The Camino Francés, the "Chemin Français" or "Route intérieure" is the most popular route to Compostela. It offers a 775 km route through Navarre, Rioja, Castile and León and Galicia. Following its route, pilgrims will discover a rich heritage of more than 1,800 monuments, all of which are classified as UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Stage 1 - Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port / Roncesvalles (26 km). A few kilometres from the Spanish border, the city of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port marks the starting point of the Camino Francés. A significant difference in altitude marks the beginning of this first difficult stage, which must be approached with great serenity.
Stage 2 - Roncesvalles / Larrasoaña (27 km). After a rather rough first day, the second day is less stressful. During this stage, the landscapes of beech and pine forests are alternated with charming small villages with typical Navarrese architecture.
Stage 3 - Larrasoaña / Pamplona (16.5 km). This stage, which crosses the Esteribar valley, along the Arga river, takes us from bridge to bridge through the landscapes of Ribera, agricultural villages, but also through the much less attractive area of the suburbs of Pamplona. A short and much easier step than the previous ones.
Stage 4 - Pamplona / Puente de la Reina (24 km). This stage is marked by the landscapes of the Sierra del Perdón, a pre-Pyrenean mountain range that the Way of Santiago crosses at Alto del Perdón, a pass located at an altitude of 770 m.
Stage 5 - Puente la Reina / Estella (22 km). This beautiful stopover takes us through landscapes of vineyards and cereal fields, punctuated by small villages where you can easily eat and refresh yourself. Medieval bridges, Roman roadway and freshwater river will accompany you along the way.
Stage 6 - Estella / Los Arcos (22 km). The Codex Calixtinus already referred to this stage in the 12th century as a "land of good bread and wine". The Irache bodegas paid tribute to these good words by building a wine fountain that offers a little joy before starting the winding road to Villamayor de Monjardín. From there, the pilgrim crosses a depopulated area in cereal and vineyard landscapes, where shade is a rare commodity until Los Arcos.
Stage 7 - Los Arcos / Logroño (28 km). This stage marks the entrance to Rioja, where the landscapes become more rugged. We will cross the municipalities of Sansol, Torres del Rio and Viana, all equipped with inns, before the delicate descent from Virgen del Poyo. The path to Logroño, the second provincial capital on the way, continues smoothly.
Stage 8 - Logroño - Nájera (31 km). The exit from Logroño offers the pilgrim a pleasant walk through the great park of La Grajera to Navarrete, a town renowned for its crafts. A slight climb leads us to the Alto de San Antón, from where we can already see Nájera. Unfortunately, the presence of the highway is a bit of a waste of time.
Stage 9 - Nájera / Santo Domingo de la Calzada (21 km). During this stage, the vineyards of Rioja Media give way to the cereal fields of Rioja Alta. Many pilgrims do not hesitate to depart from the official route of the pilgrimage to visit San Millán de la Cogolla, where you can admire the splendid monastery of Yuso, then follow the Way of the Cross to the monastery of Suso. Otherwise, the path is peaceful until Santo Domingo de la Calzada, passing through the municipalities of Azofra and Cirueña.
Stage 10 - Santo Domingo de la Calzada / Belorado (23 km). This stage is marked by the entry into Castile and León. The road that leads to Belgrado requires us to follow prepared tracks a few metres from the national road 120, a not very pleasant but fast route.
Stage 11 - Belorado / San Juan de Ortega (24 km). This stage is divided into two parts: the first one leads us through several villages (Tosantos, Villambistia, Espinosa del Camino) along a path that rises imperceptibly; the second, from Villafranca, is marked by the ascent of the Montes de Oca through forest landscapes, until the appearance of San Juan de Ortega.
Stage 12 - San Juan de Ortega / Burgos (27 km). After crossing the Montes de Oca, you can quietly enter the Castilian Meseta on a stage without any particular difficulty. At the end of this stage, we leave the peace of the fields to find the sounds of the city, with the arrival in Burgos.
Stage 13 - Burgos / Hontanas (31 km). After an urban break, this stage takes us to the heart of the burning landscapes of Castile.
Stage 14 - Hontanas / Boadilla del Camino (28 km). During this stage, the lack of vegetation to protect against the wind or the summer sun sometimes makes the route difficult, a good reason to stop in the charming village of Castrojeriz, which preserves an interesting heritage. After climbing the Alto de Mostelares, the pilgrim discovers the breathtaking landscapes of the county of Tierra de Campos.
Stage 15 - Boadilla del Camino / Carrión de los Condes (25 km). This new stage leads the pilgrim along the Canal de Castilla. The route continues in a gentle monotony through plains landscapes punctuated by villages (Población, Revenga and Villarmentero). The last part of this stopover will be marked by a recommended visit to Villalcázar de Sirga, where you can admire its sumptuous fortress-church.
Stage 16 - Carrión de los Condes / Terradillos de los Templarios (27 km). This stage is marked by a long desert crossing of 17 km, between Carrión de los Condes and Calzadilla de la Cueza. The rest of the stage continues along a roadway that avoids the N-120.
Stage 17 - Terradillos de los Templarios / El Burgo Ranero (30 km). This stage is marked by the entry into the province of León. Some 215 km of walking await the pilgrim in this province
Stage 18 - El Burgo Ranero / León (37 km). This is the longest stopover of the pilgrim, with its 37 km, which you can choose to cut in half by spending the night in Mansilla de las Mulas
Stage 19 - León / Villadangos del Paramo (22 km). This stage is initially marked by the exit from León, where the pilgrim will cross residential areas before recovering the calm from La Virgen del Camino. A roadway along the N-120 then leads us to Villadangos del Páramo, although there is a variant that passes through the fields through Villar de Mazarife.
Stage 20 - Villadangos del Paramo / Astorga (28 km). At the beginning of this stage, we find the previous day's roadway which runs along the N-120 and leads us to the mythical Orbigo bridge. After passing Hospital de Órbigo, the pilgrim can continue on the monotonous road or take the right path that crosses bucolic landscapes
Stage 21 - Astorga / Rabanal del Camino (20 km). During this stage, the pilgrim enters the county of La Maragatería, with its sturdy ashlar houses, its gargantuan dishes, and its inhabitants with mysterious origins that still intrigue ethnologists today. A short and quiet step.
Stage 22 - Rabanal del Camino / Ponferrada (32 km). The roofs of slate houses and the increasingly green vegetation tell us that Galicia is not far away. The path reaches its highest point at the Cruz de Ferro (1504 m above sea level), where it is traditional to lay a stone. The ascent of the Foncebadón pass is less difficult than its descent, which is very steep in some places. There is no need to force yourself to Ponferrada, you can just as easily spend the night in the charming commune of Molinaseca
Stage 23 - Ponferrada / Villafranca del Bierzo (23 km). We are in the heart of the county of Bierzo, a land reddened by the vines in September. A quiet stopover punctuated by villages, with no particular difficulties.
Stage 24 - Villafranca del Bierzo / O Cebreiro (28 km). This stage is marked by the entry into Galicia and the ascent to O Cebreiro. For the first twenty kilometres, you will have to follow a roadway along the N-6, a route without difficulty but monotonous. Once in Las Herrerias, you can choose to spend the night there to regain your strength, or continue directly up to O Cebreiro
Stage 25 - O Cebreiro - Triacastela (21 km). After the previous day's ascent, today's stage is marked by the descent towards the Oribio valley. Before that, it will be necessary to cross the San Roque pass and then the O Poio pass, the latter being the highest point of the pilgrimage in Galicia with its 1335 m altitude
Stage 26 - Triacastela - Sarria (21 km). Valleys framed by mountains, oak forests, streams and convoluted roads: the memory of the meseta and its straight path already seems far away... During this stage, the pilgrim has two options: reach Sarria via San Xil, the shortest option, or via Samos, an alternative that we advise you to visit the monastery of Samos. Whatever the path you take, you will discover beautiful landscapes.
Stage 27 - Sarria / Portomarin (22.5 km). A splendid new stage during which the pilgrim crosses fragrant forests, meadows and fields, medieval bridges, along paths punctuated by small villages and hamlets
Stage 28 - Portomarin / Palas de Rei (25 km). After the previous day's descent to Portomarín, this stage begins with an ascent of about 10 km, with constant ascents and descents in the first half of the stage. The second part is marked by the return of the paved roads, which will lead us to Palas de Rei.
Stage 29 - Palace of Rei / Arzua (26 km). Dense undergrowth, fragrant eucalyptus forests and small streams accompany us during this stage. Between Melide and Arzúa, the path turns into a real roller coaster where steep climbs and descents alternate: go easy!
Stage 30 - Arzúa / O Pedrouzo (19 km). This stage continues through the eucalyptus forests, which we will have to abandon several times to follow the roadway along the N-547. You will probably meet pilgrims on your way from the Camino del Norte, which joins the Camino Francés in Arzúa. Some pilgrims will wish to continue directly to Santiago de Compostela, which is only 40 km away, but we advise you to spend the night in Pedrouzo to regain your strength, in order to fully enjoy the last stage the next day.
Stage 31 - O Pedrouzo / Santiago de Compostela (20 km). This last stage, short and without difficulties, should allow you to arrive before noon at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela to attend the Pilgrim's Mass and receive your Compostela, the document that accredits the completion of the pilgrimage. Last moment of emotion from Monte do Gozo, at an altitude of 380 m, where the rooftops of the city open before our eyes, before reaching the heart of the city.
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When? When? To benefit from optimal climatic conditions, it is advisable to make the pilgrimage between April and October.
Getting there. To arrive in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port and return from Santiago de Compostela.
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