The history of the Camino de Santiago
The history of the Camino de Santiago dates back to around 813, eight years after the death of St. James. It is in this year when, according to legend, a hermit named Pelayo saw some lights in the forest. This is what the people told the bishop Teodomiro, who went into the forest and found the mausoleum and identified as the tomb of St. James.
Alfonso II, King of Asturias, traveled with the court to that place, thus becoming the first pilgrim in history. The news spread rapidly in Santiago and so began the history of the Camino de Santiago.
The number of pilgrims increased remarkably from the tenth century, when the European population began a series of contacts and exchanges in the religious field. That way the pilgrimage became the most widespread form of devotion.
Throughout the centuries have been creating in Spain numerous pilgrimage routes. The best known is the one that passes through Astorga, and is known as el Camino Francés.
The Camino Francés
Of all the routes that form the Camino de Santiago, the most famous is the Camino Francés, which passes through Astorga where is Casa de Tepa. This is the most used route since the Middle Ages, and during almost every month of the year we can find pilgrims in it.
The Camino Francés, which is commonly known as Camino de Santiago, comes from Somport and Roncesvalle. Is a 750 km route linking northern Europe with Spain and reaches Santiago de Compostela. This way was born a few years after the appearance of the body of the Apostle and became the tenth century on the basis of the consolidation of the rule of Alfonso VI and Alfonso VII, which allowed the normalization of worship.
Thanks to this great trade route were founded and grew cities like Jaca, Pamplona, Logroño, Burgos, Carrión de los Condes, Leon or Astorga, the city of Casa de Tepa. And above all is the great spiritual journey that brought millions of pilgrims during the Middle Ages.
- Choose the season: the best are spring and autumn, as it’s not so hot and there are fewer pilgrims than in July and August, pretty crowded.
- Try to plan the stage every night and everything you’ll need (food, water …). That way, early in the morning you will can start the stage without making unnecessary stops.
- Always carry a small amount of nuts, raisins, figs and chocolate to replenish energy at any time.
- Wear shoes and comfortable and breathable clothing. To prevent sores in your feets, use Vaseline for massaging before putting on socks. It is not advisable to shower immediately before starting to walk because hot water can promote the development of sores.
- Try carrying just the necessary luggage not including spare clothes that you don’t need.That waythe backpack will be more agile and the stages will be more bearable. If you put your sleeping bag at the bottom of the backpack cushion the weight.
- Is recommended to use an anatomical backpack.
Saint Jean Pied de Port-Roncesvalles
Roncesvalles -Larrasoaña
Larrasoaña-Cizur Menor
Cizur Menor-Puente la Reina
Puente la Reina-Estella
Estella-Los Arcos 7.- Los Arcos-Viana
Viana-Navarrete
Navarrete-Nájera
Nájera-Santo Domingo de la Calzada
Sto Domingo de la Calzada-Belorado
Belorado-San Juan de Ortega
San Juan de Ortega-Burgos
Burgos-Hornillos del Camino
Hornillos del Camino-Castrojeriz
Castrojeriz-Frómista
Frómista-Carrión de los Condes
Carrión de los Condes-Lédigos
Lédigos-Sahagún
Sahagún-El Burgo Ranero
El Burgo Ranero-Mansilla de las Mulas
Mansilla de las Mulas-León
León-Villadangos del Páramo
Villadangos del Páramo-Astorga
Astorga-Rabanal del Camino
Rabanal del Camino -Molinaseca
Molinaseca-Villafranca del Bierzo
Villafranca del Bierzo-O Cebreiro
O Cebreiro-Triacastela
Triacastela-Sarria
Sarria -Portomarin
Portomarin-Palas de Rei
Palas de Rei-Arzúa
Arzúa-Santiago de Compostela