Daily Itin­er­ary

Burgos
Van transfer to the hotel in Burgos (approx. 2:30h). Founded as a fortress in 884, Burgos was the capital of the kingdom of Castile from 1230 up to the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella (the Catholic Kings) and during the XV and XVI was a place of important trade fairs. Burgos has fine examples of the Gothic style, like the churchs of Santa Gadea (12th Century), St. Stephen (13th Century), S. Gil (14th Century), the Hospital del Rey, the Solar del Cid, the convents of the Carmelites, Augustinians, and especially the main Cathedral, an UNESCO World Heritage site. The construction of this cathedral began in 1221 and was inspired by the French model of Reims.
Lodging: NH Palacio de La Merced

Burgos | San Martin de Fromista (84 km / 52 mi)
On your first day of riding the route will take you through a very rural landscape that sometimes will remind you of a patchwork. One of the places of historical interest that you will visit today is Hontanas, located at the bottom of a valley. The name of this small town comes from the Latin fontana (fountain in Castilian). Hontanas is a popular overnight stop for many pilgrims. Later on you will pass by the ruins of the former convent of San Antón, a local hospital where pilgrims on the way to Santiago could seek for assistance. Your final destination is Frómista, where you can admire the Romanesque style church of San Martín. This church was built during the 11th Century and it reminds of scale model, such is the perfection of its size and outer shape.
Lodging: Hotel Dona Mayor

San Martin de Fromista | Léon (125 km / 78 mi)
Today you ride by Carrión de Los Condes, a 12th Century walled city structured in two districts. Here you will find some interesting churches, such as the Church of Santamaria del Camino and Santiago's Church of the Pantocrator whose figure has become an icon to the pilgrims who pass through Carrión. Roughly halfway through today's ride, in the town of Sahagun, you can find good examples of the Mudejar art. This style has traces of the Hispanic-Muslim style. The churches of San Tirso and San Lorenzo built with brick instead of stone are good examples of this style. Your final destination is León, the provincial capital of the community of Castilla y León with important monuments such as the Cathedral, the Basilica of San Isidro, the medieval monastery of San Marcos or the Botines House created by the famous Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí.
Lodging: Parador de León

Léon | Astorga (62 km / 39 mi)
The small and friendly town of Astorga is your final destination today. As you leave León's urban area the landscape changes and you will be riding through vast farming lands. Interesting sites to visit today are the church of San Martin, in San MartÌn del Camino, and the church of San Juan Bautista, in Hospital de Orbigo.
The medieval bridge over the Paso del Honorable is also a highlight of the day. In Astorga, a town that was once a Roman military camp, you should not miss the main cathedral, dedicated to Santa Maria, the Episcopal palace designed by Antoni Gaudì, and the remains of the old Roman city.
Lodging: Hotel Astur Plaza

Astorga | Villafranca del Bierzo (79 km / 49 mi)
On the way to Villafranca del Bierzo, you will pass by small "pueblos" as Santa Catalina de Somoza, El Ganso, Rabanal del Camino, and Foncebadon, before reaching the altitude of 1500 m/ 4921 ft, a point marked with a tall iron cross where pilgrims leave stones that they carried all the way from the start of their journey. After this climb, a nice gentle downhill will take you to El Acebo, a good place to stop and eat a "bocadilllo". On route the next village will be Riego de Ambrós, and the Sanctuary of La Virgen de Las Angustias (17th Century), before you cross the medieval bridge that will takes you to the town of Molinaseca. In Villafranca del Bierzo, today's destination, you can visit the Convent of Los Padres Paúles or just relax at the Plaza Mayor right in front of your inn.
Lodging: Parador de Villa Franca del Bierzo

Villafranca del Bierzo | Sarria (77 km / 48 mi)
On your sixth day of riding you will conquer the the mythical Cebreiro! Today you will also enter the province of Galicia, a region know for its beautiful lush forests and impressive mountain ranges. The route will take you through the small towns of La Portela de Vacarce and also Barrio del Hospital, which name comes from a former hospital dedicated solely to British pilgrims. This "pueblo" consists of a cluster of houses surrounded by mountains and green fields and marks the beginning of the ascent to Cebreiro. The road up to Cebreiro is one of the most difficult climbs of the French way and is also a milestone entry into the province of Galicia. You will pass by the town of Triacastela, before arriving in Sarria, where you can see the Tower de la Fortaleza de los Marqueses de Sarria of Sarria, the only part of the 13th Century Monasterio de la Magdalena that still stands. Sarria is the birthplace of the sculptor Gregorio Fernandez (1576-1636).
Lodging: Hotel Mar de Plata

Sarria | Santiago de Compostela (116 km / 72 mi)
Leaving Sarria, you will cross the bridge over the Miño river before you reach the town of Portomarín. Here you can find the remains of the arches of what was once a Roman bridge - a very popular spot for pilgrims to take pictures. The next major town is Palas de Rei, where you can visit the church of San Tirso built in the Romanesque style (13th Century). And finally we reach Santiago de Compostela. Santiago de Compostela is one of the most important, if not the most important pilgrimage center in the Catholic world. The Santiago Cathedral is visited by millions of pilgrims. But Santiago is also a lively university city with many bars and "tapas" places where you taste the best Galician food.
Lodging: Hotel Compostela

Departure
Van transfer to the airport.