Six kilometres south of Vilafranca, the village of Corullón sits on a hillside above the Selmo valley with two Romanesque churches — San Esteban and San Miguel — that would draw visitors from across Europe if they were better known. San Esteban in particular has a carved Romanesque portal of genuine quality, dating from the 12th century, tucked into a village of perhaps a few hundred people. The drive or walk up through the vineyards is part of the pleasure; Corullón sits in one of the best Mencía-growing sub-zones of El Bierzo, and the hillside terraces around the village produce some of the appellation's finest wines.
Further out, Las Médulas — roughly 20 kilometres southwest — is one of the most dramatic landscapes in northern Spain and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Romans hydraulically mined the hillsides here for gold using a technique called ruina montium, collapsing entire hills with redirected water to expose the ore-bearing rock. The result is an alien terrain of collapsed red cliffs, deep gullies, and chestnut forest growing through the ruins. A short walk up to the viewpoint at the village of Las Médulas takes about 30 minutes and is straightforward. Las Médulas is not yet in our guide hierarchy, but it is absolutely worth the detour if you have half a day and a car.