The French Way (, , ) follows the GR 65 and is the most popular of the routes of the Way of St. James (), the ancient pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain. It runs from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port on the French side of the Pyrenees to Roncesvalles on the Spanish side and then another on to Santiago de Compostela through the major cities of Pamplona, Logroño, Burgos and León. A typical walk on the Camino francés takes at least four weeks, allowing for one or two rest days on the way.
Paths from the cities of Tours, Vézelay, and Le Puy-en-Velay meet at Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. A fourth French route originates in Arles, in Provence, and crosses the French–Spanish frontier at a different point, between the Pyrenees towns of Somport and Canfranc. This fourth route follows the Aragonese Way and joins the French Way at Puente la Reina, south of Pamplona, in Navarre, about 700 kilometres from Santiago de Compostela.
In 1993, the French Way, along with the Spanish route of the Camino de Santiago was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List for its historical importance in Christianity as a major pilgrimage route and its testimony to the exchange of ideas and cultures across its length.
Statistics
The Pilgrim's Office in Santiago publishes data regarding pilgrims who got the certificate. In 2024 about 47% of pilgrims (over 235,000) took the French Way. 65% of the pilgrims on the Camino Frances started in Sarria while 14% started in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. 49% of the pilgrims had a Spanish nationality, followed by US-Americans (8.3%), Italians (5.4%) and Koreans (2.8%). The nationalities differ regarding the starting point: In Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port the vast majority of pilgrims (91%) is neither from France nor Spain. In contrast the majority of pilgrims using Sarria as a starting point is Spanish (64%).
94% of pilgrims did the journey on foot and 2% by bike. About 300 pilgrims travelled on a horse and 170 in a wheelchair. Most pilgrims finish their journey in a month between May and September.
Example itinerary Though there is no set itinerary for this route, daily stages from major town to major town could be walked as follows:
km from St-Jean km to Santiago Distance Begins Arrives Passes through Notes 0 769 25 Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (Donibane Garazi), France Orreaga/Roncesvalles, Spain Luzaide/Valcarlos Crosses the border of France and Spain in the western Pyrenees. 25 744 21.5 Orreaga/Roncesvalles Zubiri Auritz/Burguete, Aurizberri/Espinal, Bizkarreta-Gerendiain, Lintzoain 46.5 722.5 22 Zubiri Pamplona/Iruña Larrasoaña, Villava/Atarrabia 68.5 700.5 23.5 Pamplona/Iruña Puente la Reina/Gares Cizur/Zizur, Uterga, Obanos Joined by the Aragonese Way just before Puente la Reina. 92 677 22 Puente la Reina/Gares Estella-Lizarra Cirauqui/Zirauki, Villatuerta 114 655 22 Estella-Lizarra Los Arcos Villamayor de Monjardín 136 633 28 Los Arcos Logroño Torres del Río, Sansol, Viana Leaving the province of Navarre, entering La Rioja 164 605 29 Logroño Nájera Navarrete, Ventosa 193 576 21 Nájera Santo Domingo de la Calzada Azofra 214 555 23 Santo Domingo de la Calzada Belorado Grañón, Redecilla del Camino Leaving La Rioja, entering the Province of Burgos, Castille and León 237 532 24 Belorado San Juan de Ortega Tosantos, Villafranca Montes de Oca 261 508 28 San Juan de Ortega Burgos Agés, Atapuerca, Olmos de Atapuerca 289 480 20 Burgos Hornillos del Camino Villalbilla de Burgos, Tardajos, Rabé de las Calzadas 30946020Hornillos del CaminoCastrojerizSan Bol, Hontanas 329 440 23 Castrojeriz Frómista Itero del Castillo, Puente de Fitero, Itero de la Vega, Boadilla del Camino Leaving the province of Burgos, entering Palencia 352 417 19 Frómista Carrión de los Condes Población de Campos, Villacázar de Sirga 371 398 17 Carrión de los Condes Calzadilla de la Cueza 38838122Calzadilla de la CuezaSahagúnLedigos, Terradillo del los Templarios, San Nicolás del Real Camino 410 359 19.5 Sahagún El Burgo Ranero Calzada del Coto, Bercianos del Real Camino 429.5 339.5 19 El Burgo Ranero Mansilla de las Mulas Reliegos 448.5320.519Mansilla de las MulasLeón 467.5 301.5 24 León Villadangos del Páramo 491.5 277.5 28 Villadangos del Páramo Astorga San Martín del Camino, Hospital de Órbigo, Santibáñez de Valdeiglesias 519.5 249.5 20 Astorga Rabanal del Camino Murias de Rechivaldo, Santa Catalina de Somoza, El Ganso 539.5229.516.5Rabanal del CaminoEl AceboManjarin 556 213 16 El Acebo Ponferrada Riego de Ambros, Molinaseca Highest point of trail, 1515 metres above sea level, near Manjarin. 572 197 23 Ponferrada Villafranca del Bierzo Cacabelos 595 174 25 Villafranca del Bierzo La Faba Pereje, Trabadelo, La Portela de Valcarce, Vega de Valcarce, Ruitelan 620 149 24 La Faba Fillobal O Cebreiro, Hospital de la Condesa, Fonfría Crosses from León into Galicia.64412517.5FillobalSarriaTriacastela, Samos, Calvor 661.5 107.5 21 Sarria Portomarín Barbadelo, Fereiros The last point at which a pilgrim can start the journey on foot or horseback and still complete the 100 km needed to claim the compostela. 682.5 86.5 24.5 Portomarín Palas de Rei Gonzar, Ventas de Naró, Ligonde 707 62 25.5 Palas de Rei Arzúa Casanova, Leboreiro, Melide, Ribadiso da Baixo 732.5 36.5 20 Arzúa O Pedrouzo Santa Irene 752.516.516.5O PedrouzoSantiago de CompostelaMonte do Gozo
Films
The Way (2010) Buen Camino (2025)
References
External links
the French Way - Google Maps A photo tour of the Camino Frances (2010) Free Guide for Hikers on the French Way Follow the Yellow Shell - Pilgrims guide to the Camino Frances Map of the Donativo Albergues on the Camino Frances the French Way - Google Maps TODO MENTIRA http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2015/05/the-way/george-photography