Camino de Santiago: Walk a 1000 years old pilgrimage trail

Camino de Santiago (Path of Saint James) is an ancient pilgrimage trail, about 900 km long, and in use for over 1000 years. Every year, thousands of people from all over the world undertake this pilgrimage, which begins in France and ends in the Spanish town of Santiago.

Santiago (St. James), the patron saint of Spain and the first Christian martyr, is buried in Santiago de Compostella at the northwest tip of the Iberian peninsula. The Apostle James was beheaded in Jerusalem in 42 AD, and legend has it that the remains were transported by his disciples to be buried here. Stories of the discovery of the Apostle's tomb in the 9th Century brought pilgrims from around Europe, and the "Camino de Santiago" - Road/Path/Way to Santiago - soon became the most important Christian pilgrimage of the Middle Ages.

While there are many paths to Santiago, the four major routes start from Tours, Vèlezay, Le Puy, and Arles in France, crossing the Pyrenees at the Somport or Roncesvalles passes, and joining together at Puente la Reina in Navarra (near Pamplona) to form a single path across northern Spain to the saints shrine at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostella.

The Road to Santiago is a fantastic tourist venue for hikers and walkers. The Road crosses some of the country's most spectacular landscapes, and is dotted with beautiful Romanesque and Plateresque churches, chapels, and monasteries. A proper pilgrimage must be made on foot, bicycle or horseback. The pilgrim has the use of free hostels along the route, and gets his pilgrims passport stamped along the way and certified at the Cathedral in Santiago. Whether you plan to do a proper pilgrimage or not, the Road (or just about any a part of it) is a great way to see Spain, and enjoy the Camino's period architecture, shrines, villages, countryside, and hospitality.

If you want to do the entire "Camino", which is about 900 km long, from France to Santiago, it will take about 30 days (at 30 km a day). However, if you just want to receive the official "certificate of pilgrimage" Compostella), you’ll have to walk at least 100km (200 km on a cycle). A network of shelters along the way offers free lodging and stamps the pilgrims' passports which serve as evidence of completion.

Back 22.03.2006.