About the way of Santiago
STAGE 11 Atapuerca – Burgos
In the final stretch of the city of Burgos, Atapuerca is one of the towns where more and more pilgrims who intend to do the French Way decide to stop to rest and spend the night.
From San Juan de Ortega, the trail takes you through wooded landscapes and open fields, passing through charming villages like Agés, with its stone houses and narrow streets, and Atapuerca, famous for its prehistoric archaeological sites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The climb to the Sierra de Atapuerca is challenging but rewarding, with breathtaking panoramic views. After the exhilarating ascent, the path descends towards Villafría, but the stage is undoubtedly much more beautiful if, after taking the turnoff to Orbaneja Riopico, you reach Castañares, which ultimately leads you to the magnificent city of Burgos through the park of white fountains along the Arlanzón River. Here, you will be greeted by one of Spain’s most important monuments: Burgos Cathedral.
THE WAY OF SANTIAGO TODAY
The Camino de Santiago is currently the most popular pilgrimage route in Europe, along with the Via Francigena and the Camino de Rome, and is also the oldest of all the Camino routes. Every year, tens of thousands of pilgrims set out to reach the cathedral via the main routes, such as the French Way, the Primitive Way, and the Northern Way, all of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In addition, there are the pilgrims who travel along other routes, such as the Portuguese Way, the English Way, the Finisterre-Muxía Way, the Southeast Way – Silver Route, the Arousa and Ulla River Sea Way, and the Winter Way, which have become established over time.
Today, the reasons pilgrims travel to Santiago along its various routes are incredibly diverse. Some walk for reasons of faith, as was the case in the early days of the Camino de Santiago. Many others prefer to enjoy the beautiful landscapes or meet adventurous people. Many walk to discover themselves, others to savor the food or wine, to be alone or in company… Many people embark on the Camino after a significant challenge in their lives or to prepare for such a challenge… And surely some or all of these motivations may coincide. Furthermore, there are likely as many reasons and paths as there are pilgrims, and discovering them is perhaps one of the most beautiful aspects of the journey. But in any case, it’s always wonderful to remember that the Camino doesn’t always give you what you want, but it always gives you what you need.
Today, the reasons pilgrims travel to Santiago along its various routes are incredibly diverse. Some walk for reasons of faith, as was the case in the early days of the Camino de Santiago. Many others prefer to enjoy the beautiful landscapes or meet adventurous people. Many walk to discover themselves, others to savor the food or wine, to be alone or in company… Many people embark on the Camino after a significant challenge in their lives or to prepare for such a challenge… And surely some or all of these motivations may coincide. Furthermore, there are likely as many reasons and paths as there are pilgrims, and discovering them is perhaps one of the most beautiful aspects of the journey. But in any case, it’s always wonderful to remember that the Camino doesn’t always give you what you want, but it always gives you what you need.
STORIES FROM THE WAY TO SANTIAGO
The Camino de Santiago is one of the most important places of pilgrimage and worship in the world.
We offer you a brief glimpse into his origins and the history of the apostle. Because every good story has at least one main character, and ours features James the Greater, one of the disciples closest to Jesus of Nazareth.
We offer you a brief glimpse into his origins and the history of the apostle. Because every good story has at least one main character, and ours features James the Greater, one of the disciples closest to Jesus of Nazareth.
If we combine impulses from different places and times, we could begin our story with this suggestive quote:
In a place in Roman Palestine, the name of which I do not wish to recall, there lived not long ago a fisherman of energetic and passionate character….
It was precisely on one of those days of fishing with his brother, also the apostle John, that he met Jesus.
A great friendship resulted from this, and consequently, a radical shift in his peaceful life by the Sea of Galilee. He went from being a fisherman of fish to a fisherman of men. James, the pilgrim, who traveled throughout Hispania.
We could say that he landed on the Iberian Peninsula twice, the first time full of life and passion to evangelize pagan souls, and the second time already deceased.
We don’t have many accounts of his first journey, although there are theories about his landing in Cartagena, his visits to the Ebro Valley, and the evangelization of the lands in the northwest of the peninsula. James made many good friends among the Hispanics, and from this emerged the seven Apostolic Men, who continued his work after the disciple’s return to his homeland.
The return of Santiago And what was James doing returning to Palestine, knowing that there was a price on his head put by King Herodes Agripa I?
To fulfill the promise to visit his teacher’s mother, Maria, on her deathbed.
He wasn’t the only one who returned, but he was the one who paid dearly for his audacity. He was soon captured by the Romans and his head severed from his body.
The threat fulfilled its fatal outcome and the legend of the first Path began.
Santiago had two faithful disciples in those tumultuous years: Theodore and Athanasius.
They were the ones who recovered his remains, and, inspired by their master’s wanderlust, they set sail in search of the last ray of sunlight in the west. According to medieval tradition, they crossed the Mediterranean, sailed along the Portuguese coast, and landed in what is now the Ría de Arosa in Galicia. Not content with that, they continued sailing, taking the high tide up the Ulla River to the Roman settlement of Iria Flavia, very near Padrón.
To fulfill the promise to visit his teacher’s mother, Maria, on her deathbed.
He wasn’t the only one who returned, but he was the one who paid dearly for his audacity. He was soon captured by the Romans and his head severed from his body.
The threat fulfilled its fatal outcome and the legend of the first Path began.
Santiago had two faithful disciples in those tumultuous years: Theodore and Athanasius.
They were the ones who recovered his remains, and, inspired by their master’s wanderlust, they set sail in search of the last ray of sunlight in the west. According to medieval tradition, they crossed the Mediterranean, sailed along the Portuguese coast, and landed in what is now the Ría de Arosa in Galicia. Not content with that, they continued sailing, taking the high tide up the Ulla River to the Roman settlement of Iria Flavia, very near Padrón.
The story of the Camino de Santiago begins in the 9th century when the shepherd Pelayo discovered the body of the apostle, specifically in the year 823. Writings say that the discovery was a miracle, guided by flashes of light in the sky and stars that pointed to the precise location. Observing this phenomenon repeatedly at night, the hermit left his cave and decided to tell the Bishop of Iria Flavia, Theodomir. After verifying the discovery, they visited the site one night and found a hidden sarcophagus containing the bodies of Saint James and his two disciples, Theodore and Athanasius. Given the importance of this find, Theodomir did not hesitate to travel to Oviedo, the capital of the kingdom, to inform King Alfonso II, the Chaste. It is at this moment that we can answer when the Camino de Santiago began, since it was King Alfonso II who, aware of the importance of the discovery, became the first pilgrim in history, starting his journey from Oviedo to the tomb of the apostle in what is known as the first Jacobean route —or what we describe today as the Primitive Way—.Furthermore, it was the king who ordered the construction of the temple to house the apostle’s remains and to make it worthy of being visited by other Christian monarchs. This first temple forms the basis of the Cathedral of Santiago (as it was later expanded to become it) and the name of the city: Campus Stellae or Santiago de Compostela.
Other versions of the origins of the Camino de Santiago
There are also other versions about the origins of this ancient pilgrimage. In fact, there is talk of an even older version. It is said that the different routes along the Galaxia route to Fisterra have been attracting pilgrims since before the 8th century. The reason for this is that it was believed that the world ended in the city of Fisterra, or “the end of the earth,” and many wanted to see it for themselves.
Other versions of the origins of the Camino de Santiago
There are also other versions about the origins of this ancient pilgrimage. In fact, there is talk of an even older version. It is said that the different routes along the Galaxia route to Fisterra have been attracting pilgrims since before the 8th century. The reason for this is that it was believed that the world ended in the city of Fisterra, or “the end of the earth,” and many wanted to see it for themselves.
… And indeed, if we walk all the way to Finisterre, a piece of our world does end, thanks to everything left behind on a journey with so many footprints. And we can be reborn to keep walking. With all the inner seeds that the path planted.
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