Camino Frances: The Classic Pilgrimage Route to Santiago

There are several Caminos (roads), which in this case do not lead to Rome, but to Santiago de Compostela. Names you may come across besides Camino Francés are Camino, Camino de Santiago, St James' Way or Pilgrims' Way. All names refer to the long-distance journey you make on foot to Santiago de Compostela, starting points of the route are in many places in Europe. The Camino Francés forms part of the overall route and is one of its most famous sections. The Camino Portugués is another well-loved section.

The full route of the Camino Francés is 784 kilometres long and runs from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France, to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. The route is composed of 32 stages, plus a few extra to walk on to the Atlantic coast after reaching Santiago. In this blog, we further explain the stages starting from Sarria, a distance of 117 kilometres. More than the required distance of 100 kilometres to get your compostela. Further on in this blog, we will tell you more about the compostela.

Pilgrims have been flocking to Santiago for more than a thousand years because, according to tradition, the remains of the apostle James were found here. The discovery took place in the ninth century, after which the small city of Santiago soon began to attract pilgrims. Good money could be made from these pilgrims, people noticed over the following centuries. On the other hand, investments were made to ensure the pilgrims kept coming, by improving the infrastructure and encouraging pilgrims to stay permanently after their journey, among other things. This is how even new towns came about, among other things.

From the 11th century, the Camino Francés was the most direct route to Santiago from western Europe and therefore the most popular. During the 12th century, more than 500,000 pilgrims came to Santiago de Compostela every year, making it the most important destination for pilgrims after Rome and Jerusalem.

From the 16th century, a pilgrimage to Santiago and thus the Camino Francés became less popular, it was not until the 20th century that the routes returned to the map. After the publication of the first guidebook in 1969 on the Camino Francés, pilgrims slowly returned, only to return in large numbers from the early 1990s onwards. Today, the cathedral in Santiago again welcomes more than 300,000 pilgrims every year.

The Camino Francés is technically not difficult and is easy to walk. You do not have to be an athlete to have an enjoyable trek, but it is important that you prepare yourself well for the fact that you will be walking a good number of hours every day. In the weeks before the trek, try to walk a few hours a day and try to wear the same shoes as during the trek so that you don't get blisters or hurt your feet. Another good idea is to walk with a backpack on your shoulders so that your back can get used to the weight.

The location of the Camino Francés in Spain means that the route is easily passable all year round, though you have to take into account the different seasons which all have their advantages and disadvantages. Bookatrekking.com recommends walking the Camino Francés in spring (March - June) or autumn (September - October). Temperatures are not as high (anymore) during these periods and the big summer crowds have passed or are yet to come. Hotels and other accommodation are ready to receive pilgrims and there is usually always a table in a restaurant.

In July and August it is very busy on the road and in accommodations, besides it can be very hot. During the winter months, the weather can be unpredictable and not all accommodation and restaurants are open either.

While walking the Camino Francés, it is useful to have a so-called Pilgrim's Passport (credencial). This document gives you access to many accommodation addresses for pilgrims, you also need a credencial to claim your certificate (compostela), for which you must have travelled at least 100 kilometres.

The Pilgrim Passport gives the traveller the status of a pilgrim. It contains the walker's personal details, space for stamps and useful information about the route, including maps. You can get the pilgrim passport from one of the many Pilgrim Societies, hotels, churches or in one of the Brotherhoods of the Apostle James.

The passport is full of empty boxes, into which various stamps must be placed to prove that you have travelled through the various places on the route. These stamps can be obtained at hostels, pilgrim associations, parishes and also at the post office in each town. To prove that you have covered the required 100 kilometres for a certificate, you need to collect at least two stamps per day in the passport.

In Santiago, on presentation of your Pilgrim Passport, you can collect your certificate. Your name will be translated into Latin for this purpose, making it a special souvenir.

The options for accommodation along the Camino Francés route are endless. From simple to chic accommodation; everything is possible. This means that you can walk the Camino Francés on almost any budget. Below is an overview of the most common accommodation options.

Albergues

These 'hostels' cater to pilgrims and offer simple accommodation, at a low price. You usually spend the night in dormitories, smaller or private albergues sometimes offer private rooms. Bathrooms almost always have to be shared with other guests, nor is self-catering in an albergue always possible.

Hotels

Along the Camino Francés you will also find hotels, hostals and guesthouses. Here you will mostly (in some hostals and guesthouses not) have a private room with private bathroom. Some hotels and hostals also have their own restaurant to grab a bite to eat in the evening.

Habitaciónes and casas rurales

In these two types of accommodation, you stay in rooms (habitaciónes) of, for example, a large house or a guesthouse. A casa rurales is a holiday home, large or small. Here you can often cook for yourself.

Camping

Another option is to camp along the Camino Francés, although you will need to bring more of your own belongings. Wild camping is not recommended, as there are simply too many pilgrims who would then pitch their tents in places not meant for camping. Moreover, it is illegal to wild camp in Spain if an area is not designated for it.

Viva España! While walking the Camino Francés, there's no need to go hungry and thirsty, after all, you're in Spain. For the hungry pilgrim, there are plenty of options along the way, from a daily snack to local specialities.

When staying in an albergue or hotel, breakfast is often included. So you won't set off on an empty stomach. Along the route you will regularly come across cafés and restaurants where you can have lunch. As there is plenty of choice to eat on the way, most pilgrims choose not to take too much food with them during the day.

In the evening, many restaurants offer a so-called 'menú del peregrino', a pilgrim's menu. This is a two- or three-course menu at a fixed price; many pilgrims take up this opportunity. In some albergues, there is also the option of joining a communal dinner for a fee, or cooking in the communal kitchen.

The places around the Camino Francés are easy to get to, depending on your plan and itinerary, you may take a little longer to get to your starting or departure point. The Camino Francés starts in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, Sarria is the place where Bookatrekking.com starts the journey of over 100 kilometres to Santiago.

Starting in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port

The nearest airport here is Biarritz, from the airport you can take a bus or taxi to Bayonne station. From here you can continue by train to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, and then start the entire Camino Francés.

Starting in Sarria

If you start from Sarria, Santiago airport is the closest. From Santiago, travel to Sarria by bus or train to start your Camino Francés. There are also good train connections to Madrid and Barcelona, you can also fly into one of these airports and travel on to Sarria by train.

Departure from Santiago

From Santiago, you can go in different directions. By plane, train or bus, you can travel home or to another destination. The airport is easily accessible from Santiago city centre and flies to many European destinations.

You can carry your own luggage during the day, but you don't have to. There are several companies that will take your luggage to your next overnight address every day at a small cost. Your bag should weigh a maximum of 15 or 20 kilos and you drop it off at the lobby each morning. While you are enjoying your hiking day, your luggage will be transported to the next location and will be ready when you arrive in the afternoon. Convenient, right?

The Camino Francés is well marked, with yellow arrows and shell symbols to guide pilgrims during the stages.