Carrión de los Condes

Carrión de los Condes is one of the villages with the greatest Jacobean flavour on the entire French Way. Situated in the heart of the Palentine Plain, its history is indissolubly linked to the pilgrimage route, as attested by its impressive heritage. For pilgrims, strolling along its main street is walking the same path that millions of walkers have followed for centuries. The Church of Saint Mary of the Way, with its magnificent Romanesque portal, and the Church of Santiago, with its iconic Pantocrator, are artistic stops of first order. Special mention should be made to the Monastery of San Zoilo, now converted into a hotel, whose Plateresque cloister is a masterpiece of Renaissance art. Carrión de los Condes has always been an important centre for pilgrim assistance and today maintains that tradition with an excellent network of hostels, including one run by the Clarissan nuns. It is a fundamental stop on the Meseta, a place to immerse oneself in Romanesque art, enjoy Castilian hospitality, and reflect on the living history of the Way of St James.