Stage 8: Logroño → Nájera

A New Day on the Camino – Beginning & Atmosphere

Logroño has welcomed you with its liveliness, its churches, its squares, the Calle Laurel, where pilgrims and locals alike celebrate life with wine and tapas. Today it is time to say farewell – but not without carrying with you the resonance of this city. Perhaps you remember the evening before, a glass of Rioja in good company, the feeling of being part of the living stream of generations of pilgrims.

In the morning you leave Logroño through the narrow alleys of the old town, under the Arco de Santiago, out onto the streets that lead you through the modern quarters and parks. The transition is tangible: from urban bustle into the calm of nature.

Route & Elevation Profile

• Distance: 29.2 km
• Elevation: +460 m / –360 m
• Difficulty: medium, less due to steep ascents than to the length

The route is shaped by two moderate climbs: to the Alto de Navarrete and later to the Alto de San Antón. Between them await wide fields, vineyards, and small villages.

Description of the Way – with All the Senses

Beyond Logroño the green of the Parque de la Grajera opens up. The reservoir, surrounded by woodland, is a popular place for walkers and pilgrims alike. Those who set out early experience the light of the morning sun over the water – a quiet, powerful moment before the long road calls.

The Camino leads you out through vineyards and fields, over small rises, until the silhouette of Navarrete appears. The town lies on a hill and welcomes you with its streets and the church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, which surprises with baroque splendor. At the edge of town lie the remains of the Hospital San Juan de Acre, once an important pilgrim station, today preserved only as ruins – silent witnesses of the long history of this way.

From Navarrete the path continues, long stretches running parallel to the motorway, a less appealing passage, yet softened by views over fields and vineyards. Beyond the cemetery of San Juan de Acre you are accompanied by the thought of all those who walked here before you – pilgrims of centuries past, whose stories lie in the dust of this way.

The next stop is Ventosa, a small village with the church of San Saturnino. A good place to pause, eat, refill water, and gather strength for the way ahead. For the climb to the Alto de San Antón still awaits. The climb itself is short, but at the top a grand panorama opens: the valley of the Najerilla, wide and full of vines, with the town of Nájera in the distance – almost within reach, and yet still hours away.

The descent stretches on, long sections along the N-120 requiring concentration and patience. Finally the Camino leads you through fields and past small streams before you reach Nájera.

Nájera – City on the Río Najerilla

The way through the streets of Nájera is longer than it looked from above. But in the end you stand before the Monasterio de Santa María la Real – one of the great treasures of the Camino and a place deeply embedded in Spanish history. Here kings rest, here Castilian as a language was shaped, here you feel the connection of faith, culture, and power.

The town itself lies nestled by the river Najerilla, its old alleys bearing the atmosphere of a medieval pilgrim station. Whoever arrives here feels the weight of the long day – and at the same time the joy of having completed a stage measuring more than 30 kilometers.

Intermediate Stops & Highlights

Food, Lodging & Supplies

• Logroño: great variety of accommodation, supermarkets, equipment shops.
• Navarrete: numerous albergues and bars, strongly shaped by pilgrim tourism.
• Ventosa: small but good service point with albergues and gastronomy.
• Nájera: everything pilgrims need – from inexpensive albergues to hotels, along with rich history and culture.

Today’s Special Feature

The length of this stage makes it special. But it also grants you the experience of how the Camino rewards you with patience and strength. You have left Logroño behind, walked through vineyards and villages, looked out from San Antón into the distance – and finally arrived in one of the most significant towns of the Camino: Nájera, with its royal monastery and the sound of history.

Reflection at the End of the Stage

Today you have covered more than 30 kilometers – the longest stage of the French Way. You have entered La Rioja, seen its wines, fields, and towns. You are tired, yet rich in impressions. In Nájera, on the banks of the Najerilla, the day ends. And perhaps you feel: each step draws you deeper into the rhythm of the Camino.

📊 Tabular Overview

🌌 Camino of the Stars – Stage 8

Logroño → Parque de la Grajera → Navarrete → Ventosa → Alto de San Antón → Nájera

Call to Action

Was Navarrete, with its pottery traditions, the highlight for you? Or the view from the Alto de San Antón into the Najerilla valley? Share your impressions – they make the Camino come alive.

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