The French Way

Of all the routes of the Way of St. James, the most famous one is the French Way that passes through Astorga, city in which center you can find Casa de Tepa.

The French Way has been the most popular ever since the Middle Ages, and during practically every month of the year you can find pilgrims in it.

The French Way, which is commonly known as the Way of St. James, begins in Somport and Roncesvalle and is a 750 km long route that joins Europe with the north of Spain and reaches Santiago de Compostela. This route started few years after the discovery of the apostle's body and became since the X century the base of consolidation of Alfonso VI’s empire, which allowed the normalization of the cult.

This led to great commercial expansion that founded and grew in cities like Jaca, Pamplona, Logroño, Burgos, Carrion de los Condes, León and even Astorga itself, where Casa de Tepa is located. And is, above everything, the great spiritual way that has attracted millions of pilgrims since the Middle Ages.

Detail of Stages in the French Way:

Saint Jean Pied de Port-Roncesvalles
Roncesvalles -Larrasoaña
Larrasoaña-Cizur Menor
Cizur Menor-Puente la Reina
Puente la Reina-Estella
Estella-Los Arcos 7.- Los Arcos-Viana
Viana-Navarrete
Navarrete-Nájera
Nájera-Santo Domingo de la Calzada
Sto Domingo de la Calzada-Belorado
Belorado-San Juan de Ortega
San Juan de Ortega-Burgos
Burgos-Hornillos del Camino
Hornillos del Camino-Castrojeriz
Castrojeriz-Frómista
Frómista-Carrión de los Condes
Carrión de los Condes-Lédigos
Lédigos-Sahagún
Sahagún-El Burgo Ranero
El Burgo Ranero-Mansilla de las Mulas
Mansilla de las Mulas-León
León-Villadangos del Páramo
Villadangos del Páramo-Astorga
Astorga-Rabanal del Camino
Rabanal del Camino -Molinaseca
Molinaseca-Villafranca del Bierzo
Villafranca del Bierzo-O Cebreiro
O Cebreiro-Triacastela
Triacastela-Sarria
Sarria -Portomarin
Portomarin-Palas de Rei
Palas de Rei-Arzúa
Arzúa-Santiago de Compostela