Camino De Santiago: French Way

Climbing Mount Alto del Perdón (see picture) is the biggest obstacle on this day, but if the climb seems too hard, will you discover a recommendable detour in our guidebook. However, despite the difficulty we recommend the climb, because from the top you will have a spectacular view of Pamplona and the Pyrenees in one direction and a view of the easier upcoming stages of the route in the other. 
Today's stage ends in Puente de la Reina, which has a beautiful old town and a famous bridge from where the Camino heads west (The Queens bridge, Puente de la Reina).

A few minor but steep hills bring you to Estella. Especially during the early part of this stage you will pass through many vineyards.  It's recommendable to take the several opportunities to visit some of them and in this way also enjoy a little rest along the way. 

Estella is a history-rich and exciting city with a beautiful old town.

Today's stage begins with a relatively gentle ascent and continues into flat and easy walking as you travel. There are several wineries along the way which can be visited, with a few of them also serving as excellent restaurants.

There’s not much shade available at this stage, so if you walk in the summer or on a sunny day it advisable to get an early start. Torres del Rio is situated on a hilltop and has a nice old town in which to relax and explore.

This is a flat and easy stage compared to everything you've experienced so far. You will pass several historical villages along the Camino. You will begin to be surrounded by vineyards, a sign that welcomes you to Logroño and La Rioja.

Logroño is La Rioja's largest city and, of course, the center of many of the Rioja wineries. Besides an excellent glass of wine for which Logroño is so well-known, is also its great cuisine. In the city's well-preserved old town center there are also countless delicious tapas bars. 

The parks and natural environment of the Grajera Reservoir top off the stay in Logroño and open the doors to the incredible Rioja landscape, filled with vineyards and orchards filled with fruit trees.

This stage takes you to Nájera, passing through Navarrete, a town celebrated for its traditional pottery. Later you walk on to Ventosa and the heights of San Antón. These hills offer views of unending rows of vineyards, a beautiful sight especially in September when harvest has reached its peak.

Today the goal is Santo Domingo de la Calzada, a town in Rioja Alta. The route passes through the charming town of Azofra.

In this segment, due to its proximity to Castilla, the landscape is rich with abundant fields of grain. Moreover, Santo Domingo itself is a vibrant town. There are many restaurants with delicious food and a very well preserved city centre that attract tourists all year round.

Today the Camino enters Castilla y León. From now on, and for a couple of weeks, you will pass through the widened passages of the “Meseta Castellana,” the Castillian plateau. The next closest objective is Belorado, located in the shade of a peak where ancient hermit caves and the ruins of a mythical Castle still remain.

The following stage passes through several interesting monuments such as the Virgen de la Peña Church, carved out of the rock as well as some nicely located castle ruins.

This part of the journey passes through hillside landscapes and extensive forests (the last before reaching León, and if you have chosen to continue walking from Leon to Santiago, you will not see true forests for approximately 300 km.).

The first leg of the trip passes through a small pine forest before seeing the outskirts of Burgos.

Burgos was founded in the year 884 and its heritage shines with its own light. The city is filled with monuments that include its crowned jewel, an amazing gothic cathedral. In fact, the cathedral of Burgos became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984. Overall, Burgos gives off a medieval feeling, a sensation completed by its inviting tapas bars.