Information about stage 10: Stage of Sto.Sunday of the Causeway to Belorado
| STAGE 10 |
KM 22.7 |
TIME 05H00′ |
Itinerary
- Km 0. Santo Domingo de la Calzada(All Services)
A good juice, a coffee and the varied pastries of Santo Domingo de la Calzada, with its famous little hanged men, allow us to face the last kilometers of the Camino in La Rioja and the first ones in Castilla with guarantees.Calle Mayor and Río Palomarejos lead to the hermitage from the early 20th century that gives access to the bridge over theOja River, almost 150 meters long and supported by 16 arches.Of the primitive ford that Santo Domingo built, today only the enclave remains, since its current structure is from the mid -18th and 20th centuries.After crossing it we turn off along the track to cross the LR-201.Six hundred meters later we do the same with a branch of the N-120 (Km 1.7). We continue parallel to the National highway for several kilometers until we turn left and head towardsGrañón,the last town in La Rioja.If we go to the hostel located next to the hermitage of Carrasquedo we will have to take a detour before reaching Grañón!.Shops and bars are clustered around Calle Mayor.Here, at number 16,Ernesto Díaz welcomes pilgrims in his house(see observations section).Theparish shelteris in thechurch of San Juan Bautista
- km 6.8.Grañón(Shelter. Bars. Shop. Pharmacy. Doctor’s office. ATM. Shelter also next to the hermitage of Carrasquedo.)
At the exit from Grañón we meet again with the land consolidation tracks that cut through the cereal, relieved in their planned monotony by the rows of poplars that grow on the banks of rivers and streams.Two kilometers further on, a spiky information panel welcomes Castilla y León, a Community that will be with us for the next two weeks (Km 8.8).We are already in the province of Burgos and, before setting foot in Galicia, we will still cross Palencia and León.From the panel you can already make outRedecilla del Camino, the first Castilian town we reached after overcoming a long straight line and crossing the N-120.
- km 10.7.Redecilla del Camino(Hostel. Bar. Shop)
At the entrance to the town there is a jurisdictional roll and a tourist office where they offer extensive information on the Camino de Santiago as it passes through Castilla y León.On Calle Mayor, theparish church of Virgen de la Callehouses an interesting baptismal font from the 12th century.At the exit of Redecilla we cross the N-120 again and then over theReláchigo river, on the way to the following town:
- km 12.4.Castildelgado(Hostel. Hostel. Bar. Shop)
We approach it through El Cristo street and Calle Mayor to the Plaza Mayor, where thechurch of San Pedroand thebaroque hermitage of Santa María del Campoare located ).We left Castildelgado along Camino de la Cuesta street and along a track parallel to the Nacional and asphalt we reachedVitoria de Rioja, where around the year 1020Santo Domingo de la Calzada was born.
- km 14.3.Viloria de Rioja(Hostels)
We put land in between until we connect with the fireproof track attached to the National highway(Km 15.5).Through it we continue toVillamayor del Río.At the entrance there is a small park and a rest area where you can replenish calories for the final stretch of the stage.
- km 17.8.Villamayor del Río(Hostel. Bar)
We leave by Calle Real and take the track again to move forward to the center ofBelorado.
- km 22.7.Belorado(All Services)
Difficulties
- Various crossings of the N-120: At the exit of Santo Domingo de la Calzada, in Redecilla del Camino and at the entrance to Belorado, the route of the stage crosses the N-120.In Belorado, the intersection is at the exit of a curve and is especially dangerous.
Observations
Work has begun on the A12 motorway that affects the route of the Camino de Santiago (World Heritage) between Santo Domingo de la Calzada and Villafranca Montes de Oca, they plan to divert the road in such a way that it does not pass through Viloria de Rioja, This diversion is currently in litigation and so far nothing has been diverted.It would be a shame if the road stopped passing through this town “cradle of Santo Domingo de la Calzada” and not be able to visit the baptismal font where the Saint was baptized, not to mention the families that live from the passage of pilgrims. In Redecilla del Camino, the first town in Castilla y León, you can admire its famous baptismal font from the 12th century. In Belorado, the pilgrim can go to the tourist office, which is the center of Jacobean promotion for the community of Castilla y León. In the center of the office there is a large illuminated map where the pilgrim can calculate the stages throughout this autonomous community. .The pilgrim will also be able to enjoy the walk of Art or the walk of Spirit among many other things.More information athttps://www.belorado.org/index.php/turismo/ In Belorado it is advisable to go to visit the monastery of Santa Clara and taste its famous chocolates, it is at the exit of the town and the detour is signposted, it does not lengthen the stage a notable distance. For pilgrims who want to extend the stage, a good option is Tosantos and its San Francisco de Asís parish hostel.
What to see, what to do
- GRAÑÓN :
Grañón is the last town in La Rioja before entering Burgos, a border place in its time between the Kingdom of Navarra and the County of Castilla. It is located northwest
of the Mirabel hill and was formed around a castle whose first mentions date back to the year 885. In the 19th century, two residents of Grañón and Santo Domingo de la Calzada
resolved the disputes over the era of the Dehesa in a death match that Martín García de Grañón finally won. In the place a cross was raised that is still preserved and is
called “de los Valientes”. The town still maintains the grid road system of the pilgrimage villages. The monumental parish church from the 14th century is
consecrated to San Juan Bautista and in it stands out its valuable altarpiece. The hermitage of Nuestra Señora de Carrasquedo, and its surroundings of oak groves, is another of the places worth
visiting in Grañón. The town has shops, bars, a parish hostel and a youth hostel. - REDECILLA DEL CAMINO : The
first Burgos town on the Camino. It has a great medieval flavor along its street-path where we will find emblazoned houses with projecting eaves. The baptismal font, Romanesque
from the 12th century, located in the parish church of Virgen de la Calle, is another architectural jewel of the Camino. It is a large cup seated on a beam of eight columns. - VILORIA DE RIOJA :
Santo Domingo de la Calzada was born in this Burgos town around the month of May of the year 1019. Even the site where he grew up is still preserved. In the Church of the Assumption there is a 17th century altarpiece in walnut wood with the image of the Saint. - BELORADO :
Important medieval town in the shadow of a peak and bathed by the Tirón river. At the top of the cliff are the remains of a castle from the 10th century. The Church of Santa
María, built in the 16th century, is Renaissance in style and has a large Baroque altarpiece. That of San Pedro, in the square, was renovated in the 17th century and stands out for its bell
tower. Outside the town center is the hermitage of Nuestra Señora de Belén, rebuilt in the 18th century after being devastated by a fire. Belorado is famous for
its shops and leather factories, it has a wide commercial service and good cafeterias and restaurants in the Plaza Mayor. In addition, it is one of the towns on the French Way
with the most hostels for pilgrims.