Belorado on the Camino Frances
Belorado is the big stop on this stretch: after Redecilla del Camino, Castildelgado, Viloria de Rioja and Villamayor del Río, it is the first large village, and from here the Camino continues towards Villafranca Montes de Oca across the Tirón plain and up the first slopes towards the hills. There is everything a pilgrim needs: the Municipal Hostel El Corro, open all year, other private hostels, hotels, guesthouses, bars and restaurants. The old town is full of fountains, shops and yellow arrows, and its tradition of hospitality goes back to the Middle Ages.
What are the locals called?
The people of Belorado are beliforanos (masculine) and beliforanas (feminine).
History: from Autrigonian hill fort to chartered town
Belorado’s origins lie in a settlement of the Autrigones, the pre-Roman people of the area, and a later Roman settlement. The medieval town grew under the protection of a castle perched on the rock, watching over the Tirón corridor. In 1116 Alfonso I the Battler granted it a charter, with a market that reinforced its role as a border town between Castile and Navarre. In the 13th century, under Alfonso VIII and Alfonso X the Wise, it enjoyed its best period, with fairs, its own council seal and an active Jewish quarter at the foot of the hill. In the Early Modern period it was a lordship of the Constables of Castile, and today it is the service centre of the district.
What to See in Belorado?
The old town and its arcaded square
The past can be read in its narrow streets and passageways. The Plaza Mayor, arcaded and very Castilian, still hosts the Monday market, heir to the medieval privileges, and brings together bars, shops and festivities: it is the best place to sit for a while before moving on.
Castle and walls
Remains of Belorado castle survive on the hill overlooking the village; it guarded the entrance to the valley and the town’s defence. The Jewish quarter lay at its foot, and the Corro district still keeps its flavour. The remains of the wall complete the ensemble, and a short climb rewards you with a great view over the Tirón plain and the mountains.
Churches and hermitages
Hermitage of Nuestra Señora de Belén: all that remains of the old pilgrims’ hospital; it was rebuilt in the 18th century and keeps alive the memory of hospitality in Belorado.
Church of Santa María: the main church, with a chapel dedicated to Saint James, a fine 16th-century altarpiece and tombs of interest; closely linked to the history of the Camino.
Church of San Pedro (17th century): a classicist church that bears witness to the parish life of the town in the Early Modern period.
What to eat in Belorado
The cooking mixes produce from the plain and the hills: bread and cereal-based sweets, seasonal vegetables, mushrooms from the Sierra de la Demanda, game, home-cured meats and lamb. The nearness of La Rioja shows on the wine list, and the bars are used to feeding pilgrims: hearty set menus, portions and stews.
Services for pilgrims
Belorado has almost everything:
- Sleep: Municipal Hostel El Corro (all year), private hostels, hotels and guesthouses.
- Eat: bars, restaurants and cafés around the Plaza Mayor.
- Other services: supermarkets, pharmacies, a health centre with emergency care, cash machines and shops to stock up on whatever you need.
In high season, from May to September, it is best to book, and it is worth checking the opening hours of the museum and the churches to make the most of the afternoon.
Belorado, a good stop
Belorado has everything for a good afternoon at the end of a stage: history in every stone, well-served rest, culture and nature close by. From the Plaza Mayor to the castle, from Santa María to the Museum of Radiocommunication and from the Puras mines to the banks of the Tirón, the town combines authenticity and services like few others on this stretch.
| Country | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Autonomous community | Castile and León | |
| Province | Province of Burgos | |
| Comarca | Montes de Oca | |
| Judicial district | Briviesca | |
| Municipality | Belorado | |
| Mancomunidad | Las Lomas de Bureba Oca-Tirón | |
| Location | 42°25′14″N 3°11′25″W | |
| Elevation | 772 m (min: 707, max: 1184 at Cabeza de Muladardo) | |
| Area | 133.41 km² | |
| Demonym | beliforano, beliforana | |
| Predominant language | Spanish | |
| Postal code | 09250 | |
| Dialling code | 947 | |
| Patron saint | San Vitores | |
| Patron saint (female) | Virgen de Belén | |
| Website | www.belorado.org | |