11 days
St. Jean Pied de Port, on the French side of the Pyrenees, is the traditional starting point of the Camino Frances. Many different routes through France unite here on their way to Santiago. The first day of our journey takes us into the magnificent mountain range of the Pyrenees. After a short but steep ascent, we will spend the night in a remote Casa Rural (country cottage), rebuilt and situated in a mystical forest setting.
We follow the Route Napoleon that once lead Napoleon Bonaparte into Spain. This particularly beautiful stretch of the Camino in Navarra welcomes pilgrims with lonely trails, winding through the mountains and forests and, seemingly disappearing into the clouds. For hiking this more strenuous stretch, pilgrims are rewarded with spectacular views over the mountains and the Atlantic Ocean. Passing the ancient monastery of the Augustinian Order, we will reach Roncesvalles and continue to Burguete. We will spend the night in the same hotel Hemingway once stayed in and wrote part of his novel Fiesta. Then, our journey brings us to Pamplona – the famous city of bullfights, where the pierced walls tell tales of the past Running of the Bulls on San Fermín. Over the Puerto del Perdón (Hill of Forgiveness) we will carry on to Obanos and taste the famous wines of the province La Rioja before hiking to Nájera, the last part of this pilgrimage.
Every morning, we offer a spiritual start into the day. Usually this means, that a short, interesting, and hopefully inspiring text will be read. This part is open for anybody who would like to participate.
191 kilometers
