Pilgrim walks in Spain

The Spanish Camino de Santiago takes us in 33 stages from the French Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port over the Pyrenees to Navarra and into the vineyards of Rioja. Through the Castilian cultural city of Burgos and the barren expanses of the Meseta, we reach León, the last major city before Santiago de Compostela. From there we hike over the Montes de León and through the green hills of Galicia to the tomb of Saint James – the destination of every pilgrim on the Camino.

The Via Tolosana is one of the four major French pilgrimage routes to Santiago and is considered the wildest and most adventurous of the four routes.

Scenic hiking route on the classic Camino de Santiago. The final section of the stage route leads directly to the breathtaking Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela

Scenic hiking route on the classic Way of St. James. The third section of the stage route offers trained hikers a varied route through the captivating landscape of Galicia.

Scenic hiking route on the classic Way of St. James. The stage route offers trained hikers a varied path through the captivating landscape of Galicia.

Known in Portugal as Caminho Português, the Portuguese Way of St. James leads the pilgrim from Lisbon through central and northern Portugal to Galicia, to the destination of all St. James pilgrims, Santiago de Compostela.

On a scenic route through the last green oasis before the barren meseta, we cross the Montes de Oca, the Gansberg mountains.

From Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, the route crosses the Pyrenees and the French-Spanish border to the monastery of Roncesvalles. Numerous monuments along this route remind us of the famous knight Roland.

On this stage, we cross the highest point of the Camino francés and can lay down a burden of the soul at the Cruz de Ferro, symbolized by a stone. After that, we descend into the Templar town of Ponferrada.

Through hilly vineyards we walk to Santo Domingo de la Calzada, where the couple in the cathedral hopefully foretells us a happy journey.