French Way
Native name
Spanish: Camino Francés
The four branches of the Way of St. James
TypePilgrims' way
LocationFrom Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Santiago de Compostella
TypeCultural
Criteriaii, iv, vi
Designated1993 (17th session)
Part ofRoutes of Santiago de Compostela: Camino Francés and Routes of Northern Spain
Reference no.669bis-003
RegionEurope and North America

The French Way (Galician: Camiño francés, Spanish: Camino francés, Basque: Frantses bidea, literally the "way of the Franks") follows the GR 65 and is the most popular of the routes of the Way of St. James (Spanish: Camino de Santiago), the ancient pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain. It runs from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port on the French side of the Pyrenees to Roncesvalles on the Spanish side and then another 780 km on to Santiago de Compostela through the major cities of Pamplona, Logroño, Burgos and León. A typical walk on the Camino francés takes at least four weeks, allowing for one or two rest days on the way. Some travel the Camino on bicycle or on horseback.

Paths from the cities of Tours, Vézelay, and Le Puy-en-Velay meet at Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. A fourth French route originates in Arles, in Provence, and crosses the French–Spanish frontier at a different point, between the Pyrenees towns of Somport and Canfranc. This fourth route follows the Aragonese Way and joins the French Way at Puente la Reina, south of Pamplona, in Navarre, about 700 kilometres from Santiago de Compostela.

In 2017 roughly 60% of pilgrims traveled to Santiago de Compostela via the French Way according to statistics gathered by the Pilgrim's Office in Santiago.[1] In 1993, the French Way, along with the Spanish route of the Camino de Santiago was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List for its historical importance in Christianity as a major pilgrimage route and its testimony to the exchange of ideas and cultures across its length. [2]

Example itinerary

Though there is no set itinerary for this route, daily stages from major town to major town could be walked as follows:

#km from St-Jeankm to SantiagoDistanceBeginsArrivesPasses throughNotes
1076925Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (Donibane Garazi), FranceOrreaga/Roncesvalles, SpainLuzaide/ValcarlosCrosses the border of France and Spain in the western Pyrenees.
22574421.5Orreaga/RoncesvallesZubiriAuritz/Burguete, Aurizberri/Espinal, Bizkarreta-Gerendiain, Lintzoain 
346.5722.522ZubiriPamplona/IruñaLarrasoaña, Villava/Atarrabia 
468.5700.523.5Pamplona/IruñaPuente la Reina/GaresCizur/Zizur, Uterga, ObanosJoined by the Aragonese Way just before Puente la Reina.
59267722Puente la Reina/GaresEstella-LizarraCirauqui/Zirauki, Villatuerta 
611465522Estella-LizarraLos ArcosVillamayor de Monjardín 
713663328Los ArcosLogroñoTorres del Río, Sansol, VianaLeaving the province of Navarre, entering La Rioja
816460529LogroñoNájeraNavarrete, Ventosa 
919357621NájeraSanto Domingo de la CalzadaAzofra 
1021455523Santo Domingo de la CalzadaBeloradoGrañón, Redecilla del CaminoLeaving La Rioja, entering the Province of Burgos, Castille and León
1123753224BeloradoSan Juan de OrtegaTosantos, Villafranca Montes de Oca 
1226150828San Juan de OrtegaBurgosAgés, Atapuerca, Olmos de Atapuerca 
1328948040BurgosCastrojerizVillalbilla de Burgos, Tardajos, Rabé de las Calzadas, Hornillos del Camino, San Bol, Hontanas 
1432944023CastrojerizFrómistaItero del Castillo, Puente de Fitero, Itero de la Vega, Boadilla del CaminoLeaving the province of Burgos, entering Palencia
1535241719FrómistaCarrión de los CondesPoblación de Campos, Villacázar de Sirga 
1637139839Carrión de los CondesSahagúnCalzadilla de la Cueza, Ledigos, Terradillo del los Templarios, San Nicolás del Real Camino 
1741035919.5SahagúnEl Burgo RaneroCalzada del Coto, Bercianos del Real Camino 
18429.5339.538El Burgo RaneroLeónReliegos, Mansilla de las Mulas 
19467.5301.524LeónVilladangos del Páramo  
20491.5277.528Villadangos del PáramoAstorgaSan Martín del Camino, Hospital de Órbigo, Santibáñez de Valdeiglesias 
21519.5249.520AstorgaRabanal del CaminoMurias de Rechivaldo, Santa Catalina de Somoza, El Ganso 
22539.5229.532.5Rabanal del CaminoPonferradaManjarin, El Acebo, Riego de Ambros, MolinasecaHighest point of trail, 1515 metres above sea level, near Manjarin.
2357219723PonferradaVillafranca del BierzoCacabelos 
2459517430Villafranca del BierzoO CebreiroPereje, Trabadelo, La Portela de Valcarce, Vega de Valcarce, Ruitelan, La FabaCrosses from León into Galicia.
2562514436.5O CebreiroSarriaHospital de la Condesa, Fonfría, Triacastela, Samos, Calvor 
26661.5107.521SarriaPortomarínBarbadelo, FereirosThe last point at which a pilgrim can start the journey on foot or horseback and still complete the 100 km needed to claim the compostela.
27682.586.524.5PortomarínPalas de ReiGonzar, Ventas de Naró, Ligonde 
287076225.5Palas de ReiArzúaCasanova, Leboreiro, Melide, Ribadiso da Baixo 
29732.536.536.5ArzúaSantiago de CompostelaSanta Irene, Arca do Pino, Monte do Gozo 

Films

References

  1. "Statistics". Oficinadelperegrino.com. Retrieved 2020-03-14.
  2. "Routes of Santiago de Compostela: Camino Francés and Routes of Northern Spain". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. Retrieved 4 November 2021.

43°09′44″N 1°14′14″W / 43.16222°N 1.23722°W / 43.16222; -1.23722

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