Fun Facts

  1. The Way of St. James, the ancient pilgrim path known as Camino Frances, is about 475 miles in its most popular version, starting in St. Jean Pied-de-Port, France, just east of the Pyrenees, and crossing west across Spain, ending in Santiago Compostela.
  2. The Camino Frances takes between 30 and 35 days to walk.  It can also be biked.
  3. Only a light pack is needed because there are hotels, inns, and hostels the entire length of the Camino.  Anne’s pack is less than 13 pounds and mine is only slightly heavier.
  4. There are versions of the Camino Frances that start as far away as Paris and that end on the Spanish coast in Finisterre.
  5. There are other pilgrimage routes to Santiago, named after their county of origin, for example the Camino Ingles and the Portuguese Camino.
  6.  Santiago Compostela is a pilgrimage site because it is the burial place of St. James, one of Jesus’ disciples.
  7. The Camino is marked with signs with drawings of scallop shells.  Pilgrims carry scallop shells on their packs.  To learn why, read the page “The History of St. James.”