Boadilla del Camino

Boadilla del Camino, nestled in the Tierra de Campos region, Provincia de Palencia, is a town that combines history, heritage and spirituality. Its importance on the Camino Frances and its rich culture make it an essential destination for pilgrims and lovers of art and history.

What to see in Boadilla del Camino?

History and Origin of the Place Name

The name “Boadilla” comes from the Latin term bovata, meaning “ox pasture“, reflecting its livestock-raising tradition. The addition “del Camino” refers to its location on the Camino de Santiago, the pilgrimage route that has been vital to its development since the 9th century.

The first documented mention of Boadilla dates from the year 950 in the Fuero de Melgar de Suso, indicating its resettlement by Fernán Armentález under the orders of Fernán González, the count who consolidated the independence of Castile.

Architectural Heritage

Church of Santa María de la Asunción

This church, declared a Historic-Artistic Monument in 1981, was built in the 16th century on the site of an earlier Romanesque church. It stands out for its three-nave floor plan, Renaissance altarpiece, 14th-century Gothic calvary, and 13th-century Romanesque baptismal font.

Gothic Jurisdictional Rollo

Located next to the church, this 15th-century rollo (a stone column symbolising jurisdictional autonomy) commemorates the judicial autonomy granted by Henry IV. Standing 7.60 metres tall, it is richly decorated with Jacobean motifs and angelic figures, making it one of the most spectacular examples in Spain.

The Canal de Castilla

An emblematic work of the Enlightenment, the Canal de Castilla passes through Boadilla del Camino along its Northern branch. Lock No. 16, built to overcome the difference in ground level, is an example of 18th-century hydraulic engineering.

Boadilla on the Camino de Santiago

As a strategic point on the Camino Frances, Boadilla offers hospitality to pilgrims. The private hostel “En el Camino” remains open almost all year round, providing rest and essential services to walkers.

Fuente Vieja and Washhouses

The Fuente Vieja, with its distinctive wheel mechanism, is a landmark for pilgrims. Beside it, the washhouses, although recently built, evoke the traditions of times gone by.

Dovecotes

Typical of Tierra de Campos, the square-plan dovecotes bear witness to the region’s rural architecture and the importance of poultry farming in the local economy.

Economy and Demographics

With a population of 115 inhabitants (INE 2024), Boadilla del Camino’s economy is based on agriculture and livestock farming. Of its 2,800 hectares of arable land, 1,900 are devoted to cereal crops and 850 to irrigated crops. Livestock farming totals approximately 3,100 animals, predominantly sheep.