For many years my favorite place on Earth was a little town named Castellane. It is in southern France.

But that has changed. In my journeys around the globe I have discovered, and fell in love with, a new place.

It is Molinaseca Spain.

I walked a 500 mile pilgrimage across Spain. It's a religious pilgrimage that people have been making for 1400 years. And it is commonly called The Camino Frances. "The french camino. And it is also simply known as "The Way".

It's a challenging hike across the northern part of Spain. And it took me 43 days to complete. Some days the pilgrimage is easy. And some days it is difficult because of weather, heat, terrain or distances needed to travel.

One of the most difficult days is the day it takes to get to the town of Molinaseca. The terrain is brutal, very uneven, with lots of changes in altitude - so a lot of climbing up, climbing down, and winding around. But at the end of that day you arrive in the town of Molinaseca which is a little slice of heaven on Earth.

It's a very old town with a very long history. And it maintains a medieval Europe feel. The streets are cobblestone and very narrow.

The Camino pilgrimage passes right through the town and they have small, inexpensive hostels that pilgrims can spend a night in.

I arrived in early afternoon. Once I checked into a little Inn and got a shower I was free to explore the town.

In this next picture you see a bit of road on the lower right of the photo. That is the pilgrimage road up until this point. Then the pilgrimage continues over that stone bridge into the town.

That bridge crosses a small river. And along that river, in the shade of the bridge the have created a little beach (arrow).

I arrived on a Saturday and there were lots of families enjoying the day at that little beach. Seems to me the whole town shuts down and goes to the beach.

That afternoon I visited the beautiful little church in the town. And early the next morning (Sunday) I left town before it woke. I had to continue on with my pilgrimage.
But I would imagine that the town is shut down on Sunday and just like everybody went to the beach on Saturday I would imagine they all go to church on Sunday.

It's a beautiful little community that maintains some look and feel of a century gone by. The pace of life is different.

The existence of the "Villa de Molinaseca" dates back to the early years of the 11th century.
Its first reliable documentary reference is in the year 1097, where it is mentioned as "Molina Sicca," and later mentioned as a Villa in the year 1134.

Its importance was very relevant as demonstrated by the fights and disputes that arose around it's possession.

In the 12th century, Molinaseca had three owners, a triple lordship that required the submission of the town to the bishopric of Astorga, The Abbess of Carrizo and the Abbot of Sandoval.

As a result of the division of the town's property, the residents enjoyed different laws and privileges depending on the tenant to whom they belonged.

These differences led to quarrels and fights between neighbors and family clans, which forced Bishop Lope de Astorga and Abbess Teresa de Carrizo to declare their independence on August 1, 1196 with the approval of the Council, to dictate a charter or law to which all residents of Molinaseca must submit.