Castrojeriz: Discover the Heart of the Camino de Santiago and its Medieval Legacy

At the entrance of Castrojeriz, in the middle of the Camino de Santiago, stands the ex-collegiate church of Nuestra Señora del Manzano. Built on ancient temples, it merges proto-Gothic elements of the thirteenth century with reforms of the fifteenth and eighteenth centuries. It highlights the Gothic image of the Virgin of Manzano, its doorway with the Annunciation and the main altarpiece, with paintings by Mengs. With three naves, it houses altarpieces, tombs and images. In the main altar there is a rococo altarpiece with the Annunciation and the tombs of noblemen such as the Counts of Castro and the Marquis of Hinojosa.

This museum houses a valuable religious patrimony composed of gold and silver work, incunabula, rolled seals, cantorials and liturgical ornaments. Among its treasures are Castilian paintings and sculptures from the 14th to 18th centuries, with works by masters such as Berruguete, Diego de Siloé, Carducho, Mateo Cerezo and Broncino. The collection offers a journey through the sacred art and devotional history of Castrojeriz, preserving pieces of great artistic and spiritual value.

The Plaza Mayor is the historic heart of Castrojeriz, a key town on the Camino de Santiago. Its elongated layout reflects the urban development linked to the pilgrimage. Known in the Middle Ages as "Plaza del Mercado" (Market Square), it preserves 16th century arcades and the Town Hall building with its emblematic tower. After a renovation in 2025, with new paving, furniture and lighting, it continues to be a center of social, cultural and commercial life, hosting markets and activities that energize the town and welcome neighbors and pilgrims.

Castrojeriz, a key enclave on the Camino de Santiago, was inhabited by Celts, Romans, Visigoths, Arabs and Christians since 882. Its castle, of Arab origin and renovated in the fourteenth century, was the scene of intense battles between Moors and Christians. Irregular in plan, it was surrounded by a moat and a barbican. The main body, to the west, consists of three sectors: the south, very deteriorated; the central one, where the keep was located, connected to the parade ground by means of a pointed door; and the west, with an old defensive keep.