To his go through Logroño, the Path of Santiago French offers to the pilgrims an immersion in the culture of the wine of The Rioja. The city, crossed by the river Ebro, has an animate ancient helmet, standing out the Concatedral of Santa María of the Round with his singular needles twins. The famous Street Laurel invites to taste the wines of the region accompanied of delicious pinchos. Logroño Is a vibrant stop where the tradition jacobea mixes with the joy to live riojana.

Expanding the description of the Path of Santiago French to his go through Logroño, can submerge us in the details that do of this city riojana an especially attractive and significant stop for the pilgrims:

The Arrival to the Capital of The Rioja:

After crossing the border from Navarra, the arrival to Logroño marks the entrance of the French Path in the autonomous community of The Rioja. The city, strategically situated to river banks Ebro, has been historically an important point in passing and a commercial enclave. For the pilgrim, the entrance to Logroño is used to to be a meeting with a more dynamic atmosphere and a marked urban character after the previous rural stages.

The Heart of the City: History and Religion:

The Path crosses the ancient helmet of Logroño, a labyrinth of narrow streets and squares with charm that conserve traces of his mediaeval past. One of the points of reference obliged is the Concatedral of Santa María of the Round. His baroque façade and, especially, his two singular needles twins octogonales have turn a symbol of the city. The interior houses works of art of interest and is a place of recogimiento for the pilgrims. The concatedral reflects the religious importance of Logroño along the history of the Path.

Near of the concatedral, the Church of Santiago the Real is another temple of big importance for the pilgrims. His main façade has a hornacina that houses a statue of Santiago Matamoros, evoking the tradition jacobea and the legend of the apostle warrior. The interior of the church also deserves a visit by his architecture and his environment of devotion.

The Experience Enogastronómica in the Street Laurel:

One of the main appeals of Logroño for the pilgrims (and for any visitor) is, definitely, the Street Laurel and his surroundings. Known commonly like the "Senda of the Elephants" (because it says that after visiting it, one exits "with trompa"), this street peatonal and the adjacent conform a zone of tapeo legendary. Each bar specialises in one or varied cover (pinchos) that often accompany of the excellent wines of The Rioja.

For the pilgrim, the Street Laurel represents an only opportunity to enjoy of the local gastronomy of an informal and festive way. It is a place where can socializar with other caminantes and with the own riojanos, sharing experiences and flavours. Taste a good wine of Rioja and a prick after a long day of hike is an experience revitalizante and an essential component of the go through Logroño.

The River Ebro and the Bridges:

The river Ebro, the more caudaloso of Spain, plays an important paper in the geography and the history of Logroño. The Path of Santiago crosses the river through a bridge, offering to the pilgrims seen panoramic of the city and his surroundings. Historically, the Bridge of Stone (also known like Bridge of San Juan of Ortega or Romance Bridge) has been the main point of crossing for the pilgrims. His mediaeval origin and his strategic importance along the centuries turn a place of historical and photographic interest.

A City with Services for the Pilgrim:

Logroño Is a very instrumented city to receive to the pilgrims. It has a wide variety of hostels, hostales and hotels, as well as numerous restaurants, tents and specific services for the caminantes. It is a place where many take advantage of to rest, replace supplies and enjoy of the comforts of a middle-sized city.

In round-up, the go through Logroño on the way of Santiago French is an experience that combines the historical and religious wealth with the vibrant culture of the wine and the gastronomy riojana. From the majesty of his concatedral until the bullicio of the Street Laurel and the serenity of the river Ebro, Logroño offers to the pilgrim a stimulating stop and memorable in his path to Santiago.