French Santiago Way through Castilla & Leon
Where we are
The interest in route tourism has steadily increased for the last years and many pilgrims find the path Iter Sancti jacobi, better known as the French Way, to Santiago de Compostela. Approximately 400 km out the altogether 1,000 km path run through the region of Castile-León. Along the route through Castile-León, pilgrimages pass invaluable cultural and natural heritage. Among others, the two UNESCO World Heritage sites Burgos cathedral and Las Médulas gold mine and the archaeological site Atapuerca. The pilgrims get to experience a varied landscape of deep forests, high mountains and fields.
Territory
The idea of pilgrimage might seem old-fashioned to some although, it is being recognized as a sustainable alternative of future tourism. Route tourism offers spiritual experiences as well as leisure, adventure, cultural encounters. For inhabitants in the small villages, along the French Way, results from the increasing tourism are visible. Population is once more growing in step with work opportunities for local businesses. The steady tourism enables sustainable social and economic development these rural areas through the enhancement of its unique heritage.
Rural Heritage
The Rural Heritage Hub is located in monastery of San Zoilo in Carrión de los Condes. It was built in 948 and has hosted a mixture of culture for a millennium. Today the old monastery has the function of a better hotel, which is possible to host more than 300 visitors. The monastery is also facilitating the non-profit organization “Friends of the Camino de Santiago de Palencia Association”, who helps to maintain the pilgrim routes.
