The Camino de Santiago is a journey brimming with discoveries, taking you through some of Spain’s most picturesque and charming villages. Along the Camino, pilgrims traverse magical, somewhat unknown places, away from the country’s typical tourist spots. Scattered across its geography are many villages with a certain je ne sais quoi that makes them extra special, so much so that it’s tough to pick the prettiest, as each has its own unique charm. In the following article, we’re dishing out our top 10 most enchanting villages on the Camino de Santiago, based on our own and other pilgrims’ experiences.
Discovering Spain along the Way
There are many motivations and ways to experience the Camino: for religion, spirituality, sport or culture; on foot, by bicycle or other means. Same route, different experiences. But you should know that the Camino de Santiago is not a single path, nor is there one unique itinerary: in the Iberian Peninsula alone there are more than 50 officially recognised routes today.
All of them include beautiful villages full of charm, some of them considered among the most beautiful in Spain. From the historic French Way to the mythical Finisterre and Muxía Way, we find villages that have earned a well-deserved place on this list. If you decide to walk the Camino de Santiago or simply visit them, you will discover why.
Jaca (Huesca)
Located in the inner ranges of the Pyrenees, this village sits on the Aragonese variant of the French Way, a lesser-known section among pilgrims but no less beautiful. This enclave boasts one of the most valuable monuments in the region, the Citadel of Jaca, a beautiful fortification built as protection against invasions during the reign of Philip II and declared a National Monument.
Jaca, flanked by the idyllic mountain scenery of the Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park and the Valles Occidentales Natural Park, offers remarkable historical and architectural heritage. Besides the Citadel, the historic centre features the Romanesque cathedral of San Pedro, the church of Santiago, the Benedictine monastery and its Clock Tower.
Aerial view of the Citadel of Jaca
South of the Sierra del Perdón lies the marvellous village of Puente la Reina, a cobblestone town steeped in history in every corner. It is a key point on the Camino de Santiago, where the two variants coming from France converge.
Tradition says its name comes from the bridge ordered to be built in the 11th century by an anonymous queen of Navarre. In fact, its most remarkable monument is that bridge, built over the river Arga and crossed by the French Way. There are also several churches worth visiting, such as the parish church of Santiago, San Pedro Apóstol or the Church of the Crucifix.
Puente la Reina, Navarre
Nájera (La Rioja)
This small but beautiful village is an important Jacobean enclave. Surrounded by hills inhabited since prehistoric times and bordered by the river Najerilla, it witnessed battles between Moors and Christians from the 10th century onward. Its heritage includes the monastery of Santa María La Real, the Castle of La Mota, the Alcázar and its Botanical Garden.
Additionally, in its region lie the monasteries of Suso and Yuso in San Millán de la Cogolla, a very important site in the origins of the Spanish language and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Many pilgrims on the French Way still make a detour to visit this place.
Monastery of Santa María la Real in Nájera
Santo Domingo de la Calzada (La Rioja)
This beautiful town stands on the banks of the river Oja and is a clear example of a town created by and for the French Way. Its founder, Domingo García, ordered the construction of a bridge over the river, a hospital and a pilgrims’ hostel. Today its historic centre features a cathedral with an exempt tower, medieval walls and a Cistercian abbey.
The town is full of charm, both inside and out. A local legend tells of the miracle of the rooster and the hen, in which Domingo proved the innocence of a wrongly accused pilgrim. The saying “Santo Domingo de la Calzada, where the hen sang after being roasted” summarises this episode.
Plaza of Santo Domingo de la Calzada
Castrojeriz (Burgos)
Included in the list of the Most Beautiful Villages of Spain, Castrojeriz is a charming stop on the French Way. The Camino runs lengthwise through its historic centre, making it the longest urban stretch of the Jacobean route. Numerous hospitals and pilgrim hostels once lined this long main street.
It is particularly striking that the village lies beneath the hill crowned by its castle. Its rich heritage includes the Palace of the Counts of Castro, a Gothic building with a beautiful 16th-century doorway. You can also find in Castrojeriz the Church of Virgen del Manzano, the Monastery of Santa Clara and the ruins of the Convent of San Antón.
Collegiate Church of Santa María del Manzano in Castrojeriz
Sahagún (León)
In the historic town of Sahagún, located in the heart of the Camino, you can still see traditional houses built with brick, wooden structures, clay and straw, typical of the province of León. Its artistic heritage reflects a remarkable past, with the notable monastery of San Benito el Real—today represented by the arch of San Benito, the Clock Tower and the chapel of San Mancio. This complex tells the story of the origin of this Jacobean enclave.
The Mudejar churches of San Tirso and San Lorenzo, the Benedictine convent and, on the outskirts, the sanctuary of La Peregrina, make Sahagún one of the most beautiful villages on the French Way. In addition to the French Way, this is also where the Madrid Way ends (or continues toward Santiago).
Roman bridge in Sahagún
Astorga (León)
This beautiful town on the French Way has a walled historic centre and a magnificent cathedral that blends Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque elements. Next to it stands the spectacular Episcopal Palace designed by Antoni Gaudí, built to replace the medieval one destroyed in a tragic fire.
The Silver Way (Vía de la Plata) ends here, and the town preserves its Roman origins: founded as a Roman military camp at the end of the 1st century BC, it still displays remains of that period. As an additional attraction, the Chocolate Museum is a great excuse to take a break and enjoy this sweet treat. And if chocolate is not your thing, try the town’s famous “mantecadas”.
Gaudí Palace in Astorga
O Cebreiro (Lugo)
This is undoubtedly one of the greatest attractions and one of the most beautiful villages on the French Way, marking the natural border between Galicia and León. Surrounded by the Biosphere Reserve of the Ancares Lucenses and the Caurel mountains, several factors make this small parish such an emblematic point of all Jacobean routes. Notably, the joy pilgrims feel upon reaching it after climbing to its 1,300 metres above sea level.
Its characteristic traditional architecture, with its famous “pallozas”, bears witness to an important architectural and ethnographic heritage. Also outstanding is the Church of Santa María, which houses a miraculous chalice—the Holy Grail—featured on the coat of arms of Galicia. One of its most famous priests was Elías Valiña, painter of the yellow arrows and a major promoter of the Camino in the last century.
Pallozas of O Cebreiro, Lugo
Portomarín (Lugo)
One of the jewels of the French Way and, without a doubt, one of the favourite places for pilgrims starting their journey from Sarria. This village lies beside the Miño river, and its emblematic Roman bridge marks the end of the first stage for many, filled with excitement and happiness. It also stands out for its distinctive architecture: white-walled buildings and slate roofs.
A village reborn from the Miño, many of its buildings were moved stone by stone from their original location because of a reservoir. Be sure to visit the Church of San Juan and San Nicolás; on its stones you can still see the numbers used to identify and reassemble them in the new location—like a Lego puzzle. Also recommended is the stone staircase leading to the Chapel of Our Lady of the Snows. But beware! Legend says: climb without looking back, or several years of heartbreak await you.
Bridge over the reservoir of Portomarín
Pontemaceira (A Coruña)
Once in Santiago de Compostela, pilgrims may continue toward Finisterre and Muxía along the epilogue of the Camino—the Finisterre and Muxía Way. On the first stage you reach this green and enchanting place, another of the most beautiful villages on the Camino and in Spain. Pontemaceira, bathed by the river Tambre, features a beautiful medieval bridge, ancient mills, the Chapel of San Blas and the imposing Pazo de Baladrón.
According to tradition, Theodore and Athanasius, disciples of Saint James, were searching for a place to bury their master’s remains while being pursued by pagan enemies. After crossing this bridge, divine intervention destroyed it, preventing their pursuers from catching them.
Bridge crossing the river in Pontemaceira, A Coruña
Many roads and villages to discover
This is our selection of the most beautiful and charming villages along the Camino de Santiago. It is not an easy filter, and we must admit many wonderful villages are left out. As mentioned, there are many routes and even more villages, and whichever Camino you choose, you will find places full of charm. Dare to embark on this magical route, where beauty lies around every corner and history comes alive in every alley. If you dream of exploring villages with unique charm, get ready for an extraordinary journey!
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