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The Pilgrims walk to Santiago de Compostela

Listed under Walking in Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

This is a shorter version of the ancient 5 week Camino Frances or the “French Way” to Galicia. My journey joins the trail at Ponferrada, to the east of Santiago. There are traditional pilgrims’ markings and tracks to follow across the Galician hills, as well as new and slightly distracting yellow arrows painted onto everything. There are ruined castles and monasteries to visit along the route as well as churches housing several very significant religious artefacts. There are plenty of places to stay, including pilgrims’ only accommodations and campsites. I went in summer thinking it would be the best time to camp, and it was, although some of the days were very hot and not the best for doing 20kms or more a day. You’re supposed to embrace the statue of St. James in the cathedral at Santiago at the end of your journey, which I wasn’t intending to do at the beginning of my trip but in the end I wanted to. This is a good experience because you’re part of something that people have been doing since ancient times, so it’s a good time for personal reflection. There are some people on the trail who may want to talk to you a bit to much about their own plans for personal growth, but I think that’s probably how it’s always been and you should just embrace the whole pilgrim experience. The full route starts at Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port and passes through Pamplona, Estella, the Leon wine region and Astorga before it reaches Ponferrada.

Written by Russ Claridge.

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it's a pleasure for me informe you about the existence of a

"alternative" section of the Walk of Santiago in its 16.ma stage:

THE ORIGINAL FRENCH'S WALK OF ST. JACQUES (Carrion de los Condes - Sahagun

troutgh Villada)

All informations about it can you find in our web: www.acaminosantiagovillada.

I am grateful to you in before for your collaboration to add this section

in yours maps and to inform other company or organization of the Walk ,with

them you can mantein contact , about it existence.

If the pilgrims wish sleep in a old castillian manor during the walk , we propose you a

only manor hotel in Castilla y Leon : www.elsenorio.es

Bests Regards

Sandro Boniolo

Consultant of Associacion Antiguo Camino Frances de Santiago

E - 34340 Villada

Comment posted 13th June 2009 by Sandro Boniolo.

St Jacques de Compostale route in October. When is the best weather for this trip?

Traveling the Le Puy route on this pilgrimage and wonder when is the best weather. Are the first 2 weeks in october a possibility? Is there a better route in the fall? We will be walking for 7 days.

Question posted 21st May 2009 by Christine Balit.

Route of Santiago de Compostela

Santiago de Compostela was proclaimed the first European Cultural itinerary by the Council of Europe in 1987. This route from the French-Spanish border was – and still is – taken by pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela. Some 1,800 buildings along the route, both religious and secular, are of great historic interest. The route played a fundamental role in encouraging cultural exchanges between the Iberian peninsula and the rest of Europe during the Middle Ages. It remains a testimony to the power of the Christian faith among people of all social classes and from all over Europe.

Review posted 7th December 2007 by World Reviewer Staff.

Do you know the way to Santiago?

If you are really going for repentence then you need to start at the Tour St Jacques in Paris (just by the Louvre). Also, the end of the pilgrimage is actually on the coast at Finisterre, not in Santiago. Basically the route pre-dates Christianity. Ancient celts used to migrate westwards towards the 'end of the earth' at the northwest tip of the peninsula. The god of the afterlife was Lug, hence the city of Lugo near Santiago. Anyway, just a useless tidbit for you.

I personally found the main 'Camino Frances' to be somewhat barren in places. Let's not forget that most people were doing the pilgrimage under duress back in the day. They therefore went for easy rather than pretty hence the route through the wide open spaces of Leon rather than along the stunning Cantabrian/Asturian coastline. So, be aware that there are different routes and choose the one for you.

The nicest/prettiest sections of the camino are not those leading to Santiago (unfortunately), the last 100km or so is not so wonderful.

Review posted 31st October 2007 by Thomas Power.

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The Pilgrims walk to Santiago de Compostela