10 best 'off-camino' experiences along the Camino Francés

2022-12-01

The famous French Camino route offers a range of exciting and alternative attractions. Here, we have gathered the 10 best.

On the French Camino route through the four Spanish provinces Navarre, Rioja, Castilla-León, and Galicia, the nature and cultural experiences are diverse and often quite unique. The regions are ancient; for example, both Navarre and Castilla y León were Spanish kingdoms long before they were united into the Spain we know today. Therefore, the culture along the Camino is both exciting and extremely diverse, concerning architecture, traditions, gastronomy, and ways of life.

Across northern Spain, along the French Camino route, or Camino Francés, you will pass a number of exciting attractions that essentially have nothing to do with the Camino. However, they are all worth a visit and are visited each year by many tourists, who are not necessarily pilgrims. Therefore, you must not miss these exciting attractions along the Camino Francés.

The list includes 4 attractions on UNESCO's World Heritage lists. The candidates are many, and the list is far from exhaustive.

We have selected 10 places that are not located on the Camino itself but can be experienced on half- or full-day trips from the Camino.

The '10 Off Camino experiences' are very diverse and will together provide even better insight and knowledge about the history, culture, and nature of the Camino area.
The list is written in chronological order along the Camino, from east to west.

In Spain is More's travel guide, which you will receive before your trip, we describe the attractions as well as the easiest and best way to experience them - and not least how to get there most easily, considering the short time and lack of mobility that often characterizes a pilgrim traveler. If you know when booking your trip that you would like to experience some of the places, we can arrange half- or full-day tours and/or book an extra overnight stay in the nearest Camino town.

If you are driving along the Camino, all the places are a 'must' on your self-drive trip along the Camino.

Laguardia (Basque Country)

Laguardia is located 18 km from one of the largest cities on the pilgrim route, Logroño.
18 km northeast of the cozy pilgrim town Logroño lies one of Spain's most beautiful fortified towns, Laguardia, surrounded by vineyards and some of La Rioja's best wineries. In the winding, narrow streets, cars are prohibited due to the many underground tunnels where wine was once stored and aged. Laguardia sits high above the plain, and from the city walls, there is a fantastic view over the many vineyards. Several famous wineries appear on the horizon.

In Laguardia, you will find fantastic restaurants, wine bars, delicious tapas bars, and of course, some good wine shops where you can purchase the region's pride. Laguardia is a fantastic off-Camino experience, and the charming town resembles the well-known towns of Tuscany in Italy, though much less touristy.

A visit to Laguardia always surprises our guests. The visit can be reached after arriving in Logroño, but in that case, it will be at the expense of tapas on Calle Laurel in Logroño, which would be a shame. We therefore recommend an extra overnight stay in Logroño if tapas, wine, and a visit to a charming fortified town tempt you.

The Monasteries of Yuso and Suso - Los Monasterios de Yuso y Suso (Rioja)

Santo Domingo de la Calzada is located between Logroño and Burgos. Only 20 km from here are two of the most beautiful monasteries in Europe -the Yuso and Suso monasteries.
They are both on UNESCO's World Heritage list. The two beautifully located monasteries are isolated from everything, but due to their cultural value and large number of visitors, they can be reached by bus from Santo Domingo de la Calzada or Najera, where guided tours are also available. Suso, meaning 'the upper' (monastery) and Yuso 'the lower' (monastery), are located 1 km apart, and the site is said to be the birthplace of the Spanish language. The oldest part, San Millán de Suso, dates back to the 6th century, and San Millán de Yuso from the 11th century. Besides the obvious religious aspect, the monasteries as such have no relation to the pilgrimage route Camino de Santiago, but many pilgrims still pass by. How about an extra overnight stay in Najera or Santo Domingo de la Calzada, allowing ample time to experience the monasteries on your day off?

Atapuerca (Castilla y León)

20 km before Burgos lies one of the world's most famous archaeological excavations, Atapuerca.

Before arriving in Burgos, you pass Atapuerca, where one of the world's most interesting archaeological excavations is taking place. Sierra de Atapuerca, or the Atapuerca mountains, is extremely rich in fossil excavations, prehistoric stone tools, and bone remains from both humans and animals - often exotic animals that roamed the area thousands of years ago, such as lions and leopards. In the excavations, the oldest bone remains of prehistoric humans in Western Europe have been found, believed to be between 600,000 and 1.2 million years old. The site has also been included on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Atapuerca was discovered when they were excavating for a railway in the 1960s. The stretch was never put into use, but instead of a train journey, it became a journey through human evolution and history. There are guided tours, which unfortunately are often only in Spanish. The archaeological finds are exhibited, and very interestingly explained and illustrated at the Museo de la Evolución Humana (Museum of Human Evolution) in Burgos, which is definitely worth a visit. Here, you will also find videos of the excavation. A visit that places the area through which the Camino passes in an exciting historical perspective.

Villa Romana La Olmeda (Castilla y León)

The Romans have left their mark in many places along the Camino, but nowhere like the Roman villa of 'La Olmeda.'

About 20 km north of the pilgrim town Carrion de los Condes, you can experience one of the best-preserved evidence of the Romans' significant presence in Northern Spain. La Villa Romana la Olmeda is one of Spain's most important archaeological excavations. It features a noble residence from the 4th century, with some of the finest Roman mosaic decorations in the world. One mosaic work is a massive 175 m2 and is virtually intact. Additionally, the residence provides a fantastic insight into Roman skills regarding baths, sewage systems, etc.

La Villa Romana la Olmeda was accidentally discovered during regular agricultural work in the 1960s. An extremely interesting and well-presented museum, where you walk among the original mosaics and finely sense the importance of the house and its inhabitants, as well as the artistic skill, which is outstanding. Villa Romana la Olmeda is older than the Camino, and pilgrims have therefore not passed through here, as the pilgrimage route only became truly popular about 1000 years after the house was built.

The Caves of Valporquero (Castilla y León)

The Caves of Valporquero are among the most beautiful stalactite caves in Europe. They are located about 45 km north of the city of León.

'Cueva de Valporquero', or the stalactite caves in Valporquero, is the ideal place for those who want to experience the earth from the inside. The famous stalactite caves are located about 45 km north of León, from where you can either go on a day trip here, including a visit to the caves, or take the bus and experience the place on your own. The journey to the caves is beautiful and captivating, winding through narrow rock crevices at Hoces de Vegacervera. There are several guided tours into the caves daily, where you can experience the fantastic stalactites and the enormous underground halls. In spring, the underground river's trickle turns into a roar, and small waterfalls pop out through all the rock crevices. A visit to a completely different world, which we recommend if you have a whole day in León.

Castrillo de los Polvazares (Castilla y León)

If you miss other attractions on your pilgrimage, there is no excuse for not taking a trip through Castrillo de los Polvazares - just a small detour after Astorga will bring you here.

5 km after Astorga lies the beautiful little village of Castrillo de los Polvazares. The village is very close to the pilgrimage route, and many pilgrims also pass through. However, since the Camino does not officially go through the town, it is justified on this list. It is just a detour of a few hundred meters, and the little 17th-century town is worth the detour. Only residents are allowed to drive on the town's cobbled streets, which means that traffic has not taken over, and Castrillo de los Polvazares thus appears beautiful and authentic with its stone houses and green doors and gates. Many, including pilgrims, come here to eat cocido, which is typical of the region. A dish with beans, meat, and soup.

Las Médulas (Castilla y León)

Las Médulas is one of Northern Spain's largest natural attractions - which is, however, man-made. Take an extra day in Ponferrada and walk your kilometers around this impressive area instead.

This remarkable man-made landscape is one of the Roman Empire's great engineering feats. The area is located 10 km from Ponferrada in the El Bierzo region and was created by the Romans' search for gold. It is an enormous project that required millions of cubic meters of water, which was brought in through canals, some of which are over 100 km long.

By digging cracks and crevices in the mountains, the metal was washed out, leaving behind the incredibly beautiful and extremely unique landscape that we can enjoy today. Over a period of 250 years, the Romans extracted over 1.5 tons of gold, making it the Roman Empire's largest gold mine. An almost incomprehensible feat. The landscape is now protected under UNESCO World Heritage, and both the history and the landscape are worth a visit. From the Camino, you can reach here by bus or taxi, or we can arrange an excursion here from Molinaseca, Ponferrada, or Villafranca del Bierzo.

Santiago de Peñalba (Castilla y León)

Get up close to the authentic side of Spain in the village, which is almost always found on lists of Spain's most beautiful towns - Santiago de Peñalba.

If you crave peace and quiet, a visit to one of Spain's most charming villages, Santiago de Peñalba, is recommended. Santiago de Peñalba is located 14 km south of Molinaseca and Ponferrada. The village is situated in the valley, Valle del Silencio (Valley of Silence), which is one of Spain's best-kept tourist secrets. The crown of the natural work that Valle de Silencio is, is the small village of Santiago de Peñalba.

The village's stone houses and cobbled streets wind around the church, which is the main attraction of the town and was built in the 10th century. If you have the time and wish to get a little away from the Camino for a while, a day trip to Santiago de Peñalba and Las Médulas (above) is highly recommended. Both places can be experienced in one day with the right planning.

Lugo (Galicia)

Nothing less than the world's best-preserved Roman city wall. Just 30 minutes by bus from the pilgrim town of Sarria.

The Romans left their clear mark on Northern Spain and thus also on this list. To complete the 'Roman list', a trip to Lugo is recommended, which is located 30 km north of Sarria. Between Sarria and Lugo, several (city) buses depart daily, and the journey takes about 30 minutes. Lugo has the best-preserved Roman city wall in the world. La Muralla Romana de Lugo (Lugo's Roman city wall) was built in the 3rd century and is virtually intact. You can walk two kilometers around the top of the impressive wall, around the old town, and look out over the rooftops of the old town. The wall is included on the UNESCO World Heritage list, and the enormous dimensions are worth experiencing firsthand. Lugo is itself a larger city with 100,000 inhabitants, and the old town has a wealth of squares and plazas, with good atmospheric restaurants.

Rías Bajas / Rías Baixas (Galicia)

White sandy beaches and protected nature reserves. Take a picture and make your friends believe you have hiked the Camino in the Caribbean - the water is just a bit colder!

From Santiago de Compostela, the endpoint of the pilgrimage route, there are a wealth of excursions that could qualify for this list. Finisterre and Muxia are considered part of the Camino, and are therefore excluded. However, the fjords south of Santiago de Compostela are an area that any well-traveled soul would love. The Portuguese Camino touches on certain areas, but the white sandy beaches, the fantastic fishing villages, Albariño white wine, and the world's best fish and seafood dishes can provide the perfect ending to your pilgrimage.

With an extra overnight stay in Santiago de Compostela, you can easily get a good impression of the area. For example, we have several guided tours to the area - and not just to Finisterre. An overnight stay somewhere on the coast, in a charming hotel, is unbeatable. How about a day trip to the island Islas Cíes, whose beaches have been voted among the world's most beautiful several times (see the picture at the top of the page). Just (yet) another idea. On Islas Cíes, you can hike a round trip on the protected island. Access to the island is regulated with a limited number of visitors per day, but the visit is worth the hassle - and Spain is More is happy to assist with the tricky tickets.

Find your Camino trip here

By Rasmus Pedersen, www.SpainIsMore.dk

Back