Albergue En El Camino

Boadilla del Camino is a small, quiet village on the Camino Francés in the province of Palencia, and the albergue here sits right on the Plaza del Rollo, named for the medieval stone pillory column that still stands in the square. That column, a rollo jurisdiccional, dates to the 15th century and is one of the most photographed landmarks on this stretch of the route, notable for its carved scallop shells and figures.

The albergue itself is a private pilgrim-only hostel run by Eduardo, with 70 beds spread across four dormitories. It operates from March through October and accepts reservations, which is worth knowing given that Boadilla is a popular stopping point after the long, exposed walk across the meseta from Burgos. The stage from Burgos or from Frómista passes through open wheat fields with little shade, so arriving here and finding a garden with a swimming pool available in summer is a genuine draw rather than a gimmick.

The hostel offers a communal dinner for 14 euros and breakfast for 4 euros, along with laundry facilities and secure bicycle storage. For pilgrims doing the route by bike, Boadilla sits just before the Canal de Castilla, an 18th-century engineering project whose towpath provides one of the most pleasant sections of cycling on the entire Camino Francés.