Camino Francés (The French Way)

Camino Francés (The French Way)

Camino Francés (The French Way)

From Saint Jean Pied de Port, France, to Santiago de Compostela 31 Sections. 773 kilometres. 
From Somport (Aragón) to Santiago de Compostela. 33 Sections. 937 kilometres.

In Spain, the Camino Francés (The French Way) starts in Roncesvalles, you leave from Navarre, or in Somport if you depart from Aragón. This is the most well-known and tradition-steeped route to Santiago de Compostela to the point that it has become a cultural, artistic and sociological landmark attracting 7 out of 10 pilgrims coming to the Santiago de Compostela.   

Equipped with a very complete network of services and with a large number of public hostels, correct signage and unique hospitality, the Camino Francés is the perfect itinerary for the pilgrim who wants to discover the Camino de Santiago.

Although it is one of the longest itineraries that go to Santiago, with about 800 km from the French town of Saint Jean Pied de Port to Santiago de Compostela, the pilgrim will discover an extraordinary human, artistic and cultural wealth. It is about a total of about 30 stages of the Camino that cross the north of Spain and that are worth traveling once in a lifetime

A World Heritage Route

The Camino Francés received in 2004 the Prince of Asturias Award for Concord, it is a World Heritage Site and the Council of Europe made it the first European Cultural Itinerary. Acknowledgments all that realize the importance of this pilgrimage route worldwide.

Active since the 9th century, the date on which the discovery of the Apostle's tomb is dated, the Camino Francés has a route that was fixed, as we know it today, at the end of the 11th century.

The French Route aroused such interest in Medieval Europe, that already in 1135 the famous Codex Calixtinus became a pioneering travel guide, collecting all the sections, sanctuaries, data of the local inhabitants and detailed notes of this itinerary that departs from France.

Four Routes from France

The Camino Francés crosses the Gallic country through four routes: Paris-Tours, Vezelay-Limoges and Le Puy-Conques, which enter Spain through Navarre. The fourth, Arles-Toulouse, crosses the border at Somport and continues to Jaca, starting the Aragonese Way. Crossed the border, the pilgrim will have to face a month's journey on foot, with thirty stages, until reaching Santiago.

In Spain, the Camino Francés has two starting points: Roncesvalles if the pilgrim starts in Navarra, or in Somport if he starts his Way in Aragon. To give you an idea, here is a link where you can locate the French Way on the map.

Puente la Reina is the junction point between the two variants of the Camino Francés: those that arrive from Saint Jean Pied de Port and cross Roncesvalles and Pamplona; and those who walk from Somport through the provinces of Zaragoza and Huesca.

From this point, the Camino Francés crosses significant places such as Estella, Logroño, Nájera, Santo Domingo de la Calzada, Belorado, Burgos, Frómista, Carrión de los Condes, Burgo Ranero, Mansilla de las Mulas, León, Astorga, Ponferrada or Villafranca del Bierzo.

Through the Bercian region you can access Galicia, the mythical town of O Cebreiro. From there there is a week of travel through the lands of meigas, legends and green landscapes, until we reach the Praza do Obradoiro and pick up the Compostela.

From Sarria to Santiago

The Camino Francés from Sarria to Santiago is the most popular section among the current pilgrim. This is the last 100 kilometers of the Jacobean Route, the ones necessary to get to the Compostela.

The section from Sarria to Santiago is usually covered in five stages, with stops in Portomarín, Palas de Rei, Arzúa and O Pedrouzo. However, like all Caminos, they can be adapted to your needs. Many pilgrims decide to go from Sarria to Santiago in 6 stages, dividing the Palas de Rei-Arzúa stage in two. This allows the pilgrim to go more rested and spend the night in the Jacobean town of Melide.

Although it is perfect for people who have only a few days to do the Camino, it is advisable to extend the Route to enjoy the Camino and live the experience deeply.

The Camino Frances de Santiago by bike is also very popular. The minimum to get to Compostela, what many pilgrims mistakenly call the Compostelana, is 200 km, so the most used section of the Camino is León-Santiago.

The backpack transport service is available on the entire Camino Fancés from Easter to October 31. And on the Sarria-Santiago section, the Paq Mochila is available all year round.

All stages

How to get to the starting point?

Stage 1

How to get to the starting point?
Saint Jean Pied de Port
Orreaga/ Roncesvalles

Stage Kms
25’5 km
Accommodations on the stage
8
Stage Difficulty

Camino de Santiago associations

Aragón

Asociación de Amigos del Camino de Santiago de Jaca

Email
master@jacacobea.com

Direction
Calle Conde Aznar, 9 Jaca, 22700

Aragón

Jaca Jacobea Asociación Oscense de los Amigos del Camino de Santiago

Email
huescasantiago@hotmail.com

Direction
Calle Valentín Gardeta, 34 Huesca, 22007

Aragón

Asociación de Amigos del Camino de Santiago de Zaragoza

Email
peregrinosantiagozaragoza@yahoo.es

Direction
Calle San Vicente de Paul, 1 Zaragoza, 50001

Castilla y León

Asociación de Amigos del Camino de Santiago de Burgos

Email
asociacion@caminosantiagoburgos.com

Direction
Calle Fernán Gonzalez, 28 - Apdo. de Correos 331 Burgos, 09003

Castilla y León

Asociación de Amigos del Camino de Santiago de Mansilla de las Mulas

Email
jcachan@terra.es

Direction
Plaza de San Martin, 1 - Iglesia de San Martín Mansilla de las Mulas, 24210

Castilla y León

Asociación de Amigos del Camino de Santiago de Palencia

Email
fromista@caminodesantiago.org

Direction
Real Monasterio de San Zoilo Carrión de los Condes, 34120

Castilla y León

Asociación Amigos del Camino de Santiago de León "Pulchra Leonina"

Email
caminosantiagoleon@gmail.com

Direction
Avenida Independencia, 2 - 5º Izq. León, 24003

Castilla y León

Asociación de Amigos del Camino de Santiago de Astorga y Comarca

Email
asociacion@caminodesantiagoastorga.com

Direction
Plaza de San Francisco, 3 Astorga, 24700

Castilla y León

Asociación de Amigos del Camino de Santiago del Bierzo

Email
asociacion@amigoscaminobierzo.org

Direction
Avenida del Castillo, 106 Ponferrada, 24401

Francia

Amis du chemin de St Jacques des Pyrennes Atlantiques

Email
contact@aubergedupelerin.com

Direction
Rue de la Citadelle, 39 Saint Jean Pied du Port, 64220

Galicia

Asociación de Amigos del Camino de Santiago de Lugo

Email
lugocamino@gmail.com

Direction
Plaza Comandante Manso, 11 - Entresuelo Lugo, 27001

Galicia

Asociación Amigos del Camino de la Comarca de Sarria

Email
amigoscaminosarria@gmail.com

Direction
Vigo de Sarria, 15, Km 115 27600 Sarria, Lugo

La Rioja

Federación Española de Asociaciones de Amigos del Camino de Santiago

Email
caminosantiago@caminosantiago.org

Direction
Rúa Vieja, 3 Logroño, 26001

Navarra

Asociación de Amigos del Camino de Santiago en Navarra

Email
info@caminodesantiagoennavarra.es

Direction
Calle Florencio de Ansoleaga, 2 31001, Pamplona

Navarra

Asociación de los Amigos del Camino de Santiago de Estella

Email
amigos@caminodesantiagoestella.org

Direction
Calle La Rúa, 50 - Apto. de Correos, 20 Estella, 21004

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