We tour the Demand Greenway from Monterrubio de la Demanda, province of Burgos but very close to the provincial border with Soria.
Like so many other greenways in our country, it originated from mining operations. Mining activity in the southern part of the Sierra de la Demanda mountain range in Burgos has a centuries-old history. Mining operations are known to have existed since the 15th century. However, it was in the 19th century that mining, especially iron ore mining, experienced a major boom in this area, with the construction of furnaces in Barbadillo de Herreros.
Our journey is thanks to the English company: “The Sierra Limited Company”, which acquired the mines at the end of the 19th century and obtained a concession for the construction of a mining railway.
These works were subsidized by the Burgos Provincial Council. According to historical accounts, 1500 people worked on the construction, which was completed in 1902. The railway's lifespan was very short, as it closed in 1910.
There were attempts to reopen it, but they were unsuccessful. Perhaps the main achievement of this project was that, thanks to the railway trench, access was gained to what we know today as Atapuerca deposits which we will also visit during our weekend in Burgos.
On Saturday we will pedal along the Greenway and on Sunday we will do so along the French Camino de Santiago, we will visit Atapuerca and we will arrive at the city of Burgos, our final destination along the route of the euroveil 1.
An affordable route, where we can enjoy its forests and also the architecture of towns such as Pineda de la Sierra, Arlanzón, Ibeas de Juarros or Atapuerca.
We slept in Los Tomillares, in the heart of the Camino de Santiago, which gives its name to our hotel: the Camino de Santiago.
