The oldest pilgrimage route in Europe<\/h2>\n
The pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago is a multi-day journey that combines elements of a long-distance hike with a spiritual and personal quest. As a Multi-Day Hike \u2014 the name given to treks lasting two or more days without the need for camping \u2014 pilgrims face various challenges, from diverse terrain to unpredictable weather conditions.<\/p>\n
In 2023, more than 446,000 people from all over the world completed the Camino de Santiago: 404,000 pilgrims on foot and over 22,000 by bicycle. Brazilians ranked 13th among the nationalities that departed for Santiago de Compostela.<\/strong><\/p>\n With origins dating back to the 9th century, the Camino de Santiago gained popularity due to the belief that the relics of the Apostle James are buried in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. Over the centuries, millions of pilgrims of all nationalities and backgrounds have walked its paths.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the past, the pilgrimage had a character of self-punishment. In the Middle Ages, when someone was sentenced, they had to complete the Camino de Santiago. If they returned alive, they were set free,\u201d says Ana Wanke, founder of Ana Wanke Turismo e Aventura, who has been offering guided trips and consulting for pilgrims since 2005.<\/p>\n Much has changed since then, and walking the paths to Santiago de Compostela now offers pilgrims a rich cultural immersion. \u201cWe see a lot of evolution in architectural styles along the pilgrimage. Most churches from the peak period of the Camino are inspired by Roman temples and were used for mass, to shelter pilgrims, and as hospitals \u2014 since many got sick and died along the way. That\u2019s why we also see many cemeteries,\u201d Ana explains.<\/p>\n There are many pilgrimage routes leading to Santiago de Compostela, departing from Portugal, Spain, and France. The most traveled since ancient times, the French Way begins in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, in the French Pyrenees \u2014 the natural border between France and Spain. From there to Santiago de Compostela it\u2019s about 800 km, with varied terrain and landscapes, usually completed in 30 to 35 days on foot.<\/p>\n Along the way, pilgrims pass through cities like Pamplona, Burgos, and Leon, crossing highways, cobbled streets, dirt roads, and steep climbs and descents. Churches, monasteries, architecture, quaint villages, and the variety of landscapes along the French Way enrich the cultural experience and renew the spirituality of thousands of pilgrims with each step.<\/p>\n <!–more\u2192<\/p>\n O Cebreiro \u2014 a stone-built Spanish village with Celtic characteristics \u2014 is the symbol of the Camino de Santiago revival, inspired by Father El\u00edas Vali\u00f1a, who is buried there and was the creator of the iconic yellow arrows painted starting in the 1980s on posts, walls, stones, sidewalks, and other places along the route to guide pilgrims. \u201cIn 1982, the Pope visited Santiago de Compostela for the first time. After that, Paulo Coelho wrote The Pilgrimage, a novel that popularized the Camino de Santiago. That\u2019s why O Cebreiro is so emblematic for me,\u201d Ana says. Burgos is a city rich in Gothic art, with its main highlight being the Holy Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of Saint Mary, known as the Cathedral of Burgos. Lit by the light filtering through its beautiful stained-glass windows, the church \u2014 built in the 13th century \u2014 features a paid museum that is worth every penny. At its center lie the tombs of the adventurer El Cid and his wife. According to tradition, all pilgrims heading to Santiago de Compostela carry a stone with them along the way. \u201cAll the negative thoughts, sorrows, anguish, and negative energy are \u2018placed\u2019 into that stone. When you reach Cruz de Ferro, by which point two-thirds of the journey is behind you, you\u2019ve already identified what was a real problem and what was imaginary, you’ve cried, laughed, and gone through a lot. Then, you get rid of your stone at the foot of the cross,\u201d says Ana.<\/p>\n For Pedro Lacaz Amaral, reaching Cruz de Ferro was a magical moment: \u201cRight after I left my stone, which was small but heavy, my life purpose became absolutely clear.\u201d<\/p>\n Cruz de Ferro is located at the highest point of the French Way, at about 1,500 m of altitude, and offers a stunning view.<\/p>\n Located in Navarra, a small Spanish municipality, Puente La Reina is the point where routes from different parts of Europe converge, uniting pilgrims from all origins on one path toward Santiago de Compostela.<\/p>\n \u201cPuente La Reina is a place of rare beauty. It was there, amid history and encounters with wandering souls, that I met Joelma at the Estrella Guia hostel. She would later help me rent the bike that became essential to completing my Camino. By coincidence, she is from the same city as my mother\u2019s family, Guaratinguet\u00e1, in the Para\u00edba Valley, S\u00e3o Paulo, where I spent much of my childhood,\u201d shares Pedro Lacaz Amaral.<\/p>\n With his sharp eye, H\u00e9lio Ara\u00fajo \u2014 journalist, photographer, creator of the P\u00e9dcast do Caminho<\/a>, and organizer of the book \u201cCaminho de Santiago: 25 vis\u00f5es peregrinas\u201d<\/a> \u2014 also highlights places with breathtaking views of several cities. \u201cAlto do Perd\u00f3n, O Cebreiro, and Cruz de Ferro are iconic, with amazing scenery. At Alto do Perd\u00f3n, where the iron sculptures honoring pilgrims are located, the view is beautiful,\u201d says H\u00e9lio, who has done the Camino de Santiago five times along different routes.<\/p>\n In addition to the cultural journey and immersion in nature, the Camino de Santiago allows pilgrims to connect with other people, their stories and experiences, which makes the experience even more transformative. \u201cPeople come from many countries, of all ages. I made friends with an 80-year-old French woman named Mona. She didn\u2019t speak a word of English, and I didn\u2019t speak French, but we understood each other very well. She was walking alone and doing the Camino for the seventh time,\u201d says Marianna Sergio, from S\u00e3o Paulo.<\/p>\n Psychologist Luiz Henrique, from Esp\u00edrito Santo, set out on the pilgrimage driven by the challenge and the desire for spiritual recovery. He found comfort in people during both the best and most difficult moments of the journey. \u201cThe time you spend talking and living day by day with others is wonderful. I received a lot of support from many pilgrims who crossed my path.\u201d<\/p>\n For Pedro Lacaz Amaral, forming meaningful connections can turn any challenge into an enriching experience. \u201cThere were many stories along the way: I met amazing people from different countries, had deep conversations about philosophy, spirituality, and life. In the end, those connections and experiences helped me find clarity and purpose \u2014 something I was searching for and found on the Camino de Santiago,\u201d says the founder of Gear Tips, who aimed to reach Santiago on his 50th birthday \u2014 and he did!<\/p>\n The French Way begins with a challenge for pilgrims: crossing the Pyrenees, the natural border between France and Spain, between the cities of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port and Roncesvalles. The section is mostly dirt road and includes 20 km of uphill trekking, followed by a descent of about 5 km. According to Ana, some people choose to split this stretch over two days.<\/p>\n Despite being difficult, H\u00e9lio Ara\u00fajo emphasizes the beauty of the place: \u201cI left the hostel, located 8 km from Saint-Jean, with beautiful sunshine and animals all around. As I climbed higher, wind, rain, and fog arrived. I couldn\u2019t see anything in front of me.\u201d<\/p>\n In addition to the steep ascent, another point of concern in the Pyrenees is the weather, which may change suddenly and lead to the closure of the natural route to Roncesvalles. Although the official closure period is from October 31 to April 1, it may be shut down in other months for safety reasons.<\/p>\n Pedro Lacaz Amaral started his pilgrimage in the first week of April. His plan included the ascent via the Napoleon Route and a stay at Albergue Borda, located along the mountain slope. There was a forecast of snow, and the route was expected to be closed.<\/p>\n The night before, Pedro received a weather update predicting temperatures between 3 and 8 \u00baC with winds of 50 to 70 km\/h. Equipped with the proper gear, Pedro and two fellow pilgrims he met at the hostel successfully crossed the Pyrenees via the Napoleon Route. \u201cWe left early, at dawn. It was indeed very cold and windy, but we were prepared. We reached Roncesvalles safely after nearly 6 hours of walking through a relentless wind that sometimes forced us to crouch to avoid being blown away.\u201d<\/p>\nTechnical information:<\/h3>\n
\n
\nJuly and August are the busiest months due to the European summer holidays. In addition to the large concentration of people, the weather is quite hot, which makes walking more challenging;<\/li>\n![\"French](\"https:\/\/geartips.club\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/caminho-frances-santiago-compostela-foto-1.webp\")
<\/p>\nFrench Way: the most popular among pilgrims<\/h2>\n
Discover some iconic and history-filled places<\/h2>\n
O Cebreiro: village that houses the oldest church on the French Way<\/h3>\n
\nThe village is also home to what is considered the oldest church on the French Way: Santa Mar\u00eda La Real del Cebreiro, built in the 9th century, which houses two relics from a miracle that took place on a stormy, snowy night. \u201cLegend has it that when the priest saw a peasant arriving from afar \u2014 the only person present at the mass \u2014 he doubted the man\u2019s intentions, assuming he was just there for bread and wine. At the moment of consecration, the host turned into flesh, and the wine into blood. The Virgin Mary leaned forward to see the miracle, and both her forward-leaning image and a Romanesque chalice from the 12th century remain in the church to this day.\u201d
\n![\"Santa](\"https:\/\/geartips.club\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/igreja-santa-maria-la-real-del-cebreiro-foto-ana-wanke.webp\")
\nSanta Mar\u00eda La Real Church of O Cebreiro \/ Photo: Ana Wanke<\/span><\/p>\nBurgos: Gothic richness along the way<\/h3>\n
\nAna Wanke recommends the city as a good resting spot for pilgrims. \u201cIt\u2019s a very cultural city. In addition to the cathedral, there\u2019s a beautiful park, several museums \u2014 including the Museum of Human Evolution \u2014 as well as the Castle of Burgos and the Monastery of Las Huelgas.\u201d
\n![\"Burgos](\"https:\/\/geartips.club\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/catedral-de-burgos-caminho-santiago-compostela.webp\")
<\/p>\nCruz de Ferro: an emotional place for pilgrims<\/h3>\n
![\"Cruz](\"https:\/\/geartips.club\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/cruz-de-ferro-foto-ana-wanke-1.jpeg\")
<\/div>\n![\"Cruz](\"https:\/\/geartips.club\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/cruz-de-ferro-foto-ana-wanke-2.jpeg\")
<\/div>\n![\"Cruz](\"https:\/\/geartips.club\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/cruz-de-ferro-foto-ana-wanke-3.jpeg\")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\nPuente La Reina: where all paths meet<\/h3>\n
![\"Puente](\"https:\/\/geartips.club\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/puente-la-reina.webp\")
<\/p>\nStunning views<\/h3>\n
![\"Caminho](\"https:\/\/geartips.club\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/caminho-frances-alto-perdao-marianna-sergio.webp\")
\nMarianna Sergio at Alto do Perd\u00f3n<\/span><\/p>\nTransformative connections that happen on the Camino de Santiago<\/h2>\n
![\"Marianna](\"https:\/\/geartips.club\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/marianna-sergio-mona.webp\")
\nMarianna Sergio and Mona<\/span><\/p>\n![\"Pedro](\"https:\/\/geartips.club\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/pedro-jantar-albergue-borda.webp\")
\nPedro during dinner at Albergue Borda<\/span><\/p>\nMain challenges of the French Way<\/h2>\n
The Pyrenees mountain range<\/h3>\n
![\"Subida](\"https:\/\/geartips.club\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/subida-pirineus-caminho-frances-albergue-orisson.webp\")
<\/p>\n![\"Abrigo](\"https:\/\/geartips.club\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/alto-pirineus-abrigo-caminho-frances-santiago.webp\")
<\/p>\n
![\"Travessia](\"https:\/\/geartips.club\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/travessia-messetas-caminho-frances-de-santiago.webp\")
<\/p>\n![\"Subida](\"https:\/\/geartips.club\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/subida-o-cebreiro-foto-ana-wanke.webp\")
<\/p>\n