El Pesebre de Atapuerca country house

A farmhouse in the village

El Pesebre is a former farmhouse on Calle de la Iglesia in Atapuerca, the Camino de Santiago village that gives the sierra its name. It was refurbished in 2008, keeping what it already had: beams, doors and windows, wooden floors, small rooms and furniture. In the kitchen is the chimney where the chorizos from the pig slaughter used to be smoked, and in the living room is the manger (pesebre) that gives the house its name. It is a three-star country house according to the Junta and is let as a whole, for a maximum of ten people.

It is run by Atapuerca Rural, which manages several houses in the area. According to its website, the street is quiet, with no cars to endanger children and no neighbours right up against the house. There is garden furniture to carry out to a corner of the street at vermouth time.

Bedrooms, living room and kitchen

There are five double bedrooms, all with duvets and towels. On the ground floor there is one with a 135 cm bed; on the first floor, two with a 150 cm bed and two with two 90 cm beds. Cots and extra beds are available if you ask; an extra bed costs €12 per bed per night. There are three bathrooms: upstairs, one with a bath and hairdryer and another with a shower and screen; downstairs, one adapted for people with reduced mobility.

The living room measures about 40 m², with a fireplace (the firewood is included in the price), a 2.40-metre table with twelve chairs and a corner sofa that converts into a 135 cm bed. There is a television, DVD player, games and tourist information. The kitchen has a large fridge, washing machine, oven, microwave, dishwasher, toaster and coffee maker. The old fireplace can be used for indoor grilling, with a grill and firewood; for outdoors there is a portable charcoal barbecue, and you supply the charcoal.

Price, booking and arrival

The Atapuerca Rural home page advertises the house at €500 for two nights. A single night and bank-holiday weekends, which are let as a whole, are priced on request. To confirm, they ask for a €150 deposit. If you cancel more than 30 days ahead you get 90% back; between 30 and 10 days, half; at 10 days or fewer, nothing. Check-in is at 15:00 and check-out at 12:00. The Junta's listing says dogs are allowed; ask about the conditions when booking.

A useful extra: the house offers to reserve you a place on the visit to the sites, at Paleolítico Vivo and at the Olmos mine.

What is nearby

From the door you can walk to the Atapuerca information centre and to the Comosapiens restaurant. The CAREX, from where visits to the Trinchera also depart, is a kilometre from the village centre. Burgos and the Museum of Human Evolution are about 20 km away.