Camino Winter Walking Tips. Be sure to wrap up in the cold. Make sure to bring a pair of gloves and a warm hat if you are planning a walking holiday during the winter months. Waterproof walking shoes and shoes with gripping soles are always a good idea for any time of the year, especially in the winter when you might expect to experience rain. The Camino de Santiago del Norte is another alternative you have to make a pilgrimage to Compostela in six days. This route joins the Camino Frances in its final stages, therefore part of the route you will do so following the French route. If you have six days, you can start walking from the town of Abadín. Dentro de su gran trazado existen dos puntos de inicio bastante comunes entre los peregrinos, aunque el inicio principal es la localidad de Saint Jean Pied de Port, muchos deciden comenzar el Camino de Santiago desde Roncesvalles, para así evitar cruzar la frontera entre España y Francia, y no subir la gran cuesta que las separa. HIGHLIGHTS: Walk the full 812km of the Camino Frances route from St Jean Pied de Port to Santiago de Compostela. Hike across the French Pyrenees into the Basque country. Drink a variety of Rioja red wines in Logroño. Visit the 16th-century town of Pamplona, a favourite of Ernest Hemingway. The journey takes approximately 3 hours. It’s advisable to check the current timetable and prices on the Monbus website. By Car: If you prefer to drive, the journey to Finisterre from Santiago de Compostela takes about 1.5 to 2 hours via the AC-543 road. This route offers beautiful views of the Galician countryside. Click Here To See My Recommended Gear List For Camino De Santiago. 1.) One of my very first photos from day 1 after leaving St. Jean Pied de Port at 6:00 AM. On this day I would cross from France into Spain and begin my pilgrimage towards Santiago. It was upon taking this photo that I had my “I’ve arrived” moment. Those pilgrims who have walked at least the final 100 kms or traveled by bicycle or on horseback at least the final 200 kms will have their name written in Latin on the Compostela, the certificate attesting to their pilgrimage. Pilgrim Mass. Each morning around 11 am everyone starts to make their way to the Cathedral. Y7AXz. There are four main Camino routes in France; in France, they are referred to in France as the Chemin Saint Jacques. The only route I have walked so far has been the first ten days of the Le Puy Route. France has always been the favored starting point for Camino pilgrims. Back when Santiago de Compostela was little known about, most pilgrims were French, and the path they walked came to be known amongst the Spanish as “The French road”. Today, pilgrims can choose from one of the four main Camino de Santiago routes in France that join the Camino de Santiago routes in Spain to get to Santiago in Spain. Routes leave from different cities and pass through certain places, giving them distinct characteristics that are uniquely their own. Camino Le Puy or Via Podiensis The Le Puy Route is also known as Le Chemin du Puy or Via Podiensis. This route starts in Le Puy en Velay and joins with two other routes in France at Ostabat near St Jean Pied de Port which they pass through and continue along the Camino Frances to Santiago. The route is fairly tough going and quite hilly, it is harder than the Camino Frances and at 736km is nearly as long. The waymarking on the route is the GR65 signs and there are very few Camino signs. Le Puy or Via Podiensis offers the best views amongst all Caminos in France, and it’s also the shortest, running for only 736 km. For these reasons, its immense popularity among pilgrims shouldn’t surprise you. The route starts in the scenic town of Le Puy-en-Valey and goes through several towns before it reaches the French-Spanish border at Saint-Jean Pied-de-Port. The terrain is variable but rarely flat and can be exhausting for people who aren’t used to hiking. The route goes through ascents and descents in the Velay region, then travels uphill the Aubrac Plateau at a height of 1,300 meters above sea level. From this mountainous region, the trail starts to ease up and descends to Conques. You will pass by a series of limestone scrublands called causses, Cahors, some farmlands, Moissac, and then finally reach the Basque Country. This last stop will leave you breathless, as the city is located in the foothills of the Pyrenees. The route is known for its natural sceneries and the many historical monuments dotted along the way. Every town or village you stop over will have an old abbey, church, or a cathedral that is worth your while. Paris and Tours Way or Via Turonensis The Paris Camino Route is also known as the Chemin de Paris or Via Turonensis or The Tours Way, (the last really describes the route from Tours), – quite a few designations for a route that is not very popular at present and is said to still being re-built in parts. Like all of the routes in France, this one also follows a GR, the GR655. The route is about 1,000km to St Jean, currently, the distances are not exact. As the most northerly route, Paris, and Tours or Via Turonensis was traditionally used by pilgrims coming from the Low Countries, as well as those living in northern and western Europe. Not many pilgrims travel this way, and despite being located in a touristy city, it is the least known of the Camino routes in France. However, it is slowly gaining popularity now that other French routes are becoming overcrowded. The route is described to start from Tour St. Jacques in the Pilgrim’s Guide, but most modern pilgrims begin anywhere. Many set off from Chartres. Others take a detour to Orléans which leads across the Loire Valley and Tours and converges with the road from Chartres. From there, the route heads southwest through Poitou, Saintonge, Bordeaux, Les Landes, where it once again merges with two of the four main Camino routes in France – Le Puy and Vézelay. Paris and Tours span for 913 kilometers and takes nearly two months to walk if rest and sightseeing are included. Pilgrims are encouraged to create their own routes since the old footpath no longer exists and has been replaced with major roads. This route’s main advantage is the opportunity to explore Paris before the pilgrimage. The Vézelay Route or Via Lemovicensis The Vezelay Camino Route is also known as the Chemin de Vezelay or the Via Lemovicensis, the Latin name. Again joins the above two rotes just before St Jean and continues along the Camino Frances. The distance to St Jean is about 900km. Most of the route follows the GR654 but there have been efforts to re-create the original route by associations in France. Pilgrims coming from northern and eastern Europe have traveled this way since the Middle Ages, making it one of the oldest Camino de Santiago routes. It was originally called Via Lemovicensis since it goes through Limoges, a city valued for its history and culture. The route begins in the town of Vézelay in Burgundy, where a pilgrimage to Mary Magdalene can also be found. From here, the main route branches out into the Bourges and Nevers. The Bourges route is shorter and easier to walk. Its path is more consistently flat, but the sight of forests and farmlands tend to get boring. Only the Bourges Cathedral is worth paying a visit when passing by. Nevers route is longer and more challenging thanks to its varied terrain. If you choose to go this way, make a quick trip to the shrine of St. Bernadette Soubirous. The two routes converge and continue on to Limousin, Périgord, Aquitaine, and the Landes. Once you reach GR 65 near Ostabat, the Vezélay joins two more routes from France – Tours and le Puy-en-Velay. The entire route is about 900 km long and covers a wide array of landscapes including hills, valleys, mountains, forests, farmlands, and vineyards. It also passes several historical landmarks. You would have to travel another 800 km via Camino de Francés from St. Jean Pied-de-Port to reach Santiago. The Arles Route or Via Tolasana The Arles Camino Route is also known as Via Tolasana or Chemin d’Arles. This route has its own association who are working hard to look after the route; I met a couple of them on the Le Puy route. This is the one main route that does not go to St Jean but joins the Camino Aragones and then joins the Camino Frances at Puente la Reina. This route follows the GR653. Pilgrims have been walking the Arles Way since medieval times. It was a convenient route for Jacobean pilgrims since it was closest to the south and east Europe. Back in its heyday, it was aptly called Via Tolosana as it passes by Toulouse, the most important city along the way. Tradition tells us the route begins at Arles in Provence, but you can start your pilgrimage further at Montpellier in Languedoc. As you travel westwards, you will come across causses, Castres, and the sharp hills of Haut-Laguedoc. The way becomes easier from Toulouse to Oloron-Saint-Marie as the road becomes flatter and leads through lower hills and an open plateau. The trail continues southwards to Aspe Valley and crosses the Pyrenees to reach Aragón on the border of Spain. The entire route is 800 km long on the French side. Arles Route is extremely varied and physically demanding, but it is also the most isolated path for those yearning to have a peaceful walk. Much like the Le Puy Way, there will be plenty of historic attractions including the church and abbey of Saint-Gilles-du-Gard, the basilica of Saint Sernin in Toulouse, and Canal du Midi in Montferrand. Attractive and picturesque villages such as Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert and Revel can likewise be expected. If ever you decide to go on The Way of St. James via France, you can never go wrong with Le Puy, Vézelay, Arles, and Tours. The four main Camino routes in France may be lengthy and challenging for most, but they pay off with stunning landscapes, religious architecture, and other historical monuments. Various accommodations are available along these routes, as well as a decent selection of places to eat local cuisine. There are many other routes in France, most of them are feeder routes to the above and the others in themselves can be very long. If you were interested in similar hikes, there are many alternatives to Camino de Santiago. 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 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. READ MORE 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 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 lifetimeA World Heritage RouteThe 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 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 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 Routes from FranceThe 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 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 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 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 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 Sarria to SantiagoThe 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 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 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 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 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. Camino de Santiago associations Aragón Asociación de Amigos del Camino de Santiago de Jaca Email master@ Direction Calle Conde Aznar, 9 Jaca, 22700 Aragón Jaca Jacobea Asociación Oscense de los Amigos del Camino de Santiago Email huescasantiago@ Direction Calle Valentín Gardeta, 34 Huesca, 22007 Aragón Asociación de Amigos del Camino de Santiago de Zaragoza Email peregrinosantiagozaragoza@ Direction Calle San Vicente de Paul, 1 Zaragoza, 50001 Castilla y León Asociación de Amigos del Camino de Santiago de Burgos Email asociacion@ 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@ 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@ 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@ Direction Avenida Independencia, 2 - 5º Izq. León, 24003 Castilla y León Asociación de Amigos del Camino de Santiago de Astorga y Comarca Email asociacion@ Direction Plaza de San Francisco, 3 Astorga, 24700 Castilla y León Asociación de Amigos del Camino de Santiago del Bierzo Email asociacion@ Direction Avenida del Castillo, 106 Ponferrada, 24401 Francia Amis du chemin de St Jacques des Pyrennes Atlantiques Email contact@ Direction Rue de la Citadelle, 39 Saint Jean Pied du Port, 64220 Galicia Asociación de Amigos del Camino de Santiago de Lugo Email lugocamino@ Direction Plaza Comandante Manso, 11 - Entresuelo Lugo, 27001 Galicia Asociación Amigos del Camino de la Comarca de Sarria Email amigoscaminosarria@ Direction Vigo de Sarria, 15, Km 115 27600 Sarria, Lugo La Rioja Federación Española de Asociaciones de Amigos del Camino de Santiago Email caminosantiago@ Direction Rúa Vieja, 3 Logroño, 26001 Navarra Asociación de Amigos del Camino de Santiago en Navarra Email info@ Direction Calle Florencio de Ansoleaga, 2 31001, Pamplona Navarra Asociación de los Amigos del Camino de Santiago de Estella Email amigos@ Direction Calle La Rúa, 50 - Apto. de Correos, 20 Estella, 21004 Francuska Droga św. Jakuba (hiszp. Camino Francés, fr. Chemin des Francs) to jeden z najważniejszych szlaków pieszych prowadzących do Santiago de Compostela. W sieci Camino de Santiago uważany za szlak główny. Jego długość, wg różnych źródeł i śladów GPS wynosi od 775 do 900 kilometrów. Wędrówkę Camino Francés rozpoczynamy jeszcze po francuskiej stronie Pirenejów, w górskiej miejscowości Saint Jean Pied-de-Port. Już pierwszego dnia wędrówki przekraczamy granicę francusko-hiszpańską i przez resztę naszej wyprawy szlakiem francuskim wędrujemy do Santiago po terenach północnej Hiszpanii. Pielgrzymi planujący wędrówkę z Saint Jean, najczęściej docierają do miasteczka koleją lub komunikacją autobusową. Z większych miast Europy nie ma tam bezpośredniego połączenia, więc podróż wymaga zgrania kilku połączeń (np. samolot+pociągi). Camino Francés– mapa i przebieg trasy Threads Messages Yesterday at 11:44 PM sdill Sticky C clearly Sep 4, 2021 SantaMonicaPeregrina Jul 19, 2022 handler Today at 10:38 AM kes93 Yesterday at 8:05 PM Damien Reynolds Thursday at 7:11 PM Susannah1 Yesterday at 6:07 PM Mananath Jul 14, 2022 jungleboy Wednesday at 3:07 PM scruffy1 Saturday at 8:14 AM puttster Friday at 10:38 PM Brmickelsen Saturday at 7:03 AM SkyDancer May 16, 2022 Locked Sam&Adam May 30, 2018 Locked Poll Chicago Seeker Jul 19, 2022 2 MariaE Jul 12, 2022 Wombat Feb 21, 2010 SF Walker Jul 19, 2022 SuetoSantiago Jul 18, 2022 Jakesheridan May 21, 2022 sarahjohn Jul 7, 2022 Paula P Jul 19, 2022 Niels Jul 18, 2022 Niels Jul 18, 2022 LuisaR Jul 16, 2022 wanderingsilvia Jul 11, 2022 skevin Jul 13, 2022 Rsian Jul 3, 2022 MickMac Jan 31, 2022 Kevin Considine Aug 23, 2021 Lhollo Jun 20, 2022 J Willhaus Jun 28, 2022 Cathy G Jul 9, 2022 Bradypus Jul 3, 2022 elviento Jul 5, 2022 simply B Jun 23, 2022 12-22Pilgrim Jun 8, 2022 Niels Jul 3, 2022 Jersey Aug 2, 2017 Former member 99816 Jun 27, 2022 Senorafelipes Jul 1, 2022 emilynixonmail Jun 30, 2022 NobleHiker Apr 13, 2022 2 katie@camino Jun 29, 2022 rachellanderson2 Jun 27, 2022 kevinJwalker Feb 3, 2022 pepi Jun 28, 2022 JustJack Dec 7, 2021 Locked skevin Jun 25, 2022 Locked richardatbelair Jun 25, 2022 Cathy G Jun 20, 2022 Zordmot Jun 23, 2022 StFina Jun 23, 2022 Tracker Aug 11, 2014 donnatello Jun 23, 2022 skotzko Jun 22, 2022 Bradypus Jun 14, 2022 Sara_Dhooma Jun 2, 2022 HPalola May 28, 2015 peregrino_tom Jun 19, 2022 Locked Zordmot Jun 19, 2022 Locked Javier May 17, 2011 LongRun64 Jun 11, 2022 Corelacka Jun 15, 2022 StFina Jun 17, 2022 Richard of York Jun 16, 2022 Lhollo May 22, 2022 Daniel Crowe Jun 9, 2022 Yeharn Hwang Jun 2, 2022 skotzko Jun 5, 2022 Bradypus Jun 12, 2022 Antananarivo Feb 24, 2022 Locked Peregringos Jun 12, 2022 Former member 99816 Jun 5, 2022 Embee12 Jun 10, 2022 NJohn Jun 5, 2022 Bainbridge Jun 9, 2022 Rozenn May 2, 2022 This Camino Frances Map is a handy visual representation of the most famous route on the Camino de Santiago. The Camino Frances or French Way is well known for many films, books, and documentaries. The French Way or Camino Francés is the most famous and popular of the Camino de Santiago routes, attracting nearly 70% of all Camino pilgrims. Starting in St Jean Pied de Port, at the foot of the Pyrenees, the Camino Frances makes its way across Northern Spain taking pilgrims all the way to Santiago de Compostela, in Galicia, and its spectacular cathedral. The vineyards of La Rioja, Burgos Cathedral, Ponferrada Castle, and the mountains of O Cebreiro are some of the most magnificent sights along this epic 800 km Camino route. It should take just over a month to complete the Full Camino Frances route on foot but you can also choose to start at different points along the way. The most popular starting points on the Camino Frances are: Sarria, St Jean Pied de Port, Leon, O Cebreiro and Ponferrada. You can also cycle the Camino Francés in 15 days. Highlights on the Camino Frances Map The Camino Frances Map highlights some of the key stages on the full route. Here are some of the highlights you can see: Pyrenees After you leave St Jean Pied de Port you will walk across the Pyrenees Mountains. This is the most challenging section of the Camino Frances but also one of the most beautiful. The views are worth the effort of the climbs. Pamplona Most people will know Pamploma from the famous San Fermin festival which includes the ‘running from the bulls’. The city itself is well worth a visit even outside of festival time with colourful streets, friendly locals and delicious pinxtos. Rioja Region This is one for the wine lovers out there. Around Logrono you will find the Rioja Region where you will be surrounded by vineyards. Burgos Burgos is home to one of the most magnificent Cathedrals in Spain. This is a great warm up for a trip to Santiago! Leon Leon is another town with a gorgeous cathedral, famed for its Gothic architecture and magnificent stained-glass windows. Enjoy dinner in the old town followed by a glass of local wine or beer. O Cebreiro This spot is unique due to its circular granite homes with thatched roofs. You will be nearing the end of your Camino at this point and you are reminded of all of the footsteps that will have passed this town throughout history. Santiago de Compostela This is the last stop on the Camino Frances. Marvel at the atmosphere in front of the famous cathedral and spend some time exploring the walled streets of the old town. Santiago is one of the prettiest cities in Europe! Check out our Downloadable Camino De Santiago Map for our other Camino routes. For more information about the Camino Frances, other Camino de Santiago routes or to book your Camino trip, contact our travel specialists

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