Camino de Santiago French Way – Part 4 Burgos to Sahagun
'Castilla y Leon's valleys, rivers and plateaux'
This Walking Holiday explores the fourth section of the Camino Frances / French Way, the most traditional of all the pilgrims' ways to Santiago de Compostela and the best known internationally.
Starting from Burgos, the medieval city and hometown of "El Cid", and finishing in Sahagun, a town renowned for its unique Roman churches, this Camino is certainly one of the most rewarding in terms of culture and natural surroundings.
Everyday, during the walk, you are guaranteed a high level of comfort and gastronomy. The Camino de Santiago is clearly marked with the “Scallop Shell” showing you the way. This walk can be physically demanding and requires a reasonable level of fitness. However, it’s a highly rewarding walk that includes numerous cultural highlights.
Highlights:
♦ Burgos Cathedral - a Gothic-style Roman Catholic cathedral, famous for its vast size and unique architecture
♦ Parish Church in Boadilla – 14th century baptismal font and Gothic cross outside
♦ Sahagun – a town, notable for containing some of the earliest examples of the mudéjar style of architecture
Itinerary:
Day 1. Coming to Burgos
You will be pre-booked in a traditional hotel in the heart of the town.
Burgos, 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). Aside from a visit to the historic quarter, you can take quite an interesting walk along the banks of the Duero and Arlanza rivers. Discover the delicious and varied local cuisine in one of the city's restaurants.
Day 2. Burgos To Hornillos del Camino
From Burgos you will go through the stepped crop fields that are typical of the region. You will pass through some small woods of Holm oak and conifers, which serve as a memory of the time when one of the largest forests in Europe existed on these lands. Hiking time: approx. 5h15, 20km, +120m -240m
Day 3. Hornillos del Camino to Castrojeriz
You will resume your walk towards Castrojeriz. Upward to another plateau and then descending toward the valley of the River Bol. Today is a pleasant day spent between pasture and crop fields.Hiking time: approx. 5h, 20km, +140m -170m
Day 4. Castrojeriz to Fromista
After Castrojeriz, situated on the hillside between the valleys of the rivers Odrilla and Pisuerga, is Alto Mosterales - 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 14th-century church "La Asuncion", reputed for its Gothic pillory and beautifully carved baptismal font.Hiking time: approx. 6h30, 25km, +210 -220m
Day 5. Fromista to Carrion de los Condes
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 Villalxazar de Sirga, you will come across a good example of a Campos village; few houses and inhabitants, but an impressive church full of treasures.Hiking time: approx. 5h, 19km, +100m, -50m
Day 6. Carrion de los Condes to Calzadilla de la Cueza
For 13km you will follow the historical "Aquitana Camino" (another famous Camino to Santiago which begins in Bayonne, France) through isolated countryside, passing poplar woods and crossing over several irrigation channels. Hiking time: approx. 4h45, 17km, +50m -20m
Day 7. Calzadilla de la Cueza to Sahagun
Expect hilly terrain as you 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. Hiking time: approx. 5h30, 22km, +80m -130m
Day 8. Sahagun
After breakfast we bid you farewell.
Luggage transportation: Luggage will be transported from hotel to hotel. The baggage allowance is one item (maximum 20kg) per person. If you need to add more bags please contact us in advance.
Included in the price: ►accommodation in 3* or 2* hotels on bed and breakfast basis (Day 7 and 8) and half board basis (Day2, 3, 4, 5 and 6) ►luggage transferred from hotel to hotel ►detailed walking notes ► map ►pilgrim passport
Not included: ►personal insurance ►flight tickets ►transfer from/to airport ►beverages ►meals, not mentioned in the program ► personal expenditures
Other expences: ►single supplement (Apr, May, Jun, Sep) - 159 EUR, (Jul, Aug, Oct) - 136 EUR, (Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec) – 113 EUR ► picnic lunches 60 EUR per person (including all walking days) ► airport transfers (2-8 people) 109 EUR per person ► Extra nights in Burgos / Santander / Bilbao / Sahagun in 2* hotel on bed and breakfast basis - 44 EUR per person. Single room 60 EUR. In 3* hotel on bed and breakfast basis – 65 EUR per person. Single room 95 EUR
How to get there?
♦ Fly in and out – It is best to fly to Bilbao, Santander or Madrid. To/ from Bilbao you can fly with EasyJet (daily flights to Bilbao from London Stansted Airport), Iberia (flights from Gatwick or Heathrow via Madrid) and AerLingus (operates out of Dublin). To Santander there are direct connections only with Ryanair (from London Stansted, Dublin, Frankfurt, Milan and Rome, as well as Reus and Madrid in Spain), and internal connections with Iberia from Alicante, Barcelona, Gran Canaria, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca, Seville and Valencia. To/ from Madrid you can fly with almost every company. You can check the Spanish national company: www.iberia.com.
♦ Getting there – You can go to Burgos by train from Santander (1 hour journey) or Bilbao (3 hours journey). Trains have several departures a day.
♦ Getting back – You can get back from Sahagun to Santander by bus, which takes 3.30 hours ride. As well as you can take a train to Bilbao (4 hours journey) or to Madrid (4.30 hours journey). See the timetable and book tickets online: www.renfe.com
Vacation Extensions:
Camino de Santiago - French Way - Part 1 Saint Jean Pied de Port to Pamplona
Camino de Santiago French Way - Part 2 Pamplona to Logroño
Camino de Santiago French Way – Part 3 Logroño to Burgos
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