French Way

The French Way or Camino Francés, also colloquially called the French Camino, is the most popular of the pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, collectively known as the Camino de Santiago. About half of all pilgrims who finish at Santiago de Compostela do so along the French Way, which runs 779 km from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, France — the source of the route's name — though most walkers join partway rather than starting there.

You can start at any point along the route, and none of its many stopping points are mandatory: the only real goal is to reach Santiago de Compostela, resting as needed along the way. The stopping points described in this guide are not exhaustive, and no two pilgrims will have quite the same experience. To earn a compostela certificate, you must walk at least the final 100 km or cycle at least the final 200 km, however long that takes.