The most important cathedrals of the Camino de Santiago

Walking the Camino de Santiago is not only to walk and finish each stage with your legs loaded, it is also to contemplate its history and soak up its immense legacy, which comes to us after more than a thousand years of existence. One of the best ways to do it is to visit its innumerable points of interest, its incalculable artistic heritage, of which the cathedrals undoubtedly have an essential role.

If you are organizing your trip to the Camino de Santiago this year, remember to plan an itinerary of cultural visits to complete your days in the best way after finishing each stage. Here you have some of the most important cathedrals you will find in some of the busiest routes, such as the French Way, the Portuguese or the Primitive. They are gems that we all must know and what better opportunity than the Camino de Santiago to do it?

Catedral de Burgos

Cathedral of Burgos

• Construction: Early 13th century - 18th century
• Route and stage: Camino de Santiago Francés / Stage Agés - Burgos

What you should know: The Cathedral of Burgos, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, is the first Gothic building erected in both Castile and Spain, closely related to the classical French Gothic of other temples, such as the one in Paris or the Reims . The cathedral worships the Virgin Mary and includes two distinctly Gothic styles of construction, the classic and the flamboyant.
The imposing Cathedral of Burgos, initiative of the bishop Don Mauricio, was born with the aim of raising in the Castilian city an even grander temple than the previous Romanesque church with three naves on which it is built.

Catedral de León

Cathedral of Leon

• Construction: Early 13th century - Early 14th century
• Route and stage: French Way / Stage El Burgo Ranero - León

What you should know: The Cathedral of Leon, also called Pulchra Leonina, is one of the greatest jewels of medieval religious architecture in Spain, recognized worldwide for the large quantity, variety and quality of its glass.

The current Gothic cathedral replaced an earlier Romanesque church, which in turn was built on top of ancient Roman baths. It is one of the cathedrals of major French inspiration and has many elements common with the temples of Reims, Amiens and Beauvais.

Catedral de San Pedro de Jaca (Wikimedia Commons)

Cathedral of Jaca

• Construction: Late 11th century - Late 12th century
• Route and stage: Camino Aragonés / Stage Somport - Jaca

What you should know: The Cathedral of Jaca, or Cathedral of San Pedro de Jaca, is related to the origin of the city of Huesca and is one of the most representative temples within Spanish Romanesque art.

The temple began construction almost at the same time as the Cathedral of Santiago (mid-eleventh century), with the intention of turning it into an episcopal seat, under the reign of Sancho Ramírez.

Fachada de Azabachería / @ María Moldes

Cathedral of Santiago of Compostela

• Construction: Late 11th century - Early 13th century
• Route and stage: All routes to Santiago / Pedrouzo Stage - Santiago

What you should know: The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is the most important temple on the Camino de Santiago; here conclude all the pilgrimage routes Jacobean, moved by the desire to visit and present respect to the remains of the Apostle Santiago.

The temple was built on top of the original hermitage where the legend tells that the remains of Saint James the Great were found, after being transferred from Palestine to the spanish peninsula.

Catedral de Oviedo

Cathedral of San Salvador de Oviedo

• Construction: Late 13th century - 16th century
• Route and stage: Camino Primitivo / Camino de San Salvador / Oviedo Stage - San Juan de Villapañada

What you should know: The Cathedral of Oviedo, or Holy Church Cathedral Basilica of Metropolitan of San Salvador, is a set of Gothic temples in turn raised on a set of pre-Romanesque buildings.
Of them there is still some standing, like the Holy Chamber, which houses some relics of enormous importance in the Christian world and which have attracted numerous pilgrims since medieval times.

Catedral de Burgos

Cathedral of Santa María de Tui

• Construction: Early 12th century - Late 12th century
• Route and stage: Portuguese Way / Tui-Mos Stage

What you should know: The Cathedral of Tui, Romanesque and Gothic style, is located in this town Pontevedra, on the banks of the Miño, natural border between Spain and Portugal. The temple is the main attraction and maximum artistic exponent of the city. Its original construction is Romanesque, but later underwent modifications that incorporated the Gothic style to the temple, as in its main façade.

Tui is one of the most chosen places by pilgrims year after year, as many here begin their pilgrimage on the Portuguese Way to Santiago de Compostela, heading north.