Camino Frances Articles

The Camino de Santiago is steeped in history and filled with captivating landmarks. These sites offer perfect moments to pause, reflect, and explore the cultural heritage of the Camino. One standout highlight is the Templars Castle in Ponferrada, also known as Castillo de los Templarios. This impressive fortress is located in the last major town […]

If your Camino de Santiago journey will take you through France, even just at the beginning, it’s a lovely idea to add a few useful French phrases to your repertoire. Whether you’re walking the famous Camino Francés, which begins in the charming town of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in southwestern France, or starting your pilgrimage on Le Chemin

As the most popular of the Camino de Santiago routes, the Camino Francés, also known as the French Way, serves as the best introduction to all the wonderful culture, food and people that populate the Camino de Santiago. While the route is full of unmissable sites and unique experiences, we’d highly recommend that you add

When embarking on the Camino de Santiago, consider taking a break in León. This city offers a welcome respite and a chance to immerse yourself in its rich history and stunning architecture. León is surrounded by a largely untouched landscape, with forests and mountains that have escaped mass tourism. León offers much to explore. It

Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port is one of the most important towns on the Camino de Santiago. It is the final stop for several French Camino routes, including Le Chemin du Puy, Vézelay, and Paris-Tours. At the same time, it is also the starting point of the famous Camino Francés, the most well-known route to Santiago de Compostela. History

Discover Logroño in La Rioja Logroño, the capital of La Rioja wine region, is a popular stop and finishing point on the Camino Francés. Well known for its lively wine culture, this charming city comes alive each September during the Rioja Wine Harvest Festival, also called the Fiesta de la Vendimia Riojana. The celebration pays

Pamplona, the capital of the former Kingdom of Navarre, is a key stop on the Camino Francés. This city, steeped in history, lies in the heart of Navarre, within a valley called Cuenca de Pamplona. It connects the mountainous north with the Ebro Valley. As part of the Camino de Santiago, Pamplona welcomes pilgrims with

Burgos is a historic city on the Camino Francés, at the edge of Spain’s central plateau. It is the capital of Burgos Province, within the autonomous community of Castile and León. This city serves as a major crossroads for northern Spain and the Camino de Santiago, with the pilgrimage route running through the heart of

A Traditional Mountain Village on the Camino Francés After departing Ponferrada on the Camino Francés, and making your way towards Sarria, you’ll come across the mountain village of O Cebreiro. Perched at 1,300 metres above sea level, this charming spot marks the gateway from the region of El Bierzo into Galicia. O Cebreiro is a

The Road to Santiago There are three questions hikers and pilgrims ask each other when walking the 1,600-kilometre Santiago de Compostela, or Camino, pilgrimage trail. Where are you from? How far have you walked? How are your feet? The Road to Santiago. A fourth question, “Why?” usually only comes after you’ve shared a bottle (or

Cruz de Ferro | Camino Frances The Cruz de Ferro, or Iron Cross, is a cross on the Camino de Santiago, located between the towns of Foncebadón and Manjarín, on the Camino Frances. It consists of a wooden pole about five feet high surmounted by an iron cross, a replica of the original preserved in

Catherine’s Camino: St Jean Pied de Port to Pamplona Catherine’s Camino I’ll be honest. I didn’t know what to expect. I had seen photos and read books, but leaning on the wisdom of poet, Seamus Heaney who once said, “I’m a firm believer in learning by heart”, I settled with leaving the unknown, unknown. In