Camino del Norte

The Camino del Norte (or Way of North ) is a secondary route of the Pèlerinage of Saint-Jacques-to-Compostelle. It is continuity in Spanish territory of the Voie of Soulac, coastal way French. Camino del Norte is also called “Ruta of Costa” in opposition to the Camino francés which is also called the “Ruta Interior” .

Presentation

The pilgrims coming from Brittany had the possibility of following a coastal route of which the French part finishes in Aquitaine by the Voie of Soulac. Arrived at Irun, they could join the Camino francés on the level of Burgos while following a minor road passing by Vitoria-Gasteiz, or continue to skirt the Cantabric Mer, by connecting the coastal towns of the north of the Iberian peninsula. This last way, energy of Irun with Arzúa, names “Camino del Norte”.

The Guide of the Pilgrim of Aimery Picaud does not give any indication on this way.

History

The route of the coast had an historical value distinct from that of the interior. Little attended, its layout is that of a corridor which runs parallel to the sea Cantabrique until the limits of Biscay, sacrificing conveniences and speed to stress the relations between the Basque ports and the meseta Castilian. The cutting of the northern coast of the Iberian peninsula constituted a serious handicap with circulation, worsened by the presence of the many rivers which in the Ocean and which are thrown had well to be crossed. As, it was not before the 13th century as certain pilgrims chose this solution.

When the Way of the Interior, the Camino francés, starts to gain importance thanks to the improvement of the transportation routes, the road of the continuous coast to feed as well from the pilgrims who choose this way since Irun, as those which, coming from England and of the center of Europe, unload in any port which marks out the Basque coast, mainly Bermeo, later and definitively, Bilbao.

The foundation of urban cores and the establishment of hospital in the proximities of the road of Saint-Jacob support the flow of pilgrimage which is consolidated in XIVe and 15th centuries with the apogee of the maritime pilgrimages towards Compostelle.

The route went from Irun to Bilbao by Saint-Sebastien and Guernica. Then, it joined Santander, by Castro-Urdiales and Laredo, before continuing towards Oviedo, by Santillana del Mar, San Vicente of Barquera and Llanes. Starting from Oviedo, the way of the coast was attended certainly more and was it earlier than the section coming from Irun, because Jacquet S come from León borrowed it from Oviedo. Because “ Which esté in Sainct Jacques/And esté with Sainct Salvateur/visited the servant/And left the Lord. ” (the Cathedral San Salvador d' Oviedo)
D' Oviedo, the pilgrims went with Espina by Cornellana, where a monastery, founded in 1024, returned to the Ordre of Cluny in 1122.

Some of them gained Lugo by the interior of the grounds, while others joined the coast with Canero, then, after having crossed the bridge which trembles with Luarca, they followed it until Ribadeo. From there, of aucuns could join Camino francés, by Lugo, towards Palas de Rei, the others, passing by Mondoñedo, Villalba and Sobrado, found it, near their goal of voyage, with Labacolla.

The current way

D' Irún with Arzúa

Country-Basque

Irun
Saint-Sebastien
Zarautz
Guernica
Bilbao, the Gothic church of Santiago (Saint-Jacob) of the 14th century.
Baracaldo

Cantabrie

Castro-Urdiales
Laredo
Guarnizo
Santander
Santillana-LED-Mar the Collegial one and caves of Altamira.
Cóbreces
San Vicente of Barquera
Llanes
Ribadesella

Asturies

Villaviciosa and the church of San Salvador de Valdediós.
Gijón
Oviedo, the San Salvador cathedral or Holy Salvadeur in the " Great Song " pilgrims, the Cámara Santa, the basilica San Julián of los Prados and churches of Santa María del Naranco and San Miguel de Lillo.
Avilés
Cudillero
Luarca and the bridge which trembles, as sang it the pilgrims in " the Great Song ".
Vegadeo

Galicia

Mondoñedo
Vilalba, capital " da will terra chà" , lowland, and the church San Simon.
Sobrado and its monastery back Monjes or Monxes, of the monks.
Arzúa, the vault of the Madeleine

With this last stage, Camino del Norte joined the Camino francés, which continues as follows:

Lavacolla, they is here that the pilgrims purified, by washing and changing clothing, before entering the town of Mr Saint Jacques .
Saint-Jacques-with-Compostelle

Documentation and bibliography

"El Camino of Santiago por Costa O Camino Norte". Ángel González. 2004
"El Camino de Santiago". Antón Pombo. ED. Anaya Touring. 2004
"El Camino of Santiago - Back rutas por Euskadi. Eusko Jaurlaritza - Government Basque. 2006. An edition in Castilian and in will euskara (separately)

Internal bonds

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