About the Camino
The Camino de Santiago is a network of ancient pilgrimage routes across Europe, ending in the city of Santiago de Compostella in Galicia, Spain, where the Apostle Saint James (Santiago) is entombed.
For over a thousand years, pilgrims have walked to this shrine to pray before the relics of the great saint.
The most popular route through Spain runs about 800 km or 500 miles across the north central regions of the country. It begins in the French Pyrenees in the village of Saint Jean Pied-de-Port and runs through the ancient kingdoms of Navarra, Castilla, León, and Galicia. Since this was a popular route for French pilgrims during the Medieval era, it is known as the Camino Francés. It’s in red on the map below.
We have walked the Francés or portions of it three times (2013, 2016, 2018).
In 2022, we walked the Camino Primitivo (in grey on the map). This is the original Camino route (more or less), and it was established by King Alfonso II of Asturias in the year 814. It begins in the capital city of the former Kingdom (now Principality) of Asturias. It goes through two of Spain’s regions, Asturias and Galicia. Along the way, it crosses the Cantabrian Mountains.
There are many, many other routes, including an entire network of paths across Europe to get to Spain.
In 2023, Thom will walk the Via Podiensis to the Camino Francés to Santiago, and Francine will walk the Caminho Português.
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