The World Heritage City Santiago de Compostela, the capital of the autonomous community of Galicia in northwestern Spain has been the most important European pilgrimage destination after Rome since the 10th century. Camino Francés (the French Way) together with its four branches in France have formed the most popular networks of pilgrimage to the shrine of St. James in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.
Trekking Different Routes of Santiago de Compostela
The relics of St. James the Great were declared to be found in Galicia, at Santiago de Compostela under the reign of King Alfonso II of Asturias in the 9th century. The first pilgrims started walking to Santiago de Compostela in the 10th century along the Cantabrian coast, a route known as El Camino del Norte or Ruta de la Costa (the Northern Way) and El Camino Primitivo when the area was still in the hands of the Moors.
Camino Francés (the French Way) was developed with the support of kings Sancho the Great of Navarre and Alfonso VI of Leon when their kingdoms of Navarre, Castile and Leon were liberated from 300 years of Islamic rule. The pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela soon became an important link with the rest of Europe for movement of people, exchange of goods and flow of ideologies when Christian faith was being reinstalled in Iberia.
Santiago de Compostela as the Holy City
The popularity of Camino Francés grew quickly to replace El Camino del Norte and El Camino Primitivo. Walking the French Way is easier because of its flatness and not so rainy weather along the route. The importance of the pilgrimage route went hand in hand with Santiago de Compostela becoming a holy city and a pilgrimage site next to Rome in the Medieval Period. Pope Calixtus was pivotal in the early developments of such sacred status.
Pope Calixtus first granted the singular privilege of a plenary indulgence around 1122 to Compostela. Whenever the feast day of St. James (25th July) falls on a Sunday, the cathedral declares a Holy or Jubilee Year. All visitors to the shrine of the apostle in the Holy Year are able to obtain the grace of the Jubilee by saying prayers, attending Holy Mass, receiving the sacraments of penance and communion.
Commissioned by Pope Calixtus around 1139, Aymeric Picaud, a French monk, traced and detailed all the branches of the pilgrimage, known as Les Chemins de Saint Jacques de Compostelle in France, in the Codex Calixtinus. Included in the fifth book of the Codex is the "Pilgrim Guide to Santiago de Compostela" which has been considered the first travel guide ever written.
Four Branches of Les Chemins de Saint Jacques de Compostelle in France
Les Chemins de Saint Jacques de Compostelle has four main branches in France with La Via de Le Puy being the most important one. All these routes meet at Ostabat-Asme of the Basque country in southern Aquitaine and follow the path towards Puente la Reina in the autonomous community of Navarra, in northern Spain. The Spanish portion of the French Way goes westwards from Puente la Reina to the holy city.
La Via de Le Puy (Le Puy Way)
Being inaugurated in 951 by Godelsac, bishop of the town, the route is an extension of the Oberstrasse, a path from central Europe used by pilgrims from Poland, Hungary, Germany, Switzerland and Austria. With a length of 1530 km, or 65 days of walking from Santiago de Compostela, the route starts from Le Puy-en-Velay in Auvergne. It passes through important places of pilgrimage shrines like Conques, Moissac, Rocamadour and Roncesvalles. The path merges with Via Lemovicensis and Via Podense in Ostabat-Asme.
La Via de Tours (the Tours Way)
Walking the 1448 km route takes 62 days to reach Santiago de Compostela. It starts with Tour Saint-Jacques in Paris. This pathway is distinguished by its fairly level terrain which is ideal for a bicycle ride. The route passes through Chartres and Orléans before going into the Loire Valley near Tours. Going southwest to Poitou and the Saintonge to Bordeaux, it passes through les Landes to join the routes from Le Puy and Vézelay just beyond Saint-Palais which is about 11 km from Ostabat-Asme. It was frequented by pilgrims from France, Northern Europe and the British Isles.
La Via de Vezelay (the Vezelay Way)
The 1691 km route takes 72 days of walking to Santiago de Compostela. It starts from the Basilica of Vézelay in Burgundy and passes through many sanctuaries, including those of Sainte-Madeleine in Vézelay, Saint-Martial de Limoges and Saint Leonard de Noblat. This route joins Via Podense and Via Podensis near Ostabat-Asme. It was much frequented by pilgrims from the Scandinavia, Germany, Holland, Belgium and Eastern France.
La Via de Arles (the Arles Way)
This route starts at Arles in Provence, 1588 km or 68 days of walking from Santiago de Compostela. Trekkers spend a few days on Via Domitia, an old Roman road in Camargue before reaching Montpellier. The walk passes through the Romanesque Saint-Gilles-du-Gard, the rugged hills of the Haut Languedoc, Castres and the Canal du Midi to enter Toulouse. Hikers cross a number of spurs of the Pyrenees, the valley of Aspe and the Col du Somport before reaching Ostabat-Asme. It was once frequented by pilgrims from Bavaria, Hungary and Italy, especially 'Romieux’ from Rome.
Other Holiday Ideas in France
A Loire Valley Holiday to the Royal Abbey of Fontevraud
Off the Beaten Path of a Loire Valley Holiday: Montreuil-Bellay
A France Travel Guide to the Historic Sites of the Medieval Times
The Most Beautiful Holiday Villages in France
A Touristic and Scenic Train Travel in France
Valeria Teo - Valeria Teo is a writer and an independent traveler. Her passion for travel has taken her to nearly 30 countries since 1992. Besides being ...
Join the Conversation