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Wise Pilgrim APPAs far as the eye can tell, the camino is about the only thing keeping El Burgo Ranero on the map. The wheat and wool trade that once sustained it has been displaced by mechanization, and the town has a worn but dignified quality common to meseta settlements.
The church lost its artistic treasures to a fire, though the building itself survives. The real attraction, if you're here in late May, is the stork nests on the tower — you may catch a glimpse of chicks waiting for lunch.
A few bars and albergues provide services. The town is a practical stopping point rather than a destination.
In late May, check the stork nests on the church tower — the chicks are a highlight of the season.
The town owes its existence to wheat and wool. The name may derive from the granaries (burgos) that stored the grain, or from the Latin for 'frog' (rana), depending on which historian you ask. The wool trade connected these meseta towns to Burgos and the international markets beyond.
The path between El Burgo Ranero and Reliegos follows a manicured track lined with trees. Unfortunately, the trees are on the wrong side of the path for afternoon shade, so on sunny summer days you're fully exposed. Carry plenty of water.
