · 56 m
- [Museo de El Bierzo](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/museo-del-bierzo/): Museum in Spain · 143 m
- [Ponferrada Castle](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/castillo-de-ponferrada/): Cultural property in Ponferrada, Spain · 161 m
- [Bodega Cepas del Bierzo Cooperativa](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/bodega-cepas-del-bierzo-cooperativa/): Winery · 1.2 km
- [Santo Tomás de las Ollas](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/iglesia-de-santo-tomas-de-las-ollas/): Cultural property in Ponferrada, Spain · 1.5 km

Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in [the Spain guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/).

## More in Spain: History

- [Córdoba, Spain](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/cordoba-2/)
- [Toledo, Spain](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/toledo-2/)
- [Salamanca](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/salamanca-2/)
- [Sagrada Família](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/basilica-de-la-sagrada-familia/): basilica under construction since 1882 in Barcelona, Spain
- [Cádiz](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/cadiz-2/)
- [Alcalá de Henares](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/alcala-de-henares-2/)

Every Spain place under History, each with its season, is on [its page](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/historia/).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is Basílica de la Virgen de la Encina de Ponferrada?

It is a church building in Ponferrada, Spain. It has articles in 5 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in Spain: one to enjoy at a calmer pace.

### When is the best time to visit Basílica de la Virgen de la Encina de Ponferrada?

March to June and September to October. In June there are 15 h 06 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 54.

### How do you get to Basílica de la Virgen de la Encina de Ponferrada?

The nearest main airport is Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (MAD), 340 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=42.544212%2C-6.591728) opens the route on the map, and how to get around Spain is explained in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/#moverse).

### How do I add it to my trip?

With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the Spain map, next to the places you save yourself: add it to a day's plan, give it a time and, if you like, get a reminder when you pass nearby.

### What else is around here?

Nearby you have [Templar statue](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/el-milagro-de-la-encina/), [Museo de El Bierzo](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/museo-del-bierzo/), [Ponferrada Castle](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/castillo-de-ponferrada/). The rest is in [the Spain guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/).

Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/47131551), licensed under the ODbL, and from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2843637), CC0. More about Basílica de la Virgen de la Encina de Ponferrada on [Wikipedia](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bas%C3%ADlica_de_la_Virgen_de_la_Encina). Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).