Is the Camino de Santiago hard to climb?
Similar to the day before, there are no long climbs or descents; but the path is undulating and you do end up with a moderate amount of elevation gain and loss. In the grand scheme of the camino, it's an easily tackled day.
Where do you start the Camino de Santiago?
Routes. By far the most common starting point on the Camino Francés is Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, on the French side of the Pyrenees, with Roncesvalles on the Spanish side also being popular. The distance from Roncesvalles to Santiago de Compostella through León is about 800 km (500 mi).
How was the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela possible?
The pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela was possible because of the protection and freedom provided by the Kingdom of France, where the majority of pilgrims originated.
Where to stay on the Camino de Santiago de Santiago?
A lot of elevation gain, loss and distance. Some people will prefer to split this stage into two and stay at the charming town of O'Cebreiro. O'Cebreiro is a medieval looking town, with round thatched roof buildings and the "oldest" church on the camino.
What is the elevation gain on the Camino de Santiago?
Camino Walking Profile: 29 km,(but turned out to be 31 km), 493 m of elevation gain.
How steep is the Camino?
ASTORGA to rabanal del Camino Today has a steady climb. It's not very steep and the short distance allows you to make short work of it. In general, days of around 20 km can be done before lunch, if one is so inclined.
How high are the Pyrenees on the Camino?
The walk across the Pyrenees to Roncesvalles (the first town in Spain on the Way) is long and quite challenging, with over 1200 meters elevation gain and another 500 m descent, so for most of our clients we break it up into 2 stages.
How hilly is Camino de Santiago?
The types of terrain on the 240 km Camino Portuguese Coastal are a contrast to those found on other routes. The route as it leaves Porto is nearly flat with only occasional small hills. The walk along the coast is a mix of paved footpaths through towns, forest tracks, and cobbled country roads.
How strenuous is Camino de Santiago?
It's relatively short, 321 km but it's considered to be one of the toughest routes due to many steep ascents and descents. The Camino Primitivo starts in Oviedo, Spain. Via de la Plata (the Silver Way) – the longest established route of St. James, about 1000 km, one of the least walked routes, 3%.
How fit do you need to be to walk the Camino de Santiago?
Build up from short walks 2-3 times a week of approximately 3-5km, to longer walks of approximately 5-10km. Work gradually towards testing yourself in the final week on at least one walk which is similar to the average daily distance of your Camino itinerary.
What is the highest elevation on the Camino Frances?
The Scenery The highest peak in the range - Teleno at 2183m can be seen almost all of the way from Astorga, on your left hand side. The landscape can be barren at times, but this kind of wilderness is also exciting.
How high is the Cruz de Ferro?
1,490 metersAlong the Camino the pilgrim will find many mounds of stones known as “humilladeros”, true symbols of the Camino among which the Cruz de Ferro is the most famous. Located at an approximate height of 1,490 meters, between Foncebadón and Manjarín, not far from the traditional beginning of the stage of Rabanal del Camino.
Does the Camino go through the Pyrenees?
Across the Pyrenees, into Spain Traditionally, the Camino Frances begins in the border town of Saint Jean Pied de Port, at the foot of the Pyrenees. It is here, 774 kilometres from Santiago de Compostela, that the pilgrimage routes through France converged for the crossing of the mountains into Spain.
How far do you walk each day on the Camino?
12 milesDiscover the unique and unforgettable experience of walking an ancient pilgrim route, the Unesco World Heritage Way of Saint James,'Camino de Santiago'. Average daily distance / climb:12 miles (20 km) / 976 ft (298 m).
Which Camino route is the most beautiful?
Camino del Norte. The Northern Way is arguably the most scenic, running along the Bay of Biscay coast from foodie San Sebastián, via Bilbao and Santander and an array of beautiful beaches, to Oviedo; from here you can join the Camino Primitivo to reach Santiago.
How many hours a day do you walk on the Camino de Santiago?
Overall expect to spend 6 – 7 hours on the Camino a day including breaks. Of course, there are people who can walk much faster than 5 km per hour as well as those who walk slower (especially considering that you walk with a backpack).
What is the most scenic part of the Camino Frances?
Camino de Santiago. The section of the Camino de Santiago either side of the Iron Cross is probably the most scenic and most interesting on the entire route of the Camino Frances. The towns of Astorga and Ponferrada are certainly worth a visit. Astorga is known for its Episcopal Palace, designed by Antoni Gaudi, as well as a vast gothic cathedral.
Why was the cross erected on the Camino Frances?
Among the more practical reasons, it has been claimed that the cross was erected to guide pilgrims on the Camino Frances - particularly in the winter months when the route can be obscured by snow.
How high is the Iron Cross?
The cross is situated around 3km after the village of Foncebadon, on the stage of the Camino between the towns of Astorga and Ponferrada. It is nearly 1,500m above sea level ...
Is the Cruz de Hierro challenging?
Unlike Pico de Veleta, Angliru or Col du Tourmalet, the climb up to the Cruz de Hierro (Iron Cross) is not particularly challenging. However, it is symbolically important as the highest point on the Camino Frances route of the Camino de Santiago.
What is the Camino de Santiago?
James, is a network of pilgrims' ways or pilgrimages leading to the shrine of the apostle Saint James the Great in the cathedral ...
How many pilgrims are there on the Camino de Santiago?
Since 2013, the Camino de Santiago has attracted more than 200,000 pilgrims each year, with a growth rate of more than 10 percent per year.
How far is Santiago de Compostela from Roncesvalles?
The distance from Roncesvalles to Santiago de Compostela through León is about 800 km (500 mi). The Camino Primitivo, or Original Way, is the oldest route to Santiago de Compostela, first taken in the 9th century and which begins in Oviedo.
What is the most important pilgrimage route in the Middle Ages?
The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. The Way of St. James was one of the most important Christian pilgrimages during the later Middle Ages, and a pilgrimage route on which a plenary indulgence could be earned; other major pilgrimage routes include the Via Francigena to Rome and the pilgrimage to Jerusalem .
Overview
The Camino de Santiago (Latin: Peregrinatio Compostellana, "Pilgrimage of Compostela"; Galician: O Camiño de Santiago), known in English as the Way of St James, is a network of pilgrims' ways or pilgrimages leading to the shrine of the apostle Saint James the Great in the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain, where tradition holds that the remains of the ap…
Major Christian pilgrimage route
The Way of St James was one of the most important Christian pilgrimages during the later Middle Ages, and a pilgrimage route on which a plenary indulgence could be earned; other major pilgrimage routes include the Via Francigena to Rome and the pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
Legend holds that St James's remains were carried by boat from Jerusalem to …
History
The main pilgrimage route to Santiago follows an earlier Roman trade route, which continues to the Atlantic coast of Galicia, ending at Cape Finisterre. Although it is known today that Cape Finisterre, Spain's westernmost point, is not the westernmost point of Europe (Dingle, County Kerry in Ireland is further west), the fact that the Romans called it Finisterrae (literally the end of the wor…
Modern-day pilgrimage
Although it is commonly believed that the pilgrimage to Santiago has continued without interruption since the Middle Ages, few modern pilgrimages antedate the 1957 publication of Irish Hispanist and traveler Walter Starkie's The Road to Santiago. The revival of the pilgrimage was supported by the Spanish government of Francisco Franco, much inclined to promote Spain's Catholic hi…
Selected literature
(Alphabetical by author's surname)
• Boers, Arthur Paul (2007). The Way Is Made by Walking: A Pilgrimage Along the Camino de Santiago. InterVarsity Press. ISBN 978-0-8308-3507-2.
• Brown, Kim (2013). Spiritual Lessons along the Camino. Imprimatur by Cardinal DiNardo. ISBN 978-0615816661.
See also
• Camino de Santiago (route descriptions)
• Codex Calixtinus
• Confraternity of Saint James
• Cross of Saint James
External links
• "The Art of medieval Spain, A.D. 500–1200, an exhibition catalog". The Metropolitan Museum of Art Libraries. pp. 175–183. (fully available online as PDF), which contains material on Way of St. James