Burgos to Sahagun

The city, which was the capital of the unified kingdom of Castilla-Leon for five centuries, boasts a masterpiece of Spanish Gothic architecture; the Cathedral of Burgos (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Apart from a visit to the historic quarter, you can take a walk along the banks of the Duero and Arlanza rivers or discover the delicious and varied local cuisine in one of the city’s restaurants.

From Burgos you will go through the crop fields that are typical of the region. You will pass small scattered woods of Holm oak and conifers, which serve as a memory of the time when one of the largest forests in continental Europe existed on these lands.

You will resume your walk towards Castrojeriz upwards to another plateau and then descending towards the valley of the River Bol. Today is a pleasant day spent between pasture and crop fields. Once you reach your destination, be sure to see The Castle of Castrojeriz.

After Castrojeriz, situated on the hillside between the valleys of the rivers Odrilla and Pisuerga, is Alto Mosterales – the highest point of the Meseta, and the last plains of the Burgos region. The river Pisuerga brings you into the province of Palencia and on into the Tierra de Campo. Don’t miss Boadilla and its 14thCentury church ‘La Asuncion’, reputed for its Gothic pillory and beautifully carved baptismal font.

Although this stage of the Camino passes through areas that have been heavily influenced by man, we follow the charming banks of the river Uciesa under the shade of the trees. Today, the Camino takes a relatively straight trajectory. Numerous rest areas have been set out along the path. Passing Villalcazar de Sirga, you will come across a good example of a Campos village; there are few houses and inhabitants, but there is an impressive church full of treasures.

For 13km you will follow the historical ‘Aquitana Camino’ (another famous Camino to Santiago which begins in Bayonne, France) through isolated countryside, passing popular woods and crossing over several irrigation channels used for agriculture in the region.

Expect hilly terrain as you depart Calzadilla De La Cueza and cross some ‘cuezas’, or little valleys. This part of the Camino leaves the road and heads through oak woods, before coming back to familiar cereal fields and crossing the river Valderaduey on your way to the countryside of Leon. In Sahagun, the church of San Lorenzo is certainly worth a look.

After breakfast we bid you farewell. In this charming town you can follow in the footsteps of famed Spanish king Alfonso VI, who is buried in the Benedictine Convent of Santa Cruz. Sahagun is a town of many churches, such as the Church of San Juan where the tomb of the town’s patron saint, San Facundo, can be found. Another church worth visiting is the Church of San Lorenzo, which is a superb example of the brick Mudejar style of building.