Albergue municipal San Lazaro

The San Lázaro Municipal Pilgrim Hostel sits on the main street of Redecilla del Camino, a small village in the province of Burgos that holds a particular distinction on the Camino Francés: it marks the official entry into the historical region of Castile, a boundary pilgrims have been crossing for centuries. The hostel takes its name from the medieval tradition of San Lázaro hospices, which provided care for pilgrims and the sick along the great pilgrimage routes.

Opened in 2000 and run by the local municipality, the hostel is reserved exclusively for pilgrims and operates from March through the end of September. It accommodates 52 people across dormitories ranging from 2 to 12 bunk beds, at 8 euros a night. The building is accessible to those with reduced mobility, and there is a courtyard that doubles as secure bicycle storage.

Beyond a bed, the hostel offers breakfast and, during high season, a communal dinner for 12 euros. A bar-restaurant is also on hand, making it a practical stop for anyone who wants to eat and rest without going far. There is no closing time, which gives pilgrims flexibility in the evening.

Redecilla del Camino itself is worth a brief pause. The village church of La Virgen de la Calle contains a remarkable 12th-century Romanesque baptismal font, one of the finest examples of its kind in the region, decorated with carvings of towers representing the heavenly Jerusalem. It is easy to walk past without realising what is inside.