Castro Urdiales
Camino del Norte
Castro Urdiales is the first substantial town in Cantabria and one of the finer medieval ports on this coast. The old town — the puebla vieja — sits on a headland above the harbor, and the cluster of monuments at its tip is genuinely impressive.
The Iglesia de Santa María de la Asunción dominates from the highest point — a 13th-century Gothic church built under the protection of Alfonso VIII of Castile, with a basilica plan of three naves and flying buttresses that wouldn't look out of place in northern France. Below it, the medieval Castillo de Santa Ana and lighthouse stand together on the rocky point, connected to the Ermita de Santa Ana by a restored Roman bridge. The whole ensemble — church, castle, ermita, bridge — is best seen from the harbor below.
The town has all services: bars, restaurants, supermarkets, pharmacy, accommodation. The harbor-side restaurants do excellent seafood, as you'd expect from a port that's been landing fish for eight centuries.
June: San Juan on the 24th, and San Pelayo Mártir (the patron of Castro Urdiales) on the 26th. July: La Virgen del Carmen on the 16th, and Santa Ana on the 26th. August: The Assumption of Mary is celebrated on the 14th. November: San Andrés on the 30th.
Castro Urdiales was settled first by the Romans, who named it Flaviobriga and valued it more for its iron than its harbor. The town prospered under Castile and became one of the four original Villas de la Costa, the port towns that formed the maritime backbone of the kingdom. In 1813, the French Army destroyed much of the city during the Peninsular War. It was quickly rebuilt and fortified, though the medieval core survived.
The camino through Castro Urdiales follows the N-634 but it is possible to walk the coastline, a route which is a great deal more scenic. It can be followed as far as the beach at which point you will need to turn back towards the main road. A short distance later the camino turns left towards the Plaza de Toros; the municipal albergue is located at this end of town behind the bull ring.
After passing the Plaza de Toros (on your right) the camino arrives at a tunnel under the A-8; large signs for CAMPING let you know that you are on the right track. Eventually, you will pass the camping, and a short distance afterward, Allendelagua.
Accommodation in Castro Urdiales.
| Albergue de peregrinos de Castro Urdiales 5€ 16 |
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| Camping de Castro 20€ 24 Booking.com |
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