The Camino Frances
The Camino Francés, also known as the French Way, is the most famous of the Camino de Santiago routes. When people talk about the Camino, they often mean this particular path.
This iconic route has appeared in several books and films, including the famous movie ‘The Way‘ starring Martin Sheen and the heartwarming documentary ‘I’ll Push You,’ which celebrates the power of friendship.
An ancient pilgrimage trail across northern Spain, the Camino Francés starts in the charming town of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port and ends in the sacred city of Santiago de Compostela, where the Cathedral is believed to hold the remains of St. James.
The Camino Francés is rich in attractions, offering a journey through stunning cities and natural landscapes. Highlights include Pamplona, famous for its bull run; the La Rioja wine region and its capital, Logroño; the impressive cathedral in Burgos; the elegant city of León; and Ponferrada with its historic Templar Castle. As the route continues from Ponferrada, it enters Galicia, passing through the mountains and the charming village of O Cebreiro.
The most popular section is the final 100km of the Camino Francés, starting in Sarria and ending in Santiago. This part of the route is ideal for those looking for a social experience or first-time pilgrims, as the sense of camaraderie is particularly strong on the French Way.
The Camino de Santiago is internationally recognised as a symbol of European unity. In 1987, the Council of Europe designated it as the first European Cultural Route. The Camino, along with its architectural treasures, is also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Suggested Routes
Highlights Of The Camino Francés
• Discover beautiful cities and charming medieval towns along the French Way, such as St-Jean-Pied-de-Port, Pamplona, Logrono, Burgos, Leon, Ponferrada, and Sarria.
• Take time out to explore the wonderful old town of Santiago de Compostela.
• The Camino Francés boasts stunning landscapes, From the Pyrenees and the vineyards of La Rioja to the vast open spaces of the Meseta and the rugged mountains of León and O Cebreiro.
• Walk over the peaceful hills of rural Galicia on the last 100km of the Camino Frances from Sarria.
• Walk in La Rioja’s vineyards and sample some of the very best wines on the French Camino from Logrono.
If you are up for the ultimate challenge, you can walk the full Camino Frances, 790km, in over a month (35 nights) or you can choose to walk different sections of the French Way for as little as a week or two at a time. Discover more about the Camino Francés on our blog. You can also contact us for any help and advice.
Getting The Compostela Certificate on The Camino Francés
While the Camino from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port is very popular, most pilgrims start their Camino journey from the town of Sarria, in Galicia. This is mainly because you will need to walk at least the last 100km of a route (and stamp your pilgrim passport along the way!) to receive your Compostela pilgrim certificate in Santiago. This is also the most social part of the route, where you will meet many fellow pilgrims and find the real spirit and camaraderie of the Camino de Santiago, the Way of St James.
For those cycling the Camino and wishing to receive the certificate, the minimum distance is 200km, so you must at least complete your Camino cycling from Ponferrada to get it. It should only take you one week to complete.
Camino Ways Route Planner
For over 1000 years, pilgrims from all over the world have walked the Camino Ways across Europe in their quest for spirituality. Making the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, they encountered a variety of people, cultures and beliefs, leading to friendship and new experiences. This continues today with the Camino de Santiago being the most well known and well-loved walk in the world. More than just a walk, the Camino de Santiago is an unforgettable and unique journey for the body, mind and soul.
When To Go On The Camino Francés
The French Way has 3 types of weather:
- The first part of the Camino Francés, from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Pamplona, crosses the Pyrenees, where snow can block the path from as early as November until March. In Rabanal (after Astorga) and O Cebreiro, snow can also linger until March.
- The Meseta, the stretch between Logroño and Astorga, is a hot, dry plateau where summer temperatures often reach 40°C in July and August.
- Galicia, including the last 100km from Sarria to Santiago, is beautiful year-round. However, from mid-November to early March, it can be wet and cold, with temperatures around 5 to 10°C. In summer, the average temperature is a comfortable 25°C. Despite this, spring and autumn remain the most popular times to walk due to the pleasant weather.
The Terrain On The French Way
Aside from three challenging days (Saint-Jean to Roncesvalles, Rabanal to Ponferrada, and Villafranca to O Cebreiro), the Camino Francés is relatively easy. The main challenge is maintaining the fitness level required to walk an average of 20km per day.
The daily ascent and descent are around 400m, which is manageable and not too demanding compared to other treks like the GR20 or TMB, which involve 1500 to 2000m each day.
The Camino Francés is a mix of dirt tracks (50%) and quiet country roads (50%). It never runs along busy roads or highways, offering a traditional countryside experience.
What To Bring On The Camino Francés?
Our Camino packing guide ebook is free to download. This will help you decide what to bring on your Camino.
The Sections Of The Camino Frances
This is the complete itinerary for the traditional stages of the French Way, also known as the Camino Francés. Please note that the list does not include’ split days’.
St-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Pamplona
The first section of the French Way starts in St-Jean-Pied-de-Port in the French Basque Country and crosses the Pyrenees, finishing in the city of Pamplona, world-famous for its Bull Run, San Fermín. This is one of the most challenging but beautiful parts, especially if you take the ‘Napoleon Route’ over the Roncesvalles Pass (1450m). The views of the Pyrenees are worth the effort! Over 20,000 pilgrims choose to start their ‘way’ to Santiago de Compostela in Saint Jean each year, covering nearly 800km across the north of Spain.
Pamplona to Logroño
This section of the Way of St James starts in the city of Pamplona (Iruña in Basque), famous for its San Fermín Bull Run festival, on the 7th of July every year. The section finishes in Logroño, the capital of the La Rioja wine region and a fantastic city to discover authentic Spanish tapas. From the pilgrim sculpture at Alto del Perdón, you will enjoy panoramic views of Pamplona behind and the vast countryside ahead before continuing on your way. On this section of the Camino, you will walk across the mountains of Navarra and La Rioja vineyards, passing medieval bridges, castles, churches, and picturesque villages along the way, such as Puente de la Reina, Cirauqui, Estella-Lizarra and Viana. Stop at Bodegas Irache and the Wine Museum for a rest and a quick sip at the free wine fountain.
Logroño to Burgos
Logroño to Burgos continues along the French Way starts in Logroño, the capital of the famous Rioja wine region. Explore the city and treat yourself to ‘tapas’ in the lively Calle del Laurel before you start your journey. The terrain becomes easier than in previous stages of the Camino, and you will walk sections across undulating farmland and vineyards, passing castles, monasteries and charming villages. One of the highlights is Santo Domingo de la Calzada and its historic centre, an important stop for pilgrims “on the Camino since the Middle Ages. You will finish your walk in the majestic city of Burgos, home of ‘El Cid’, where you should visit its magnificent cathedral, possibly the most beautiful in Spain.
Burgos to León
This section of the Camino starts in majestic Burgos, the hometown of ‘El Cid’ and considered the Gothic capital of Spain. This section of the French Way finishes in the village of Sahagún, in the heart of the Meseta, with its vast, wide-open landscapes. The sounds of nature and endless crop fields will be your companions for this section of the Camino de Santiago, dotted with hamlets, picturesque sleepy villages and Romanesque churches. Then, starting in the medieval town of Sahagún, section 5 of the Camino de Santiago along the French Way will take you across the Meseta, the immense Castilian Plateau (900m) and its villages. You will finish this walking section in León, where you can admire the cathedral, the remains of its Roman walls, the Romanesque Royal Basilica of Saint Isidoro and Gaudí’s neo-Gothic Casa de Botines.
León to Ponferrada
Section 6 of the Camino de Santiago along the French Way (Camino Francés) starts in the lively city of León and finishes in Ponferrada, built by the Templars in the 12th century. Along the way, you will pass the hilltop city of Astorga, famous for its chocolates and other sweet delicacies. After Astorga, you will ascend to the spectacular and unscathed León Mountains (Montes de León), passing rustic mountain villages and hamlets before reaching the El Bierzo region. Your destination for this Camino section is Ponferrada, the capital of the El Bierzo region and the last city before Santiago de Compostela.
Ponferrada to Sarria
This section of the Camino de Santiago runs along the French Way (Camino Frances) starts in Ponferrada, with its imposing Templars Castle, and finishes in the market town of Sarria, the most popular Camino starting point. You will begin your journey heading to Villafranca del Bierzo, a gorgeous town surrounded by idyllic countryside. After Villafranca, a challenging ascent will lead to the mountains of O Cebreiro. You will enter Galicia via O Cebreiro, a stunning mountain village in a region of outstanding natural beauty. After O Cebreiro, the Camino will continue along forest tracks towards Sarria, just over 100km from Santiago. An alternative route will take you by the impressive Samos Monastery.
Sarria to Santiago
This is the most popular walking tour of the Camino de Santiago from Sarria. Perfect for those looking to capture the essence of the Camino: a nice walk, good food and wine, discovering local customs, meeting fellow pilgrims and enjoying the unique atmosphere of it all. You won’t forget a single minute of it! This section of the Camino de Santiago starts in Sarria and covers the last 100km of the Camino Frances, the minimum required to apply for your Compostela certificate. The Camino will take you across woodlands, farmland and rustic hamlets, following tracks and paths lined by granite stone walls. The green rolling landscape.
History Of The Camino Francés
The Camino Francés, also called the French Way, is the most traditional pilgrim route to Santiago and is best known internationally. It is the route featured in the famous movie The Way, starring Martin Sheen. The trail was established in the late 11th century thanks to the efforts of monarchs like Sancho III the Greater, Sancho Ramírez de Navarra y Aragón, and Alphonse VI and his successors, who looked after its construction and promotion.
The Codex Calixtinus, an essential reference work dating back to the 12th century, describes in detail the main routes of the St James Way in France and Spain.
Book V of the Codex Calixtinus is the first-ever guidebook to the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. The book lists the different stretches of the Camino Frances from the lands of Gaul. It offers detailed information on the sanctuaries to be found along the way, including notes on the hospitality, the people, food, natural springs, local customs, etc. The entire work is written clearly and succinctly as a practical guide for the Medieval pilgrim heading to Santiago.
This guide, attributed to the French cleric Aymeric Picaud, reveals the political and religious interest behind promoting the sanctuary of Santiago de Compostela and making it easily accessible. It also bears testimony to the demand for this type of information.
At the time of writing, the Camino Francés and the pilgrimages had reached their heyday. Santiago became a destination for pilgrims from the entire Christian world. This surge of pilgrims was so intense that it prompted a Moslem Ambassador to state that “the throng of worshippers who travel to Santiago and back is so great that there is almost no room left on the road leading to the west”.
Over the centuries, due to political and religious turmoil in Europe, the Camino Francés route lost much of its influence. It was not until the end of the 19th century that interest in Saint James and the Camino experienced some resurgence.
Interest continued to grow in the 20th century, with the progressive rediscovery, restoration, and recovery of this ancient trail, greatly thanks to the work of Elias Valiña, the parish priest of O Cebreiro.
Read more about the history of the Camino de Santiago or contact our travel team to learn more about walking or cycling the French Way.