Camino de Santiago from Roncesvalles

• Index
• Why from Roncesvalles?
• How to get there
• Where to sleep
• Where can I get the Credential
• Stages
  • Walking
  • Cycling
• What to see
• In Santiago it is time to enjoy

Many pilgrims decide to start the Camino de Santiago from Roncesvalles, that is, the French Way, although this French route begins in the town of Saint Jean Pied de Port, located in France.

In fact, Roncesvalles is the second village after St. Jean Pied de Port and the first stop on Spanish territory. So, if it is the second stage:

Why do so many pilgrims start on this stage and not on the first one?

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There are several factors that cause a pilgrim to decide to start on the second stage:

WHY START THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO FROM RONCESVALLES?

AVOID THE CLIMB UP TO RONCESVALLES

The towns of Saint Jean Pied de Port are separated by a distance of 24.2 km, a normal distance between stages, but the real difficulty of this stage lies in the altitude to be covered.

Once we leave France at an altitude of just over 100 m, we start a 20 km climb to the village of Collado de Lepoeder, where we will end up at an altitude of almost 1500 m.

As you can see, a climb that imposes respect, there are many pilgrims who face this first stage that drag physical fatigue in subsequent stages or a quite strong foot pain in the form of blisters.

Starting the Camino de Santiago from Roncesvalles allows you to avoid this inconvenience and ensure that you start your adventure in an adequate state of physical fitness.

Pilgrims who decide to start the Camino from Saint Jean Pied de Port usually decide to complete the Camino in its entirety or face the challenge of overcoming this stage.

Although you don’t let yourself be carried away by the momentum, many walkers need a good rest once they have done this stage. In case you decide to climb this slope, we recommend that you have a good physical preparation beforehand.

START THE CAMINO IN FRANCE

Although the adventure of crossing two countries appeals to most pilgrims, you should bear in mind that this involves two different economies.

Although being part of the European Union avoids restrictive customs, having to cross the country increases the logistical costs of luggage, backpacks, bike transport…

It is a factor to take into account as it can increase the cost of the journey, however, if you decide to start the Camino from Roncesvalles you will avoid this problem, one of the reasons why to start in this town.

AVOIDING TOUGH SEASONS

We have already mentioned that there is a big climb between Saint Jean Pied de Port and Roncesvalles, the first stage of the French Way. But it is not only the difficulty of overcoming physical difficulties that has an influence, the time of the year in which you do the Camino de Santiago can also affect your choice.

If you decide to do the Camino in winter you should know that as it is an area that runs through the Pyrenees you may encounter the added difficulty of snow, it may cause landscapes worthy of admiration but it will also cause a greater demand for effort.

The same happens in the Autumn and Spring seasons, the possibility of rain in this area is quite high, which can cause muddy terrain or heaviness and difficulty due to being wet.

It is for this reason that the Navarrese locality is also chosen before the French locality.

HOW TO GET THERE

The combination of transport to get to this town in Navarre can be a real headache.

Previously we made an entry in our blog explaining the possible combinations between different cities such as Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia… either by bus, train, car or plane, to reach this beginning of the French Way.

If you find it difficult to combine your transport, from Pilgrim, we offer you the possibility of transporting you to the beginning of your journey, you only have to consult the service we offer or send us an email to info@pilgrim.es with your request.

WHERE TO SLEEP IN RONCESVALLES

Roncesvalles is a small town in Navarre destined practically only for pilgrims and the Camino, which is why it does not have a large offer of accommodation but enough for the walkers, such as:

• Pilgrims Hostel of Roncesvalles:
  • Capacity: 183 beds
  • Address: Real Colegiata de Roncesvalles (Navarra)
  • Phone number: +34 948 760 000 / +34 948 760 029
  • E-mail: info@alberguederoncesvalles.com
  • Web: www.alberguederoncesvalles.com
• Posada de Roncesvalles:
  • Capacity: 70 beds
  • Address: Calle Roncesvalles, 31650 Roncesvalles, Navarra, España
  • Phone number: +34 948 760 225 / +34 948 79 03 22
• Hotel Roncesvalles:
  • Capacity: 40 places
  • Address: Calle Ntra. Sra. de Roncesvalles, 14, 31650 Roncesvalles, Navarra, España
  • Phone number: +34 948 760 105
  • E-mail: hotel@roncesvalles.es
  • Web: www.hotelroncesvalles.com

WHERE TO EAT

Any of the above accommodations are available for meals.

WHERE TO GET THE CREDENTIAL

Once in Roncesvalles you can get your pilgrim credentials at the pilgrims’ hostel in the area. You only have to go and ask for it, it is necessary in order to be able to apply for a place in the public or parish hostels.

STAGES OF THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO FROM RONCESVALLES

ON FOOT

STAGE	ROUTE	KM
Stage 1	Roncesvalles – Zubiri	21.4
Stage 2	Zubiri – Pamplona	20.4
Stage 3	Pamplona – Puente de la Reina	23.9
Stage 4	Puente de la Reina – Estela	21.6
Stage 5	Estella – Los Arcos	21.3
Stage 6	Los Arcos – Logroño	27.6
Stage 7	Logroño-Nájera	29
Stage 8	Nájera – Santo Domingo de La Calzada	20.7
Stage 9	Santo Domingo de La Calzada – Belorado	22
Stage 10	Belorado – San Juan de Ortega	23.9
Stage 11	San Juan de Ortega – Burgos	25.8
Stage 12	Burgos – Hornillos del Camino	21
Stage 13	Hornillos del Camino – Castrojeriz	19.9
Stage 14	Castrojeriz – Frómista	18.8
Stage 15	Frómista – Carrión de los Condes	18.8
Stage 16	Carrión de los Condes – Terradillos de los templarios	26.3
Stage 17	Terradillos de los templarios – Bercianos del Real Camino	23.2
Stage 18	Bercianos del Real Camino – Mansilla de las Mulas	26.3
Stage 19	Mansilla de las Mulas – León	18.5
Stage 20	León – San Martín del Camino	24.6
Stage 21	San Martín del Camino – Astorga	23.7
Stage 22	Astorga – Foncebadón	25.8
Stage 23	Foncebadón – Ponferrada	26.8
Stage 24	Ponferrada – Villafranca	24.2
Stage 25	Villafranca – O Cebreiro	27.8
Stage 26	O Cebreiro – Triacastela	20.8
Stage 27	Triacastela – Sarria	18.4
Stage 28	Sarria – Portomarín	22.2
Stage 29	Portomarín – Palas de Rei	24.8
Stage 30	Palas de Rei – Arzúa	28.5
Stage 31	Arzúa – Pedrouzo	19.3
Stage 32	Pedrouzo – Santiago de Compostela	19.4

STAGES BY BIKE

STAGE	ROUTE	KM
Stage 1	Roncesvalles – Pamplona	42
Stage 2	Pamplona – Estella	42
Stage 3	Estella – Logroño	50
Stage 4	Logroño – Santo Domingo de la Calzada	49
Stage 5	Santo Domingo de la Calzada – Burgos	72
Stage 6	Burgos – Carrión de los Condes	87
Stage 7	Carrión de los Condes – León	89
Stage 8	León – Astorga	49
Stage 9	Astorga – Ponferrada	53
Stage 10	Ponferrada – O Cebreiro	55
Stage 11	O Cebreiro – Portomarín	62
Stage 12	Portomarín – Arzúa	54
Stage 13	Arzúa – Santiago de Compostela	39

If you want to know more in depth about each stage, we advise you to visit our page of the French Way, where we talk about all the stages, the itinerary you should follow to reach your destination, what to eat, what to visit… In other words, a complete guide.

Or you can always leave us a comment at the bottom of this post and we will get back to you with the best information possible.

WHAT TO SEE IN THE CAMINO FROM RONCESVALLES

Throughout the journey along the French route you will be able to appreciate a multitude of landscapes, monuments and even some hidden secrets that will make your trip really special:

• Burgos and León Cathedrals: You will find two imposing cathedrals, both in Gothic style and surrounded by an old part of the city worth admiring.
• Bridge of the Honourable Pass (Paso Honroso in Spanish): It owes its name to the promise made by the knight Suero de Quiñones to his beloved, Doña Leonor de Tovar, in 1434, where he swore to protect the bridge by breaking the lances of all the noble knights who came to confront him, as a sign of his love for her.
• The fountain of wine: There is a fountain that in addition to providing water, offers wine to all pilgrims who wish to fill their canteen and quench their thirst. It is halfway between Estella and Logroño.
• Castle of the Templars: An impressive monument in the town of Ponferrada built by the order of the Templars who decided to extend it at the time in order to protect the pilgrims on the Camino to Santiago de Compostela.
• The Cathedral of Santa María: Located in the town of Astorga, this town is one of the oldest on the Camino to Santiago de Compostela and has a historical heritage worthy of admiration, such as this Cathedral.

ONCE IN SANTIAGO, IT’S TIME TO ENJOY

VISIT THE CITY

Apart from the magnificent Cathedral of Santiago, the Galician capital can offer a great deal of distractions and areas to visit as it has a large old area surrounding the Cathedral. You can also enjoy Galician cuisine, considered one of the best in the world, in the local restaurants.

At Pilgrim we offer you a guided tour of the historical centre so that you don’t miss a single detail of all the secrets it contains.

THE END OF THE WORLD

If you still find yourself with strength and desire to explore historical places of the Camino de Santiago, there is still a route that goes further, the Epilogue of Fisterra and Muxía.

You will continue your pilgrimage to the place considered to be the End of the World for many years, which was called by the Romans “Finisterre” meaning “End of the Earth”. It was considered that, from this area onwards there was only sea and that the earth was flat.

If you want to go but you are afraid of not having enough strength once in Santiago, don’t worry, we offer you a day tour to Fisterra, so you can go to the end of the Camino and come back the same day.

IN PILGRIM WE HELP YOU

If after reading all the information about the Camino de Santiago from Roncesvalles you have decided that it is your option, it is time to plan your experience. We can help you!