Camino Francés (Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port → Santiago de Compostela)

The place

The Camino Francés is the most popular pilgrimage route on the Way of St James, linking Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, at the foot of the French Pyrenees, to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, over roughly 780 km split into 33 classic stages. After crossing the Pyrenees via the Roncevaux Pass, the route heads due west through Navarre, La Rioja, the Castilian Meseta (agricultural plains stretching to the horizon), León and finally the green hills of Galicia. The yellow waymarking (shells and arrows) is continuous and reliable along the entire route. It is a lowland and mid-mountain itinerary, with no technical difficulty, but long and demanding in cumulative distance — manageable for walkers of all levels who are in good physical condition.

Why go

Roncevaux Pass and its abbey. Pamplona and the San Fermín festival. Romanesque bridge at Puente la Reina. Burgos Cathedral (UNESCO). The Meseta, a meditative stretch of endless plains between Burgos and León. Gothic cathedral of León. Cruz de Ferro (Iron Cross), where pilgrims leave a stone. O Cebreiro and its Celtic pallozas. The legendary arrival at Praza do Obradoiro in front of Santiago Cathedral.

A bit of history

The pilgrimage to the tomb of the apostle James in Santiago de Compostela has been documented since the 9th century, making the Camino Francés one of the oldest walking routes still travelled in the world. The Codex Calixtinus (12th century) already describes its route and stages in its pilgrim's guide, considered the first European tourist guidebook. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993, the route has seen a massive resurgence in popularity since the 1980s, driven by a revival of pilgrimage and by popular works such as the film 'The Way'.

Getting there

Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port: SNCF train station (Bayonne–Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port line, TGV connection at Bayonne). Santiago de Compostela: international airport (Lavacolla) and railway station (connections to Madrid, Porto). The route can also be walked in sections, accessible by train or bus from many intermediate stages (Pamplona, Burgos, León, Sarria).

Recommended gear

Already broken-in hiking boots (foot injuries are the leading cause of pilgrims abandoning the route). Lightweight backpack (8–10 kg recommended; a luggage transport service is available along the entire route). Trekking poles. Pilgrim's credencial (a passbook stamped at each stage, required to stay in the albergues and to obtain the Compostela on arrival). Sun protection (the Meseta is very exposed).

Best season

April to October. May-June and September are the ideal periods (mild temperatures, less crowded albergues). July-August very busy and hot on the Meseta. Passable in winter but cold, with some albergues closed.

Day by day

1. 1
   É1 · Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port → Roncesvalles24.20 km
2. 2
   É2 · Roncesvalles → Zubiri21.40 km
3. 3
   É3 · Zubiri → Pamplona20.40 km
4. 4
   É4 · Pamplona → Puente la Reina23.90 km
5. 5
   É5 · Puente la Reina → Estella21.60 km
6. 6
   É6 · Estella → Los Arcos21.30 km
7. 7
   É7 · Los Arcos → Logroño27.60 km
8. 8
   É8 · Logroño → Nájera29.00 km
9. 9
   É9 · Nájera → Santo Domingo de la Calzada20.70 km
10. 10
    É10 · Santo Domingo de la Calzada → Belorado22.00 km
11. 11
    É11 · Belorado → San Juan de Ortega23.90 km
12. 12
    É12 · San Juan de Ortega → Burgos25.80 km
13. 13
    É13 · Burgos → Hornillos del Camino20.30 km
14. 14
    É14 · Hornillos del Camino → Castrojeriz19.90 km
15. 15
    É15 · Castrojeriz → Frómista24.70 km
16. 16
    É16 · Frómista → Carrión de los Condes18.80 km
17. 17
    É17 · Carrión de los Condes → Terradillos de los Templarios26.30 km
18. 18
    É18 · Terradillos de los Templarios → Bercianos del Real Camino23.20 km
19. 19
    É19 · Bercianos del Real Camino → Mansilla de las Mulas26.30 km
20. 20
    É20 · Mansilla de las Mulas → León18.50 km
21. 21
    É21 · León → Hospital de Órbigo31.80 km
22. 22
    É22 · Hospital de Órbigo → Astorga16.50 km
23. 23
    É23 · Astorga → Foncebadón25.80 km
24. 24
    É24 · Foncebadón → Ponferrada26.80 km
25. 25
    É25 · Ponferrada → Villafranca del Bierzo24.20 km
26. 26
    É26 · Villafranca del Bierzo → O Cebreiro27.80 km
27. 27
    É27 · O Cebreiro → Triacastela20.80 km
28. 28
    É28 · Triacastela → Sarria17.80 km
29. 29
    É29 · Sarria → Portomarín22.20 km
30. 30
    É30 · Portomarín → Palas de Rei24.80 km
31. 31
    É31 · Palas de Rei → Arzúa28.50 km
32. 32
    É32 · Arzúa → O Pedrouzo19.30 km
33. 33
    É33 · O Pedrouzo → Santiago de Compostela19.40 km