Atapuerca

Atapuerca is a small town in the province of Burgos that the Camino Francés crosses between San Juan de Ortega and the city of Burgos, known throughout the world for the archaeological sites in the sierra that bears its name. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000, these sites have revealed some of the oldest hominin remains in Europe, among them those of Homo antecessor, and have made the Sierra de Atapuerca a global reference point for human evolution. The pilgrim who passes through the village climbs toward the Alto de Matagrande, which opens up a first, stirring panorama of Burgos outlined against the meseta. Beyond its scientific importance, Atapuerca preserves the memory of the battle of 1054 in which Fernando I of León faced his brother García Sánchez III of Navarre, and it keeps the quiet of the Camino's small settlements, with its parish church, its lagoons and a handful of services designed for walkers. For many pilgrims it is the last peaceful stop before entering the bustle of the big city, a serene pause between the most remote history of humankind and the monumental grandeur of Burgos.