Burgos and León

Burgos and León are two provinces of Castile and León on the northern Spanish plateau, crossed east–west by the Caminho Francês de Santiago. Between them lies the Meseta, the high plain of wheat fields, open sky and adobe-and-stone villages such as Castrojeriz, Frómista and Sahagún, which pilgrims cross in about a week. West of León, the landscape changes to the hills of the Maragatería and the green Bierzo valley.

Burgos, the former capital of Castile and the land of El Cid, has a Gothic World Heritage cathedral with the hero's tomb. About 15 km away, the Atapuerca range holds some of Europe's oldest human remains, displayed at the Museu da Evolução Humana in the city. León has the other great Gothic cathedral of the region, known for its medieval stained glass, the Panteón de los Reyes de San Isidoro and Casa Botines by Gaudí.

Further west, Astorga, ringed by a Roman wall, has the Palácio Episcopal de Gaudí and a tradition of chocolate and cozido maragato. Ponferrada, the capital of Bierzo, has the Templars' castle above the river Sil and, about 25 km away, the Médulas, ancient Roman gold mines, a World Heritage site of red earth among chestnut trees.

The four cities lie on the rail line linking central Spain to Galicia, which makes the route doable without a car. Spanish is spoken. The climate is continental: hot days and cool nights in summer, cold winters.

This destination brings together 4 cities: Burgos, León, Astorga, Ponferrada.