In this section of the French Way you will cover 175 km from Burgos to León. You will walk through the extensive plains and fields so characteristic of the Castilian landscape. To experience this part of the French Way, is to encourage oneself to get lost in reflection with oneself and to carry out an exercise in self-improvement by walking through vast expanses of moorland with hardly any services or populations. Undoubtedly, one of the most authentic stretches that still preserves the purest essence of the Jacobean route.

 

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Travel Itinerary

Burgos has always been a powerful magnet for travellers who love history, art and gastronomy. If you decide to do the French Way from this city of Burgos, you will be surprised with the tourist attractions it has, unique in the national panorama. It will be worth strolling through its elegant streets, promenades and endless green areas; contemplate its Gothic cathedral, a World Heritage Site, and enjoy its exquisite gastronomy. The city is also internationally renowned for its Museum of Human Evolution, the only one in the world specialising in this subject, and the Atapuerca archaeological sites, located barely 10 kilometres from the capital.

You will start your French Way from Burgos to León saying goodbye to the city to receive the authentic landscape of the Castilian plateau, which will accompany you throughout this first stage; a picture characterized by endless fields and plains that stretch as far as the eye can see, with just a few solitary trees that give shade and shelter to the pilgrims. From Rabé de las Calzadas, you will begin a long and gentle ascent through an extensive plateau of white earth to the end of the stage, Hornillos del Camino, a clear example of the villages that emerged as a result of the Camino de Santiago, consisting of a single street escorted by elegant stone houses very well preserved.

This stage is similar to the previous one, so we recommend going out with everything you need, especially water to quench your thirst. After overcoming a small slope, you will reach the village of Hontanas, from where you can choose between continuing along a dirt track or turning off along the road; both options will take you to the ruins of the old Convent of San Antón, the remains of a Gothic temple from the 19th century. From here it is only a 5-kilometre walk to the characteristic triumphal arch of Castrojeriz.

Castrojeriz is a small monumental village located at the foot of a hill. Following the route along Calle Real, you can visit the main monuments of the town: the Collegiate Church, the church of Santo Domingo, or the church of San Juán; and on the outskirts you can contemplate imposing medieval monuments such as the convents of Santa Clara, San Antón and San Francisco. It is also impressive to see the ruins of its castle of Roman origin, located at the top of a hill.

Today you will leave the province of Burgos behind to travel through the moors of Palencia. This is a slightly longer stage than the previous ones, with endless straights and stretches close to the road, a landscape in which the humble beauty of the adobe villages stands out. As on previous days, it is necessary to go out with food and water, as there are many places to stock up, and, especially in the summer months, the sun can cause problems.

The monumental complex of the town of Frómista in Palencia is a treasure worth visiting. One of the village’s great treasures is the Romanesque church of San Martín de Tours, founded around 1066 by Doña Mayor, widow of King Sancho of Navarre. A visit to the Church of Santa María del Castillo is also a must, founded on the site of a castle that is now home to a spectacular museum called Vestigia, Leyenda del Camino, which combines heritage and new technologies.

This stage consists of an easy route without many slopes, which runs through the plains of Tierra de Campos, where the cereal fields are the main scenic motif. The vast plains and endless straights may make the walk a little monotonous; it’s important to approach it with positivity and make several stops at the pilgrim rest areas, where you’ll find shade and water.

Carrión de los Condes is a small town with a medieval past, with vestiges of ancient walls, churches, palaces, convents and hospitals. You will be surprised by the large number of monuments that this small city has, especially as far as civil architecture is concerned, preserving countless architectural houses of different families, such as the Gothic Palace, the House of the Marquis of Santillana or the House of the corner balcony.

During this stage, the plains and cereal fields will continue to be the protagonists. It is important to keep in mind that today you will face the longest distance of the Camino without services, so it is very important that you prepare yourself to carry everything you need before starting the stage. The route passes through important Jacobean villages such as Calzadilla de la Cueza, Ledigos and Terradillo de los Templarios. The adobe dovecotes and Mudejar constructions will accompany you throughout the stage making the scenery a little more enjoyable.

At the long-awaited end of the stage, Sahagún will appear like an oasis in the middle of the desert. This small village has all the services you need to recover from your walk, as well as four important buildings worth visiting: the church of San Lorenzo, the church of San Tirso, the Sanctuary of La Peregrina and the Royal Monastery of San Benito.

In return for yesterday’s very hard day, today the road will be a little more bearable, as it has a much more affordable distance for our already tired legs. From Sahagún you can choose to continue along the original route to Bercianos del Real Camino, or take a detour to the north called the Calzadilla de los Hermanillos variant. This second itinerary is much more solitary and has fewer services.

In Bercianos del Real Camino you can make the first stop of the day and take the opportunity to visit the hermitage of the Virgin of Perales, “La Perala”.

Once in Burgo Ranero, you will have all the necessary services to rest and recover. It’s getting closer!

The 18 kilometres of this stage are characterised by flat terrain, and therefore quite easy. After 15 kilometers of walking, you will find a wooded area where you can stop for a break. A few kilometres away is the village of Reliegos. After leaving this small village, the road continues without loss until the end of the stage in Mansilla de las Mulas.

Mansilla de las Mulas is a small village located on the banks of the river Esla that still preserves part of its ancient wall. Like other villages along the French Way, Mansilla experienced an architectural boom linked to it, preserving at present several religious buildings. The French Way and the Via Trajan or Roman Road meet in this village.

Last day walking the French Way from Burgos to León! The profile of this stage is as flat as the previous ones, but far from asphalt. A stage that does not stand out for its scenic beauty but that encourages the pilgrim to feel close to their goal, León. The last few kilometres pass through industrial areas that make the route not particularly attractive. We recommend you to leave early in order to enjoy the afternoon in León, a city with many monuments and attractions, including the Cathedral of Santa María and the Basilica of San Isidoro.

León is the perfect city to combine culture and gastronomy. Between the Barrio Húmedo and the Barrio Romántico, you will find the perfect balance to combine visits to its rich architectural and cultural heritage with moments of “tapas” and relaxation.

Congratulations! You have completed your French Way from Burgos to León. This last day you decide what to do, you can go back home or extend some more nights visiting the brand new city of León. And as we are sure that you have been left wanting more, we encourage you to continue your pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.

Map of the Way

Type of accommodation

Detalles

Services included

10 days / 9 nights accommodation10 days / 9 nights accommodation
Luggage transfer during the stagesLuggage transfer during the stages
Complete documentationComplete documentation
Pilgrim’s CredentialPilgrim’s Credential
On-the-road emergency telephone assistanceOn-the-road emergency telephone assistance
Travel insuranceTravel insurance

Optional Services

ServiceIn private hostels from Burgos to LeónIn hotels, guesthouses and rural houses from Burgos to León
BreakfastBreakfastNot available80€ per person
MP (Breakfast and dinner)MP (Breakfast and dinner)Not available195€ per person
Supplement for single roomSupplement for single roomNot available215€ per single room
Extra nightExtra night25€ per person75€ (sing. room) / 120€ (doub. room)
Breakfast Breakfast
In private hostels from Burgos to León Not available
In hotels, guesthouses and rural houses from Burgos to León 80€ per person
MP (Breakfast and dinner) MP (Breakfast and dinner)
In private hostels from Burgos to León Not available
In hotels, guesthouses and rural houses from Burgos to León 195€ per person
Supplement for single room Supplement for single room
In private hostels from Burgos to León Not available
In hotels, guesthouses and rural houses from Burgos to León 215€ per single room
Extra night Extra night
In private hostels from Burgos to León 25€ per person
In hotels, guesthouses and rural houses from Burgos to León 75€ (sing. room) / 120€ (doub. room)

Photos

Frequently Asked Questions

In this modality you will do the Camino de Santiago at your own pace and you will only have to worry about choosing the route you like the most, the type of accommodation and your departure date. If you choose this option you will travel alone or with the people that appear in your reservation, and you will have all the services included so that you only have to worry about walking and enjoying the experience.

The Camino de Santiago on your own includes the following services

  • Accommodation
  • Luggage transport
  • Dossier with information about the stages
  • Pilgrim's credential
  • On-the-road helpline
  • Travel insurance

In addition, you can customize your trip by adding the following optional services

  • Breakfast or half board
  • Private transfers to the start of the stage from Santiago de Compostela or from the airport.
  • Extra night at the beginning or end of the stage

Unlike the group trips, no bus service, guide or support vehicle is included between stages. But you will have a 24-hour hotline where you can contact us in case of any problem or unforeseen event, which we will solve quickly.

Yes, you will have total freedom to choose your departure date. However, if you want to do your Camino de Santiago in the months of December, January and February, we recommend that you check availability before making your reservation. At this time of year most accommodation is closed and many services may not be available.
In your travel documents, you will find the names of the accommodations assigned to you, as well as their contact telephone number and location.   As a general rule, all accommodation is located in the centre of the different towns along the Pilgrims' Route to Santiago de Compostela, without the need to deviate too far from the route. But sometimes, due to lack of availability, it is possible that some accommodation may be a little far from the village or even in neighbouring towns.   For all the accommodations that are at a considerable distance from the route of the Camino, we will provide you with a free taxi service that you can use to get to your accommodation and return to the Camino the next morning.   In any case, these are exceptions that we will inform you at the time of booking.
Luggage transport service by default is included in all our trips and it is not necessary to request it. You will be able to do the Camino de Santiago without your luggage on your back with the peace of mind that your suitcase will be at your next accommodation on your arrival.   Along with your credential you will also receive stickers, which you must cover with the requested information and stick it in a visible place on your suitcase.   Once you have arrived at your accommodation, we recommend that you ask at reception where you can leave your luggage. You will have to leave your luggage at the indicated place first thing in the morning for our carrier to pick it up. This way, when you arrive at your next accommodation your luggage will already be there.
We have a taxi service that you can hire whenever you need it. You can hire it, for example, to go from the airport to the start of your Camino, or to go from Santiago to your starting point to pick up your car once you finish the stage.   The price of the transfers will depend on the distance from your point of origin to the destination. If you have any questions about this service do not hesitate to contact us.
We include a compulsory insurance with each trip that will cover you for any inconveniences that may arise during the Camino de Santiago. We will send you the insurance policy together with your travel documents.
The basic travel insurance included in our packages has a wide coverage against unforeseen events, with which you will also have guaranteed medical assistance and numerous benefits that you can consult in the General Conditions of Travel Insurance.

In your travel documents you will find an emergency telephone number where we we are available on the road when you need us. This way you will travel with peace of mind knowing that one of our companions will help you to quickly solve any problem, incident or doubt that you may have along your Camino de Santiago.

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