Ruta Jacobea Madrileña

The place

Catholic pilgrimage routes

Why go

Madrid (departure from the Plaza Mayor). Guadarrama and its mountain range. Segovia (optional) and its Roman aqueduct. The Castilian Meseta and its endless horizons. Sahagún and the church of San Tirso.

A bit of history

Pilgrims from the Spanish Court set out from Madrid — the capital of the Empire since 1561 — to join the Camino Francés at Sahagún or Burgos. The route follows old royal and trade roads linking Madrid to the northern Meseta.

Getting there

Madrid: Barajas international airport. Sahagún: train station (from León or Burgos, RENFE). Easy access from Madrid.

Recommended gear

Hiking shoes (Meseta terrain: asphalt and dirt tracks). Sunscreen (intense sun exposure on the Meseta). Plenty of water (long distances between villages in Castile).

Best season

March to June and September to November. July–August too hot on the Meseta (temperatures 35–40°C).