Our Strange Camino – The Darkest Day Ended in Light

Описание: On this stretch of the Camino de Santiago, we leave Villafranca Montes de Oca and head into one of the most notorious sections of the trail — the dark forest of the Montes de Oca.

It begins with an attack.
Not robbers.
Not wolves.
But something far smaller… and relentless.

From there, the day only grows heavier.

We stop at the haunting memorial near La Pedraja, honoring the mass graves hidden in these woods — a reminder that this forest once witnessed terrible darkness.

But the Camino is never just one thing.

Somewhere between the trees, we meet a character we’ll never forget (Captain Coffee ☕), passing strange and unexpected art installations in the forest, and continue toward one of the most extraordinary stops on the entire route.

By the time we reach San Juan de Ortega, everything changes.

Inside the church, a rare and mysterious phenomenon occurs — a beam of light that aligns with the architecture in a way that feels straight out of an Indiana Jones film. Twice a year, on the spring and fall equinox, the light strikes with stunning precision — a medieval design that still leaves pilgrims in awe.

This is not just a hike between villages.
This is the Camino.

📍 Route in this episode:
• Villafranca Montes de Oca
• Montes de Oca Forest
• La Pedraja Memorial
• San Juan de Ortega

If you enjoy strange history, hidden stories, and the unexpected side of the Camino de Santiago, subscribe and walk with us on Our Strange Camino.