THE PILGRIMS’ ROAD TO SANTIAGO

The classic path to Santiago (St. James) of Compostella, also called “the French route” (because it was the pilgrimage route followed by the french and european pilgrims from the Middle Ages) enters in Spain through the Pyrenees crossing either the Roncesvalles pass (Navarra) or the Canfranc Pass (Huesca), and follows to Santiago through some historical and beautiful cities as Pamplona, Logroño, Burgos, León, Astorga, Villafranca del Bierzo, and Sarriá along 850 km (see map below). It is a well documented way (there is plenty of books about it) and well signed by yellow arrows.

Due to its special atmosphere created by thousands of pilgrims coming from all the countries, and its easiness to cycle it (you do not need to be very fit to do it) has become one of the most popular (and sometimes crowded, specially in August) cycling tourist routes in Europe. You can do this route at any season (except in winter because can be very cold in the Spain’s inland) and you do not need to carry your tent because there is plenty of cheap young hostels along it.

My friend Juan Carlos and me made this route in July 1997 in 12 days. Believe me, you will never regret to cycle this road!.

Eunate (Navarra), near Puente la Reina.

Cycling in Navarra

Fields from Rioja

Nice Castilian building

Near Santo Domingo de la Calzada (La Rioja)

¡Wide is Castilla! (Spanish saying)

Near Castrojeriz (Burgos)

In Lugo's fields

!Only 100 km to Santiago!

Province of Lugo

The target of every pilgrim: Santiago de Compostela

Itinerary of the "classic or french" Camino de Santiago