Población De Campos: The Camino de Santiago, Hermitages and History

The Camino de Santiago Francés passes through Población De Campos, following Calle Francesa, the central pilgrim route here. Religious buildings, the history of the Order of Malta and the Río Ucieza add other local topics to help you orient yourself along the route. When planning your trip, you can consider the pilgrimage route, architectural history and access via Frómista separately.

The Camino and Route Alternatives

Calle Francesa is the specific street along which the Camino runs through Población De Campos. The stretch from Puente Fitero to Villalcázar de Sirga is considered the first section of the Camino de Santiago. These two endpoints define this stage description; Calle Francesa, however, remains the reference point for the route through the town.

The wide, paved path runs along the right bank of the Río Ucieza to Villovieco. Villovieco as the destination and the path's surface provide specific points of reference for planning your walk. Check local conditions before setting out.

Hermitages and Architectural History

Outside Población De Campos, the Ermita de San Miguel stands at the foot of the road connecting the town with Frómista. It features a very late Romanesque style with Gothic elements dating from around 1200. A deed of donation from 1227 suggests that the hermitage had already been built by that time. Its location and architectural history therefore provide two different points of reference for understanding the chapel.

The Ermita de Nuestra Señora del Socorro was built in the 13th century in the Late Romanesque style. Its features include capitals decorated with plant motifs, some with masks, an anthropomorphic sarcophagus and several tomb slabs. One of the slabs bears a cross reminiscent of the Cross of St. James. The two hermitages also reflect different periods: San Miguel is dated to around 1200, while Socorro dates to the 13th century.

The Order of Malta and the Río Ucieza

From 1140 until the beginning of the 19th century, Población De Campos was a territory under the rule of the Order of Malta and also the seat of the Bailía of the same name, also known as the Bailía of the Nine Villages of Campos. The Ermita de Nuestra Señora del Socorro is the last surviving testament to the town's time under the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem. It brings together the site's architectural history and its historical role.

The Río Ucieza flows through the area of Población De Campos. Near the town, a Baroque bridge dating from the 17th century spans the river. The river and bridge offer two different points of reference: the area's connection to the Ucieza and a structure dating from the Baroque period.

Getting There and Pilgrim Accommodation

Población De Campos can be reached via the P-980, a secondary road that also follows the Camino de Santiago. You can join the P-980 in Frómista if arriving from the direction of the capital via the N-611. Check road conditions before setting off.

An entry from the pilgrim association, updated on March 13, 2026, lists 18 beds at the Albergue Municipal de Peregrinos de Población de Campos. Capacity and operating information may change; check availability when planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: Valberzoso, Támara De Campos, Valoria Del Alcor, Triollo, Barruelo de Santullán, Berzosilla, Aguilar De Campoo, Husillos

For the broader travel overview: Palencia.