Complete Guide to Route of the Castle and Aragon

The Castellano-Aragonese Way is a transversal pilgrimage route, a historical bridge that unites the two great medieval crowns of the peninsula, Aragon and Castile, through the Ebro valley and the highlands of Soria. It was not one of the major Jacobean routes, but rather a connecting path, a logical alternative for pilgrims coming from the east who sought a shortcut to reach Burgos without having to follow the entire course of the Ebro River to La Rioja.

Its history is linked to the geography and communication network that dominated northern Spain in the Middle Ages. Pilgrims coming from Catalonia, following the Camí de Sant Jaume route, or those who remounted the Ebro from the Mediterranean, arrived at Zaragoza, a key point for devotion to the Virgin of Pilar. At this point, a choice was presented: continue the meander of the river towards Tudela and Alfaro in the northwest until Logroño, or take a more direct route westward towards the powerful city of Burgos. It was this second option that gave life to the Castellano-Aragonese Way.

The itinerary delves into a territory that for centuries was a border zone, first with Islam and then between the kingdoms of Aragon and Castile. This heritage is visible today in the abundance of castles and fortified villages that mark the route. Starting from Gallur, on the banks of the Ebro, the path leads to the imposing mass of Moncayo, the sacred mountain of the celtiberians. At its feet lies Tarazona, a monumental city, episcopal seat since the Visigothic era, which preserves a magnificent Gothic cathedral and a rich Jewish quarter, testament to its past as a city of three cultures.

After passing through Tarazona, the pilgrim enters the province of Soria, the heart of the oldest and most austere Castile. The route passes through Ágreda, another border town, before arriving at the city of Soria. The Sorian capital, immortalized by poets such as Antonio Machado, offered the medieval pilgrim a haven of peace and spirituality, with Romanesque jewels like the church of Santo Domingo or the enigmatic arches of the cloister of San Juan de Duero. From Soria, the path continues westward, traversing the Pinares region, a vast expanse of forests that contrasts with the aridity of other areas of the meseta.

The final objective of this route was to reach the province of Burgos to link up with other routes that led directly to the Camino Francés. Traditionally, the Castellano-Aragonese Way joined the Lana Route in the vicinity of the famous Monastery of Santo Domingo de Silos, renowned for its Romanesque cloister and Gregorian chant. From Silos, the pilgrim was just a few days' journey from Burgos, where he finally incorporated into the great river of pilgrims coming from France.

The modern revival of this itinerary has highlighted a route of great landscape beauty and immense historical richness. It is a path for those seeking solitude in interior Spain, a journey through the history of borders and kingdoms that forged the peninsula, following the footsteps of medieval pilgrims who chose the most direct route to reach their destination.