Points of interest on the Camino del Norte: 5 must-sees
The Camino del Norte is one of the most popular routes among pilgrims and there are many reasons for this. Although it is one of the longest and most complete routes, the vegetation and typical landscapes of northern Spain attract many people. To this we must add the large number of points of interest it offers, being able to highlight several of all that there are.
Although there are many things to see on the Camino de Santiago, if we focus on the Camino del Norte there are some must-sees. These are located between different points along the Camino and are also the most striking points for pilgrims, some of which have more historical value. Among these monuments along the Pilgrim's Way to Santiago are the following
Bilbao - saiko3p/iStock
Guggenheim Museum of Bilbao
- Dating from the XX
- Why visit the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao in one sentence: A museum that reflects the most avant-garde style of the twentieth century in our country.
Faro de Cabo Mayor - Olga Kuznetsova en Pixabay
Cabo Mayor Lighthouse in Santander
- Dates back to the XIX
- Why visit the Cabo Mayor Lighthouse in Santander in one sentence: From the lighthouse of Cabo Mayor you get one of the most beautiful panoramic views of the Cantabrian coast and its fusion of the Cantabrian lands with the sea.
Catedral de Oviedo
Oviedo Cathedral
- Dates from the XIV
- Why visit the Cathedral of Oviedo in one sentence: With more than 1,200 years of history, it is one of the most important cathedral complexes in Spain.
Monte Igueldo - saiko3p/iStock
Mount Igueldo
- Dates from XX
- Why visit Mount Igueldo in San Sebastian in one sentence: If Mount Igueldo is one of the favorite places in San Sebastian is because from there you can get a unique panoramic view of the city.
Catedral de Mondoñedo - percds/iStock
Cathedral of Mondoñedo
- Dates from XIII
- Why visit the Cathedral of Mondoñedo in one sentence: Declared a national monument, it stands out for its different architectural styles, its low height and its perfect proportions.
Points of interest on the French Way: 10 essentials
The Camino de Santiago, as you know, is a set of millenary routes that cross the peninsula through different provinces in the direction of the city of Santiago de Compostela, in western Spain. Within the set of Jacobean routes, the French Way is the most historically relevant and traveled by pilgrims today, in addition to serving as a central channel that join many other routes at different points to take the pilgrims to the goal.
Many other Jacobean routes, such as the Portuguese Way, the Primitive Way or the Northern Way, are full of artistic historical points of interest that are always worth visiting if we walk along them. However, on this occasion we wanted to focus exclusively on 10 of the most outstanding monuments of the Camino de Santiago that we will find on the French Way, aware that we left many others on the way, such as the Monastery of Santa María la Real de Nájera, the Royal Monastery of San Juan de la Peña, Santa María la Real de O Cebreiro or Sarracín Castle in Vega de Valcarce.
Royal Collegiate of RoncesvallesData from s. XII-XIIIIn the stage: Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port - Roncesvalles (French Way)Why visit the Royal Collegiate of Roncesvalles in one sentence: Of French Gothic style, this church of the twelfth century raised in honor of Santa Maria is the great jewel of this artistic style in Navarra.
Puente románico de Puente la Reina
Romanesque bridge of Puente de la Reina
- In the stage: Pamplona - Puente la Reina (French Way)
- Why visit the Puente de la Reina Romanesque Bridge in one sentence: Built in the eleventh century so that pilgrims could cross the river Arga without problems, even today is one of the most characteristic monuments of the Camino de Santiago.
Monasterio de Santo Domingo de Silos
Monastery of Santo Domingo de Silos
- In the stage: Camino de la Lana (connects Alicante with Burgos, where it reaches the French Way)
- Why visit it in one sentence: This monument, one of the most characteristic of the Camino, is a Romanesque Benedictine abbey from the 18th century. VII that became occupied by the Muslims and in whose museum pieces of enormous historical importance can be seen.
Catedral de Burgos
Cathedral of Burgos
- In the stage: Agés - Burgos (French Way)
- Why visit the Cathedral of Burgos in one sentence: Of French Gothic style, the cathedral of Burgos is one of the most important monuments of Humanity in Spain.
Catedral de León
Cathedral of Leon
- In the stage: El Burgo Ranero - León (French Way)
- Why visit the Cathedral of León in one sentence: First monument declared in Spain, its set of medieval polychrome stained glass is undoubtedly one of the most important in the world.
Palacio Episcopal de Astorga
Episcopal Palace of Astorga
- In the stage: San Martín del Camino - Astorga (French Way)
- Why visit the Episcopal Palace of Astorga in one sentence: Neo-Gothic style, it is one of the few constructions of the master Gaudí outside Catalonia
Castillo de Ponferrada
Castle of Ponferrada
- In the stage: Foncebadón - Ponferrada (French Way)
- Why visit the Castle of Ponferrada in one sentence: Templars Fortress built to shelter the pilgrims of the Camino de Santiago.
Iglesia de San Martín de Frómista
Church of San Martín de Frómista
- In the stage: Hontanás - Frómista (French Way)
- Why visit the Church of San Martín de Frómista in one sentence: Typical Romanesque exterior appearance, very similar to the Cathedral of Jaca, also on the Camino.
Monasterio de San Julián de Samos
Monastery of San Julián de Samos
- In the stage: Triacastela - Sarria (by Samos) (French Way)
- Why visit the Monastery of Samos in one sentence: Benedictine Monastery World Heritage with 15 centuries of history behind it.
Catedral de Santiago de Compostela
Cathedral of Santiago of Compostela
- In the stage: Pedrouzo - Santiago de Compostela (French Way)
- Why visit the Cathedral of Santiago in one sentence: The greatest treasure of the Camino de Santiago, the ultimate goal for pilgrims and one of the largest pilgrimage centers in the western world.