Camino Frances
A leisurely Pilgrimage in 40 Stages from
Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Santiago de Compostela
Google
Map
This map will only open in
Google-Earth,
which you have to have installed on you hard-disc (free!)
Once
in GE if you also separetely
turn on:
1. Layers>Photos you will find hundreds
of Panoramio photos
2. Layers>More>Place Categories>Lodging
you will find many more Hotel/Hostels
Years ago, when my son Cornelius first met Anne-Cecile, she wanted to go on a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. For her I worked out a first itinerary for such a long hike. This is its fourth version. I am more interested in architecture, history, and people than in the forgiveness of my sins. So it has become a more leisurely trip than the usual 30 odd days. And this does not count “rest-days” here and there, where I would dawdle to explore an interesting place, like Burgos.
Anne-Cecile and Cornelius now have 3 small children. They would like to drive in their camper and would have to modify this itinerary. I am too old to make the journey on foot. Maybe this plan will be of use to others, who happen to open my website....
The route of the Camino I show in GE is based on Google-Earth information and the Panoramio photos along the way. Could someone who actually walked the Camino correct my alignement?
I added accommodtions, wherever I could find them. on Google-Earth, at spain-info, booking.com and in the general internet. DO make reservation ahead of your arrival. Especially the cheap pilgrim hostels (6-9 Euro) are in heavy demand.
Pleae send your comments to:
Rolf
Gross, Pacific Palisades, California, March 2013
Index
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Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, (Pyrénées-Atlantiques), France
Saint-Jean-
Pied-de-Port, photo Panoramio
Accommodations 18 Hotels in and near SJPP
In Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port the French routes join to climb across the Pyrennees to Spain, a steep ascent to the Lepoeder Pass: 1265 m over 24 km. The Camino de Santiago partially follows the old Route Napoleon, with well marked shortcuts on small paths. There is minimal automobile traffic along this way.
Route
Napoleon across the Pyrennees to Roncevalles, photo
So it is fortunate that at half altitude is an albergue.
Orisson (795 m)
1. Day 8 km
Saint Pied de Pont-Orrison + 630 m uphill= app. 3.5 hrs
The
Albergue de Orisson (795m), photo Panoramio
Private Hostel owner: Jean-Jacques Etchandy: 31 Euro half-board, CALL for reservations From France: 05 59 49 13 03, from Spain: 00 33 5 59 49 13 03. Email: refuge.orisson @ wanadoo.fr, Website: www.refuge-orisson.com/
2. Day 21 km Orrison-Roncevalles,
Lepoeder Pass (1430 m)
17 km
from Orrison + 635 m uphill = app. 5 hrs
February
view from Col Lepoeder (1430m) the highest point on the Camino,
photo
Panoramio
Roncevalles, (Navarra), Spain (960
m)
+4 km downhill from the Pass = app. 5.5 hrs from Orrison
The
interior of the Collegiata Santa Maria de Reconvalles, photo
wikimedia
Roncesvalles (Basque: Orreaga, Aragonese: Ronzesbals, French: Roncevaux) is a village and municipality in Navarra, northern Spain. It is situated on the small river Urrobi at an altitude of some 960 metres in the Pyrenees, about 8 kilometres from the French frontier.
Roncesvalles is famous in history and legend for the defeat of Charlemagne and the death of Roland in 778, during the battle of Roncevaux Pass, when Charlemagne's rear guard was destroyed by Basque tribes.
Covers
of an Evangeliar, silver gilded, around
1240, from History
of Navarra
The small collegiate church contains several curious relics associated with Roland. The battle is said to have been fought in the picturesque valley known as Valcarlos, which is now occupied by a hamlet bearing the same name, and in the adjoining pass of Ibañeta (Roncevaux Pass). Both of these are traversed by the main road leading north from Roncesvalles to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, in the French Basque Country.
Since the Middle Ages, this collegiate church has been a favorite
resting place for pilgrims along the Way of St. James after crossing
the French Pyrenees.
All you want to know about Roncevalles
in 5 languages
Accommodations: 4 Hotels, 4 Hostels
Bizkarreta-Gerendiain,
(Navarre),
3. Day 9 km Roncevalles-Bizkarreta
A
welcome alternative from the dormitories of the pilgrim albergues
(30-40 Euro/double):
A “Bavarian Village Hotel”: La Posada Nueva, Calle San Pedro 2, 31695 Biskarreta-Gerendiain Navarra, Spain, Tel +34 948 76 01 73 +34 948 76 41 37, +34 699 13 14 33 (Mobile), internet: laposadanueva.net , There is a second very similar hotel, same price.
Larrasoaña, (Navarra)
4. Day
12 km Bizkarreta-Larrasoaña
Peregrini
on the Puente
de los Bandidos, the
old medieval bridge in Larrasoaña,
photo elcamino
Reports from the internet May 2012:
“There are no shops or
restaurants in Larasoaña but the village bar is open for evening
meals if you order in advance.”
“The municil albergue ($6) in
Larrasoaña was without doubt the worst place I stayed in during my
Camino. There was nowhere open in the town where we could have dinner
or get a meal of any description. The only facilities available were
two vending machines stocked with soft drinks, chocolate bars and
premade sandwiches.”
Accommodations:
1 Hotel
and 1 Hostel
There are private rooms available, or go 1 km further to
Hotel
Akerreta Calle
de la Transfiguración 11, 31698 Akerreta, Navarra, España +34 948
304 572 http://www.hotelakerreta.com/
Pamplona, (Navarra)
5. Day 15
km Larrasoaña-Pamplona
The
Bulls are runing photo 8thingstodo
The main attraction of Pamplona is, of course, the bull runs in July, other attractions pale by cmparison....
For a guide to other atractions in the city see Wikitravel
Accomodations:30 Hotels, 12 Hostels
Obanos, (Navarra)
6. Day 15 km
Pamplona-Obanos
Iglesia
de San Juan Bautista, photo flickr
Albergue
de Peregrinos Obanos. Obanos.
Calle San Lorenzo, 6. 31151.
Obanos. Navarra. Botiquín, Cajero automático, Farmacia, Fridge, Hot
water, Internet, Kitchen privileges, Left items, Shop, Telephone
Open from 01/05 to 01/09 after 13:00 h, Tel.: +34 676560927, Euro
6/person
Estella, (Lizarra)
7.
Day 21 km Obanos-Estella
San
Pedro della Rua, photo Panoramio
Medieval streets lead to an architectural gem. At the top of a great
staircase stands the Cistercian church of San Pedro de la Rúa. The
Romanesque features of its structure and decoration can be seen in
its façade and cloister: semicircular arches, vegetable and
representational decorations.
From spain-info
There are 4 cheap hostels in Estella and 4 hotels
Torres del Rio, (Navarra)
8.
Day 27 km Estella-Torres del Rio
Ermita
del Santo Sepulcro, photo Panoramio
With its octagonal shape, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, built
during the crusades around 1170, is a rare example of Mozarabic art.
Inside the church the ribbing recalls similar examples in Islamic
mosques, which has led to speculation that the monument was built by
Mudejar artisans who would have reached Torres del Río from the
banks of the river Guadalquivir.
In the apse is a Christ from the
13th century, also known as the Holy Christ of the Order of the
Knights of the Sepulchre. Here, too, you will see Moorish influence
in the delicate columns and capitals that reproduce monsters and
centaurs.
From tourismo.navarra
There are a number of accommodations in Torres del Rio
Logroño, (La Rioja)
9. Day 29
km Torres del Rio-Logroño
Interior
of the Cathedral Santa Maria la Redonda, photo Panoramio
Built over an ancient Romanesque temple the building dates from the
12th to the 16th century (Spanish Gothic to Baroque).
It was
bestowed with the title of Collegiate Church when it merged with San
Martin de Albelda Church in 1453. The building has undergone several
modifications in the sixteenth, eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
It was declared a cathedral in 1959. It has three naves and three
polygonal apses. Inside there are several chapels and many tombs. On
the outside, its twin towers, built by Martín de Berriatúa, are
noteworthy.
You'll find a number of accomodations in Logroño
Sotés, (La Rioja)
10. Day 19
km Logroño-Sotés
The
center of Sotés, photo Panoramio
Hotel: Casa Señorio de Moncalvillo, Calle La Iglesia 926371, Sotés (La Rioja), Tel.: +34 941441889/ +34 677081001
Nájera, (La Rioja)
12 km
Sotés-Najera
Najera,
Monasterio
de Santa María de
Real,
photo Panoramio
Santa María la Real is a monastery in the small town of Nájera in
the La Rioja community, Spain. Originally a royal foundation, it was
ceded by Alfonso VI to the Cluniac order. It was an important
pilgrimage stop on the Camino de Santiago. It is particularly well
known for the woodwork in the choir of the church. According to
legend, this beautiful monastery was founded in 1052 by king Don
García Sánchez III, after he found a mysterious image of the Virgin
Mary in a nearby cave. -The monastery church you see today dates from
1516.
Santa
Maria de Real, Najera
Azofra, (La Rioja),
11. Day 17
km Sotés-Azofra
Iglesia
de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles (XVII-XVIII cent). photo Panoramio
.....Azofra, Hotel Real Casona de las Amas
A
charming place for a plush sleep, $129/night exclusive of the
roadster
Hotel
Real Casona de las Amas Calle
Mayor,
5 26323 Azofra, (La Rioja), España +34 941 41 61
03
http://www.realcasonadelasamas.com/,
$
117/ night
Santo Domingo de la Calzada,
(Burgos)
12. Day 18 km Azofra-Santo Domingo de la Calzada
Sundown
at Santo Domingo, photo Panoramio
At the foot of the
Sierra de la Demanda hills and the mountain of Yuso, Santo Domingo
founded this town in 1044 to help the pilgrims who travelled to
Santiago de Compostela in the early Middle Ages.
The original
hermitage became a church dedicated to the saint, and was later
consecrated as a Cathedral. Located in the central Plaza del Santo,
it was begun in 1158 in the Gothic style, although it has elements of
Romanesque origin, such as its main front and apse, and others which
are baroque or Renaissance in style, such as the slim free-standing
tower.
Inside the cathedral, a beautiful main reredos in the
plateresque style and the tomb bearing the Romanesque carving of the
saint stand out.
Affordable hotels in Santo Domingo de la Calzada
Grañon, (Burgos),
Hotel: Casa
Jacobea, Calle Mayor, 32 26259 Grañón, La Rioja, España, +34
941 420 684
Belorado, (Burgos)
13. Day 15
km Santo Domingo-Belorado
Belorado
- a very good Albergue
photo Panoramico
Accommodations; 1 Hotel, 12 Hostels
Villa Franca Montes de Oca,
(Burgos) (alt 966 m)
14. Day 22 km Belorado-Villa Franca Montes de
Oca
Hotel
San Anton Abad, C/ Hospital Nº4. 09257 Villafranca Montes de
Oca, Burgos, España, +34 947 58 21
50
http://www.hotelsanantonabad.com/,
email:hotelsanantonabad@gmail.com,
$83/night
The Hotel San Anton Abad was built in 1377 by Queen Juana Manuel of Castile, wife of King Henry II, for the service of the poor and those who passed through Villafranca Montes de Oca. Today it has been rehabilitated into a 3 star Hotel.
Summit Montes de Oca (alt 1146
m)
6 km from Villa Franca halfway
to San Juan de
Ortega
The
Camino passing the woods of the Montes de Oca, photo Panoramio
San Juan de Ortega, (Burgos) (alt
1000 m)
15. Day 12 km Villa Franca Montes de Oca-San Juan de
Ortega
Monasterio
de San Juan de Ortega, photo Panoramio
John Velazquez, who became religious history as San Juan de Ortega, was born in the village of Quintanaortuño Burgos in 1080. He devoted his life fully to helping the pilgrims with the construction of roads and bridges, but is remembered for his great work in the Montes de Oca with the construction of a church dedicated to St. Nicholas of Bari and a small monastery. El Santo died on 2 June 1163 and his work did not end with his death, but has continued to consolidate a monastic complex with which we find ourselves today.
Hostel: Albergue de Peregrinos Refugio del Monasterio, Junto a la Iglesia, 9199 San Juan de Ortega, Tel.: +34 947560438
Orbaneja de Riopico, (Burgos),
16. Day 12 km San Juan de Ortega-Orbaneja
A
“cheap” albergue on the way to Burgos
Casa
Rural Fortaleza, Calle Principal, 31 09006, Orbaneja de Riopico,
Burgos, Burgos, España, +34 947 22 53
54
http://www.casaruralfortaleza.com/
Selfservice, app. $30/person per night!
Burgos
17. Day, 14 km Orbaneja
de Riopico-Burgos
The
Cathedral
above
the roofs of Burgos. Photo Wikipedia
Burgos was founded in 884 as an outpost of this expanding Christian frontier, when Diego Rodríguez "Porcelos", count of Castile, governed this territory with orders to promote the increase of the Christian population.
In the 11th century, the city became the see of a Catholic bishop and the capital of the Kingdom of Castile. Burgos was a major stop for pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela[6] and a centre of trade between the Bay of Biscay and the south, which attracted an unusually large foreign merchant population, who became part of the city oligarchy and excluded other foreigners. Throughout the 13th and 14th centuries, Burgos became the favourite seat of the kings of León and Castile and their burial site.
The consejo or urban commune of Burgos was firmly in the hands of an oligarchic class of caballeros villanos, the "peasant knights" of Burgos, who provided the monarchs with a mounted contingent. The merchant oligarchy succeeded the cathedral chapter as the major purchasers of land after 1250; they carried on their mercantile business in common with municipal or royal functions and sent their sons to England and Flanders to gain experience in overseas trade.
Burgos is rich in ancient churches and convents. The three most notable are the cathedral, with its chapel of the Condestables de Castilla, the monastery of Las Huelgas, and the Carthusian monastery of Miraflores. Minor notable churches are San Esteban, San Gil (Sancti Aegidii), San Pedro, San Cosme y San Damián, Santiago (Sancti Jacobi), San Lorenzo and San Lesmes (Adelelmi). A long, annotated list of Burgos' sights is found here.
Accomodations in Burgos: 132 Hotels +31 Hostels
Hornillos, (Burgos)
18. Day, 12
km Burgos-Hornillos
Hornillos,
the Plaza, photo Panoramio
Only Accommodation: Albergue de Peregrinos Municipal San Román, Hornillos, Tel.: +34 947411050
Hornillos has a sentimental meaning for me, near here encountered on
their pilgrimage to Santiago Hieronymus Bosch (Jeroen) and Jacob von
Almaengien Juana “la Loca”, the Queen of Spain. - In 1505 Juana
and Philip of Habsburg had been elected King and Queen of the first
united Spanish kingdom of Castile and Aragon. Two months later Philip
I was dead. Some say, poisened by his father in law Ferdinand II of
Aragon. Juana, pregnant with Philip's eighth cihild, went out of her
mind. For months she carried the casket with her dead husband from
monastery to monastery around Burgos, refusing to eat or drink for
fear of being poisened. When her last daughter Catalina was born
Ferdnand had her locked up in Tordesillos: Juana la Loca, the Mad
Joanna. She died fifty years later in1555. Her son German Emperor
Charles V buried her in Granada.
For
a brief Biography
of Juana
Juana
la Loca with the casket of her husband Philip the Fair of Austria and
Flanders near Hornillos,
Painting by Juan Pradillo, Brit. Mus.
London
“Jacob and Jeroen left Burgos before daybreak. Near Hornillos they noticed smoke rising from a fire in the fields. As they drew nearer they came upon a group of peasants gawking at a funeral procession. The tired carriers had set the elaborate coffin on the ground. A young acolyte was mechanically reciting from a prayer book. Next to the coffin the black-veiled widow stood moaning. Suddenly Jacob fell on his knees and with a crazed voice began praying in Hebrew. The acolyte stopped his litany. Jacob continued in French, "God have mercy upon me. I never buried you, my beloved, my savior. I repent all the wrongs I have done you. God's wrath will follow me to my grave." In a flash Jeroen saw Jacob kneeling illuminated by the flames of the burning house of Sibylle's father. He bent over his friend and asked in Flemish. "Who is she?" The woman turned around, removed her veil, and in a hysterically exalted voice exclaimed, "I am Juana the Queen of Castile." Tears streaming down her face she pointed at the coffin and shouted in Flemish, "And this is your Duke whom you called the Fair. My beloved husband poisoned by my own father, the Aragonese animal. God's wrath be upon him!" Jeroen now saw that she was hugely pregnant. He tried to calm Jacob, who was trembling all over. Jacob stared at him from hollow eyes full of dread, "The Basilisk! It is gazing at me. Jeroen, protect me from its deadly glance." Jacob collapsed, and Jeroen put his coat over his head.” - Excerpt from my novel “The Life and Times of Heronymus Bosch”
Hontanas, (Burgos)
19. Day, 10
km Hornillos-Hontanas
Main
street in Hontanas with, photo Panoramio
Boadilla del Camino,
(Palencia)
20. Day,18 km Hontanas-Boadilla
The
mighty church in the tiny hamlet. - But Uli2008 rcommends the Hostal
highly.
Photo Panoramio
Accomodations and other information
Carrión de los Condes,
(Palencia)
21. Day, 25 km Boadilla del Camino - Carrión
Portal
of the Iglesia de Santa María del Camino o Victoria (11th cent),
photo Panoramio
The most characteristic building of Carrión de los Condes is the church of Santiago, famous for its splendid Panthocrator. Also significant are the frieze in the church of Santa María del Camino, embellished by an Adoración de los Magos; and the convent of Santa Clara, founded in the 13th century, with an adjoining church and museum which displays sculpture and ornaments, as well as a Piedad by Gregorio Fernández. On the outskirts of the city, near the medieval bridge, is the monastery of San Zoilo, a former pilgrims' shelter started in the 10th century. Its Renaissance cloister is outstanding, a genuine ornamental and technical wonder which is the work of Juan de Badajoz.
Accommodations in Carrion de los Condes: Hotels, Río Carrión Youth Hostel
Terradillos de los Templarios,
(Palencia)
22. Day, 28 km Carrión de los Condes-Terradillos
The
albergue in Terradillos, photo
Panoramio
Private
Hostel: Albergue de Terradillos de los
Templarios (Jacques de Molay), Tel.: 979 88 36 79, and 657 16 50 11,
Email: yacquesdemolay@hotmail.com
Calzada del Coto, (Leon)
23.
Day, 17 km Terradillos de los Templarios-Calzada del Coto
The
Camino outside of Calzada del Coto, the lonesome
landscape
of León,
photo Panoramio
Accomodation: Hostel
Mansilla de las Mulas, (Leon)
24.
Day 32 km Calzada del Coto-Mansilla de las Mulas
Mansilla
de las Mulas – former Monastery San Martin, photo Panoramio
León
25. Day, 19 km Mansilla
de las Mulas-Leon
Cathedral
Santa Maria de Leon, photo Panoramio
Originally, under the current location of the cathedral, the Roman Legio VII Gemina had built the baths, with a size larger than the current building. During the Christian reconquest the ancient Roman baths were converted into a royal palace. King Ordoño II, who had occupied the throne of Leon in 916, defeated the Arabs in the Battle of San Esteban de Gormaz in 917. As a sign of gratitude to God for victory, he gave up his palace to build the first cathedral. Under the episcopate of Fruminio II, the building was transformed into a sacred place. The tomb of Ordoño II of Leon, who died in 924, is found in the cathedral.
With the help of Princess Teresa Urraca of Navarra, sister of the
king, the construction of a second cathedral, was started in line
with the aspirations of Roman Christianity, and within its
architecture. It fell within the Pelayo II episcopal see. Its style
was essentially Romananesque, built in brick and masonry, with three
naves nsing in semicircular apses, the central one dedicated to the
Virgen Mary, as in the previous church. Although the cathedral was
built according to international trends, a close examination of what
has survived of its original facade, its originally indigenous nature
can be noted. There is still the use of horseshoe arches, at least
decoratively. The cathedral was consecrated on November 10, 1073
during the reign of Alfonso VI. Presumably the same masons who were
building the Basilica of San Isidoro of Leon worked on it.
Wikipedia
Leon,
Cathedral San
Isidoro (11th-12th cent), photo
Google
The Basilica of San Isidoro is located on the site of an ancient Roman temple. Its Christian roots can be traced back to the early 10th century when a monastery for Saint John the Baptist was erected on the grounds.
In 1063 the basilica was rededicated to Saint Isidore of Seville.
Isidore was archbishop of Seville, and the most celebrated academic
and theologian of Visigothic Spain in the period preceding the Arab
invasions. With the agreement of Abbad II al-Mu'tadid, the Muslim
ruler of Seville, Isidore's relics were brought to Leon where they
could be interred on Christian soil. The tomb of the saint still
draws many visitors today. An equestrian statue of Santiago Matamoros
is visible, along with many other sculptures, high on the
facade.
Alfonso's daughter, the infanta Sancha of León, married
Ferdinand, Count of Castile. Sancha's brother, Bermudo III, declared
war against Castile and Castilian troops, with the help of Navarra,
killed the Leonese king, becoming Ferdinand I of León. He and his
queen gave the crucifix that bears their name to San Isidoro. The
church also benefited from its position on the famous pilgrimage
route to Santiago de Compostella. Sculptors, stonemasons and artists
from across Europe gathered to work on the monastery.
Queen Sancha
chose the new monastery as the site of the royal burial chapel. Today
eleven kings, numerous queens and many nobles lie interred beneath
the polychrome vaults of the medieval "royal pantheon". In
1063 the relics of Saint Isidore were transferred to the chapel, and
a community of canons was established to maintain the monastery and
ward the relics. The apse and transept of the building are in the
Gothic style, whilst other parts of the building are Romanesque or of
the Renaissance period.
Wikipedia
A large choice of hotels from the Parador to 1-star pensiones in addition to 4 hostels
Leon,
Parador
de Leon, once you must try the ultimate Spanish
accomodation
Convent
of San Marcos, Plaza de San Marcos, 7 24001 León, España, +34 987
23 73 00, $170/night
http://www.parador.es/es/parador-de-leon
Villar de Mazarife, (Leon)
26.
Day, 21 km Leon-Villar de Mazarife
Iglesia
de Villar de Mazarife with three stork nests, photo Panoramio
I have not found a hotel or hostel - but there is a bus to Obrigo or to Astorga!. ....
Hospital de Órbigo, (Leon)
27.
Day, 13 km Villar de Mazarife-Hospital de Órbigo
Bridge
and Church in Obrigo, photo Panoramio
Recommended
hostal: La
Encomienda, Calle Álvarez Vega, 30 24286 Hospital de Órbigo,
León, España, +34 987 38 82 11
http://www.laencomienda.net/
Other Accommodations: Hotels, 7 Hostels
Astorga, (Leon) (860 m
altitude)
28. Day, 18 km Hospital de Órbigo-Astorga
Astorga predates the Kingdom of León by 875 years. Astorga lies in
the area of the Maragatos, a small ethnic and cultural community with
distinctive customs and architecture.
A concise history of the
town is found in Wikipedia
Astorga,
Palaciao Episcopal by Antoni Gaudi.
The curiosity in Asorga is Gaudi's Episcopal Palace. Built between 1889 and 1913 in the Catalan Modernisme style, it is one of only three buildings by Gaudi outside Catalonia, photo and more: Wikipedia
Accommodations: Hotels, 13 Hostels
Foncebadón, (Leon)
(
1433 m altitude)
29
Day, 25 km
Astorga-Foncebadon
Albergue
Monte Irago in Foncebadón, where Johanna Lattmann stayed
in
2012, photo Panoramio
Accommodations: 1 Hotel, 1 Hostel
Ponferrada, (Leon) (520 m
altitude)
30. Day, 25 km Foncebadon-Ponferrada
Ponferrata
Calle de Reloj, photo Panoramio
The first records of Ponferrada are as a former citadel in Roman
times. From the 11th century, the rise in pilgrimages to Santiago de
Compostela spurred the appearance of the hamlet of Pons Ferrata,
located on the Pilgrim's Route it is named in this way because of the
building of a bridge reinforced with iron.
In 1178, the King
Fernando II of León placed this flourishing settlement under the
custody of the Order of the Temple. The Knights Templar used the site
of a primitive Roman fortress to build a castle in which they settled
and which, at the same time, protected the passing pilgrims. This
favoured demographic growth and led to the commercial development of
the area.
Accommodations: 17 Hotels, and 1 Hostel
Villafranca del Bierzo, (Leon)
31.
Day, 25 km Ponferrada-Villafranca del Bierzo
Villa
Franca del Bierzo, photo Panoramio
Accomodations: 10 Hotels, 3 Hostels
La Faba,
(Leon)
32. Day, 23 km Villafranca del Bierzo-La Faba
El
Camino in La Faba, photo Panoramio
The name of the town comes from 'Fabada' (Asturian bean stew). Here is the recipe!
Triacastela (Leon)
33. Day 26
km La Faba-Triacastello
Idyllic
house by the Río Santalla, photo Panoramio
I did not find any Hotels/Hostels, maybe this will be alright
Fernández Restaurante, Plaza de la Iglesia, 27632 Triacastela Lugo, Spain, Tel: +34 982 54 80 24 with a Guest House
Sarria(Leon)
34. Day, 22 km
Triacastello-Sarria
Convento
de la Magdalena - Sarria,
photo Panoramio
Recommended: Albergue de Don Álvaro. Calle de Maior, 10 27600 Sarria Lugo, Spain, Tel +34 686 46 88 03, Hostel
Portomarin, (Lugo)
35. Day,
22km Sarria-Portomarin
Portomarin,
Iglesia de San Nicolas (12-13th cent), photo Panoramio
When the reservoir of Belesar, on the river Miño, flooded the old
village of Portomarín, its main historic buildings were rescued
stone by stone. They are the Romanesque church of San Pedro and the
monumental church fortress of San Nicolás.
Some of the old
medieval palaces were also placed in the main square of the new town
of Portomarín, located on top of a hill. The medieval bridge stayed
underwater and all that remains is the base and one of its arches at
the entrance to the new bridge
Recommended:
Albergue
de Peregrinos Ferramenteiro, Avenida Chantada, 3 27170
Portomarín, Lugo, España, +34 982 54 53
62
http://www.albergueferramenteiro.com/
Palas de Rei, (Galicia)
36.
Day, 25 km
Portomarin-Palas del Rei
Two
pilgrims argueing the best Way, photo Panoramio
According to tradition, the city owes its name "Pallatium regis" to the palace of the Visigothic king Witiza, who reigned between 702 and 710. In Palas, Witiza is supposed to have killed the Duke of Galicia, Favila, father of Don Pelayo.
There are several cheap hostales in town and this hotel:
Hotel
Casa Benilde, Calle del Mercado, s/n 27200
Palas de Rei, Lugo, España, +34 982 38 07 17
http://www.hotelcasabenilde.com/
Mélide A Coruña, (Galicia)
37.
Day, 14 km Palas del Rei-Mélide
Melide is a municipality in the autonomous region of A Coruña of Galicia in northwest Spain. It belongs to the comarca of Tierra de Mellid. During the last few centuries, like many villages in inner Galicia, it has suffered from a vast emigration of its people to Cuba and Argentina.
Galicia,
October fog towards the end of the Camino, photo Panoramio
Accomodations: 3 Hotels, 2 Hostels
Arzúa (Galicia)
38. Day, 15 km
Mélide-Arzúa
The
closer one gets to Santiago the longer get the lines before the
Hostals
Arzúa, photo Panoramio
Accommodations: 16 Hotels
Pedrouzo (Galicia)
39. Day, 16
km Arzúa- Pedrouzo
The
crowd at
the last albergue before Compostela, photo Panoramio
Accomodations; 16 Hotels
Santiago de Compostela
(Galicia)
40. Day, 20 km Pedruzo-Compostela
Cathedral
of Santiago, the sacred destination of the most famous pilgrim route
in the European Middle Ages.
The history of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.
According
to legend, the Apostle Saint James (Span.: San Diego, Germ.: Sankt
Jakob, French: Saint Jaques) brought Christianity to the Celts in the
Iberian Peninsula. In 44 AD he was beheaded in Jerusalem. His remains
were later brought back to Galicia, Spain. Following Roman
persecutions of Spanish Christians, his tomb was abandoned in the 3rd
century. Still according to legend, this tomb was rediscovered in 814
AD by the hermit Pelagius.
Bishop Theodomirus of Iria recognized
this as a miracle and persuaded king Alfonso II of Asturias and
Galicia (791-842) to build a chapel on the site. This was followed by
a first church in 829 AD and again in 899 AD by a pre-Romanesque
church, causing the gradual development of a major place of
pilgrimage. In 997 this early church was reduced to ashes by
Al-Mansur Ibn Abi Aamir (938-1002), army commander of the caliph of
Córdoba.
Construction of the present cathedral began in 1075
under the reign of Alfonso VI of Castile (1040–1109) and the
patronage of bishop Diego Peláez. It was built according to the same
plan as the monastic church of Saint
Sernin in Toulouse. Construction was interrupted several times
and, according to the Liber Sancti Iacobi, the last stone was laid in
1122. It was consecrated in 1128 in the presence of king Alfonso IX
of Leon. The cathedral was expanded and embellished with additions in
the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries.
Text and photo Wikipedia
Accomodations: 94 Hotels, + 2 Hostels