Villarmentero De Campos can be explored through three distinct themes: church art, the history of the Camino de Santiago, and the landscape of Tierra de Campos. The town lies on one of the gentle undulations of this hilly landscape. When looking for a holiday rental, it helps to decide in advance which of these aspects you want to shape your stay. This will help you focus your travel plans more on architecture and local history, or on the landscape and the Camino.
Landscape and the Camino de Santiago
The Río Ucieza touches the municipal area to the north and east of the town; the French Way of the Camino de Santiago runs through the municipality. Villarmentero De Campos is accessible via the P-980, a minor road that coincides with the Camino de Santiago. These two connections answer different planning questions: the P-980 is the road link to the town, while the French Way runs through the municipality. One route variant of the Camino de Santiago follows the left bank of the Río Ucieza through Tierra de Campos, along a path through riverside woodland with willows, poplars and black poplars. The Camino’s connection to the town is defined at the municipal level; the route variant, by contrast, highlights the riverbank and its vegetation.
Church and local history
The Iglesia de San Martín de Tours is built from stone and adobe. Its nave has a single aisle; a wooden coffered ceiling dating from the 16th century covers the portico. The single-aisle nave describes the basic layout; the coffered ceiling adds a dated detail of the portico. The main altar features six 16th-century oil paintings on wood by Juan de Villoldo, as well as sculptures by Francisco de Giralte. Painting and sculpture are thus represented on the same altar by artists who are each identified by name.
The town’s historical background also includes the name “del Camino”: in 1229, Villarmentero bore this name. A hospital belonging to the Cofradía de la Vera Cruz stood on Calle Francesa in the town centre; this brotherhood was affiliated with the Archicofradía de San Martín. The name points to the town’s historical connection to the Camino de Santiago; the hospital adds a specific religious institution and its institutional affiliation.
When to visit and how to get there
The patron saint’s festival in honour of San Martín de Tours takes place on 11 November. The name of the church and the festival date therefore refer to the same saint. If you would like to plan your trip around the celebrations, check the programme for the relevant year. 11 November is the specific date to keep in mind; if your stay is more focused on church architecture and local history, you can prioritise these themes regardless of the festival date. A report dated 4 May 2026 stated that the bridge over the Río Ucieza in Villarmentero had already been repaired; before the repairs, it had posed a danger to vehicles, pedestrians and pilgrims.
Discover more destinations: Ribas de Campos, Villada, Pino del Río, Pedraza De Campos, Triollo, Astudillo, Villalcázar De La Sirga, Torquemada
For the overview of the wider area: Palencia.
