Camino francés

The Camino Francés ( Iter francorum in Latin or French Way ) is the way more attended in Spain of the Pèlerinage of Saint-Jacques-to-Compostelle. It was also called " Ruta Interior " in opposition to the " Ruta of Costa " (or Camino del Norte - the way by the cities of the Atlantic coast).

History

Little information is available on the ways which followed until the 11th century the pilgrims of Saint-Jacob once crossed the the Pyrenees.

No one does not know by where the bishop of Puy passed, Godescalc, in 950, when it went to Saint-Jacques-with-Compostelle if it is not that it made stage with the monastery Saint Martin's day d' Albelda (near to Logroño).

An indication is given, however, in the Chronique of Silos, is written in 1110: it is specified there that the king de Navarre, Sanche III Large the (1000 - 1035), “of the Pyrenees to the castle of Nájera, having eliminated the pagan presence from the grounds which separated them, made pass, straight, the way of Saint-Jacob, when, before, the pilgrims made the turning by Alava. ” The argument of the occupation of this territory by the Moors is not very admissible, when it is known that the Christians had reconquered it for a long time. But it is certain that, in its expansion policy towards the West, Sanche had need for an axis of communication established, attended and important between Nájera and Burgos, to make pass its troops and that for this reason, it encouraged the passage, by this axis, of a flood of increasingly many pilgrims.

Before Sanche III, the pilgrims went from Roncevaux to Pampelune, then passed by Salvatierra, Vitoria, crossed the Èbre close to Miranda, gained Briviesca then Burgos.

After Sanche III, of Pampelune, they followed a route which made them pass by Puente Reina, Estella, Logroño, Nájera, Burgos. This way, stable, sure and almost single, which went from Puente Reina to Saint-Jacques-of-Compostelle, was quickly called Iter francorum, or Camino frances, because many pilgrims came from north from the Pyrenees, but also parce much of Francos, clerks, monks, craftsmen or merchants was established along this way.

After Sanche III, two kings, contemporaries, played a big role in installation, the consolidation and the safety of this way: Alphonse VI (1072-1109), king of Castille, and Sanche ler Ramirez (1063-1094), king of Aragon.

Alphonse VI made remove tolls which blocked the circulation of the pilgrims. He encouraged the foundation of hospital with O Cebreiro, Burgos, Foncebadòn. He supported the efforts of Santo Domingo of Calzada in the construction of bridges and roadways. He made come from Francos to Sahagùn, Logroño and Villafranca del Bierzo. Under its reign, the bridge of Ponferrada was built and the monastery of San Zoilo to Carrión of los Condes, founded.

As for Sanche ler Ramirez (1043 - king de Navarre in 1063-1094), it removed, also, of tolls, founded Estella, helped with the creation of the hospitals of Jaca and of Pampelune, yielded fields and churches to large abbeys like Holy-Foy of Conches and the Safe Major one, close to Bordeaux.

At the beginning of XIIe Century, the infrastructure of Camino frances was created. With the wire of the events and time, certain pilgrims, after integration, in Xllle century, of the Alava and the Guipúzcoa, with the kingdom of Castille, crossed the Bidassoa with Irùn and joined Burgos by Tolosa, San Adrian and Vitoria-Gasteiz; others followed the road coastal, cut natural obstacles and badly equipped. But always, Camino frances remained this great way of the faith and the hope, for tens of million pilgrims.

It is registered, since 1993, with the World heritage of UNESCO.

Extracts of the Guide of the Pilgrim

The Guide of the Pilgrim , reference book dating from the 12th century and constitutive of the Codex Calixtinus, is the work of the monk Aimery Picaud. The extracts hereafter come from the Guide of the Pilgrim of Jeanne Vielliard, Protat edition, 1938. The text of the 12th century is translated there into French according to the manuscripts of Compostelle and Ripoll.

Chapter II

stages of the way of Saint-Jacob. Calixte pope.

Since the wearing of Cize to Saint-Jacob, there are thirteen stages: the first goes from the Village of Saint-Michel which is with the foot of the wearing of Cize, on the Gascon slope, until Viscarret, and this stage is short; the second goes from Viscarret until Pampelune and it is small; the third goes from the Town of Pampelune to Estella; the fourth of Estella with Najera, is done with horse; the fifth, of Najera at the town of Burgos, is also done with horse; the sixth goes from Burgos to Fromista; the seventh of Fromista with Sahagun; the eighth goes from Sahagun to the town of Leòn; the ninth goes from Leòn to Rabanal; the tenth goes from Rabanal to Villafranca, to the mouth of Valcarce, after having crossed the ports of Assembles Irago; eleventh goes from Villafranca to Triacastela, while passing by the collars of the Cebrero mount; the twelfth goes from Triacastela to Palaz de Rey; as for the thirteenth one, which goes from Palaz de Rey to Saint-Jacob, it is short.

Chapter III

Name of the cities and the boroughs on the way of Saint-Jacob

wearing of Cize, here the most important boroughs that one meets on the way of Saint-Jacob to the basilica of Galicia: initially, with the foot even of the mount of Cize, on the Gascon slope, there is the borough of Saint-Michel; then, after having crossed the peak of this mount, one reaches the old people's home of Roland, then the town of Roncevaux; one finds then Viscarret, then Larrasoaña, then the town of Pampelune, then Puente Reina, then Estella where the bread is good, the excellent wine, the abundant meat and the fish and which abound in all delights.

One passes then by los Arcos, Logroño, Villanova, then one finds the town of Najera, Santo Domingo Calzada, Redecilla Camino, Belorado, Villafranca, the forest of Oca, Atapuerca, the town of Burgos, Tardajos, Hornillos deI Camino, Castrogeriz, the bridge of Reiterated Castillo, Fròmista, Carrion, which is an industrial and prosperous city, rich in bread, wine, meat and all sorts of thing; then there is Sahagun, where reign prosperity; there is pre where, says one, the lances étincelantes victorious warriors, planted there for glorifier God, are formerly reflected to become green.

Then there is Mansilla and the town of Leòn, residence of the king and the courses, full with all kinds of happiness. Then it is Orbigo, then the town of Astorga, then Rabanal Camino called the Prisoner, then Puerto Irago, Molina Seca, then Ponferrada, Cacabelos, Villafranca on the mouth of Valcarce, then the camp of Buckwheats, Villa Custom, the collar of the Cebrero mount and the old people's home at the top of this mount, then Linarès, then Triacastela with the foot of this mount, in Galicia, where the pilgrims receive a stone which they carry with them until Castañola to make lime which will be used for construction of the apostolic basilica.

Then it is the borough of San Miguel, then Barbadelo, then the bridge on Miño, Marin, then Sala Regina, Palaz de Rey, Leboreiro, then Saint-Jacob de Boente, Castañola, Villanova, Ferreiros, finally Compostelle, the very excellent city of the apostle, full with all delights, which with the guard of the invaluable body of Jacques saint and whom is recognized for that as being happiest and noblest of all the towns of Spain.

And if I quickly enumerated said them cities and stages, in fact so that the pilgrims leave for Saint-Jacob can, being thus informed, to envisage the expenditure to which travels to them will involve them.

Indeed the description of Camino is more summary, with each one to find itself there. This last sentence contradicts the myth which the pilgrimage was made by begging the lodging and cover.

It is also necessary to know the conditions of the pilgrimage of Godescalc, into 950, it is a true troop which moves! In addition to the bishop and the members of the clergy accompanying it, one counts there troubadours, jugglers, pages with the service of the ecclesiastics, barons and seneshals, all these beautiful Sirs being protected by many men-at-arms: archers and lancers.

Chapter VIII

holy Corps which rests on the road of Saint-Jacob and which the pilgrims must visit

One must in the same way return visit to the bodies of the saints Facond, and Primitive whose basilica was raised by Charlemagne; close to their city (Sahagun), there are planted meadows of trees in which, one says, the hastes lances of the warriors fixed out of ground became green. Their festival celebrates on November 27th. From there, it is necessary to go to see in Leòn the worthy body of the happy Isidore, bishop, confessor and doctor, who instituted for the ecclesiastical clerks a very pious rule, impregnated his doctrines all the Spanish people and honoured holy very whole Église by his fertile works.

Lastly, it is with the very holy body of the happy Jacques apostle, in the town of Compostelle, which one especially owes and with the most the devotion to return visit.

That all these saints as all the other saints of God help us their merits and their prayers near Our-Lord Jesus-Christ who saw and reigns as a God in the eternity of the centuries. Thus it is.

Stages

The Guide of the Pilgrim gives 13 stages between Roncevaux and Saint-Jacques-of-Compostelle. The pilgrims traversed between 60 and 80 kilometers per day. In the list of the cities mentioned, that in fat are the halts of the Guide of the Pilgrim , and those in italic are those where it there with the presence of a “holy body”, and that it is necessary to visit.

Navarre

The way which goes from the Col of Roncevaux to Puente Reina was called “ Camino navarro ”, thus named since it crossed the Royaume of Navarre.

At the stage of Puente the Queen, Camino Navarro joined the Camino aragones, completing the meeting held on the four ways left France. It is at this precise place which the “Camino frances begins”, which carries out until Saint-Jacques-of-Compostelle. The remaining stages of Navarre are:

Cirauqui - Zirauki, whose name out of Basque means vipers' nest, the church San Roman
Lorca - Lorkuz, the church El El Salvador and its medieval Bridge on Rio Salado.
Villatuerta, a new ogival Bridge on Rio Iranzu, the church of Asunción
Estella - Lizarra, out of Basque, star, the Palate of kings de Navarre, the church San Pedro of Rùa, the church of the Holy Sepulchre, the church San Miguel.
the Monastery Santa Maria Real d' Irache
Villamayor de Monjardin, the church of Ayegui and the church San Andrés
Los Arcos, the church Santa Maria
Torres LED Rio, the church of the Holy Sepulchre and the church San Andrés
Viana, the church Santa Maria and the Hermitage Nuestra Séñora del Poyo.

Rioja

Logroño, the cathedral baroque Santa Maria, the church Santiago el Real, the church Santa Maria del Palacio.
Navarrete, the Romance gate of the cemetery.
Nájera , the Monastery Santa María Real, and the church Santa Cruz.
San Millán of Cogolla (except way), monasteries of Suso and Yuso.
Azofra .
Cañas and the abbey Santa Maria.
Santo Domingo of Calzada , the holy body to visit is: the saint " cantonnier" builder of bridge holy Dominique of the Roadway, his Cathedral of Santo Domingo of Calzada and the Miracle of hang-depended.
Grañon, the church Saint Jean Baptist.

Castille - province of Burgos

Redecilla del Camino
Castidelgado
Viloria de Rioja
Belorado, the church Santa Maria, the church San Pedro, the hermitage of Santa Maria of Belem (Bethlehem)
Tosantos, the sanctuary of Virgen of Peña,
Villambistia, the church San Estebàn
Espinosa del Camino, the church of the Assumption
Villafranca Go up of Oca, the church of Santiago, the holy old people's home Antoine and the hermitage of Notre Dame de Oca.
the Monastery of San Juan de Ortega, and the saint " cantonnier" holy Jean of the Nettles.
Old, another bridge, on Rio Juan.
Atapuerca, the church Martin saint and the Paleolithic layer.
Burgos , the Cathedral Santa Maria, the church San Lesme, the church San Nicolàs, Chartreuse de Miraflores, the royal Monastery of mow Huelgas, Hospital del Rey, the hospital of San Juan Evangelista, the bridge on Arlanzón and the Sainte-Marie Door.
Rabe of mow Calzadas
Hornillos del Camino
Hontanas, fountains, and the Monastery of San Anton.
Castrojeriz, “Four Mice”, as called it the pilgrims, collegial Santa Maria del Manzano, the church of San Juan, and the Hermitage of San Nicolas
Itero del Castillo and El Puente de Itero between Castille and León.

Palencia

Itero of Vega, the vault of Pity
Boadilla del Camino, the church Santa Maria, and the jurisdictional rollo,
Frómista , the church of San Martín
Población de Campos, the church Santa Magdalena, the vault San Miguel
Villarmentero de Campos, the church Martin Saint,
Villalcàzar de Sirga, the church of Templiers de Santa Maria Blanca,
Carrión of los Cops, the church Santa Maria of Victoria O del Camino, the sanctuary of Nuestra Señora of Belem, and it monastery San Zoilo.

León

Sahagún , the holy bodies to visit are holy Facond, and Primitive, the city draws its name from a contraction of San Facundo. The church San Tirso, the church San Llorenzo, and the Sanctuary of Peregrina
Calzadilla of los Hermanillos Santa Maria of mow Tiendas and the hermitage of Virgen del Puente
Calzada del Coto, the hermitage Nuestra Señora de Perales
Bercianos del Real Camino, the church San Salvador
El Burgo Ranero
Reliegos
Mansilla of mow Mulas, churches of Santa Maria, and San Martin
Puente Villarente, still a bridge on Rio Porma
San Miguel de Escalada (Except way).
León , the holy body that should be visited is: " the happy Isidore, bishop, confessor and doctor, who instituted for the ecclesiastical clerks a very pious rule. " The Cathédrale Santa Maria of Regulated, the royal collegial of Isidore Saint and the royal Pantheon, the monastery of San Marcos, the church Santa Maria del Mercado.
Trobajo del Camino
Virgen del Camino.
Hospital de Orbigo, the Bridge of Gift Suero de Quiñones, the church San Juan Bautista.
Santibañez Valdeiglesias
Estebanez of Calzada
San Justo of Vega, another bridge on Rio Tuerto
Astorga, the church of San Bartolomé, the church Santa Marta, El Museo of los Caminos.
Valdevieja, Ermita de Ecce Homo
Murias de Rechivaldo,
Castrillo of los Polvazares.
Santa Catalina de Somoza
El Ganso, vault of Cristo of los Peregrinos
Rabanal del Camino , the church Santa Maria del Camino

Bierzo

Foncebadón, the “Cruz the Ferro one”, and small Ermita of Santiago
El Acebo, the vault Saint Fabien
Riego de Ambros
Molinaseca, the church San Nicolàs, the vault of Virgen of mow Angustias,
Ponferrada, the church Nuestra Señora of Encina, the Santo church Divided into volumes of mow Ollas, the castle of Templiers, without forgetting Pons Ferratus on Rio Sil.
Peñalba of Santiago, towards the Valley of Silence - Valle del Silencio (except way).
Cacabelos, the church Nostra Señora of Plaza
Villafranca del Bierzo , the church Jacques Saint and collegial Santa Maria de Cluniaco
Pereje
Ambasmestas
Vega de Valcarce.
Ruitelan
Tired Herrerias
Faba, the church San Andrés

Galicia

O Cebreiro, the church Santa Maria Real and the Palloza S.
Linares, the church Saint Stephan
Padornelo, the church San Juan
Balsa
Triacastela , the Santiago church. At the exit of Triacastela, high and thin pyramid of stones, decorated of a metal sword, is capped with a small statue of pilgrim: she points out the tradition according to which the pilgrims undertook here a heavy calcareous stone extracted from a career of the vicinity. They were going to carry it all the day to the furnaces of Castañeda.
Sarria, the church Santa Marina, the church of El Salvador and the convent of Magdalena
Samos, and its monastery.
Bardadelo .
Mirallos, the church Santa Maria
Vilacha, the ruins of the monastery of Loyo which transfer to be born in XIIe century the Ordre from Santiago.
Portomarìn, the church San Nicolàs, the church San Pedro and the Holy vault Marie of Snows
Gonzar, the church Santa Maria
Castromayor,
Were windy of Naròn.
Mercado de Serra
Lestedos
Lameiros, the vault Saint Marc
Palas de Rei , the church of San Tirso
Vilar de Donas, the Romance church of Vilar de Donas
Pambre, Castillo de Pambre
Leboreiro, the church Santa Maria
Melide
Boente, the church of Santiago
Castañeda. Time of Aymeri Picaud, it is with the furnaces of Castañeda that the pilgrims deposited the heavy stones limestones extracted in Triacastela. There, the stones were transformed into lime being used to build the basilica of Compostelle.
Ribadiso
Arzùa, the vault of the Madeleine.
Lavacolla, they is here that the pilgrims purified, by washing and changing their clothing, before entering the town of Mr Saint Jacques .

Monxoi, Assembles del Gozo or Mount-Joy.

Santiago de Compostela : the Cathedral of Saint-Jacques-in-Compostelle, El Convento de San Paio de Antealtares, El Monasterio de San Martín Pinario, El Monasterio de San Pelayo and the Museum of Sacred art, El Hostal of los Reyes Católicos, El Palacio de Gelmírez, Iglesia Santa María del Sar.

Many pilgrims chose to push until “at the end of the Earth”, as the proverb attests some: Quen goes Santiago E not goes has Padrón, Ofaz romeria O not.

Padrón, in the past Iria-Flavia, the Saint-Jacob church, the church Nuestra Señora of Esclavitud.
Catoira
Vilagarcia de Arousa: the convent of Vista Alegre
Cambado
Noia: the church Saint Martin's day
Corcubión
Fisterra: Finisterre.

Internal bonds

External bonds

Way of the pilgrim, the wiki of the services on Camino Francés
Compostela2010, with the use of the pilgrim.
has VTT on the ways of Compostelle, the camino francès and all the other ways towards Compostelle, for the walkers and VTTistes.

Random links: