The capital of the sprawling autonomous community of Castile-León is not only an important stop on the Camino de Santiago but was the very heart of the historical kingdom of Castile – meaning much majestic architecture. The central pride and joy of Burgos is the Gothic Cathedral of St. Mary, built between the 13th and 15th centuries with its distinctive twin tracery spires, sculptures by reknowned artist Gil de Siloé, and tomb of the legendary knight Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar (better known as El Cid).

Other top landmark include the 12th-century Cistercian Monasterio de las Huelgas Reales – extraordinarily atmospheric, with its royal tombs, lovely cloister,  and museum of mediaeval textiles (there are also still several dozen nuns in residence) – and the 15th-century Cartuja de Miraflores, one of Spain’s most important Gothic buildings, a Carthusian monastery. Pilgrims were – and are – not too pious to party, and here there’s plenty of opportunity to cut loose in various bars and venues catering to the city’s 10,000-strong student population.

Read more in our post 8 Splendid Stops on Spain´s Way of St. James.

Camino del Cid