The Camino Frances is arguably the iconic pilgrimage route of Europe. The French Way is the most famous path of the extensive Camino de Santiago network. It was established in the 11th century by monarchs like Sancho III. It stretches from the French Pyrenees to the stunning cathedral city of Santiago de Compostela, meaning it crosses an international border.
Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, not to mention it being Europe’s first designated Cultural Route, it has attracted pilgrims—and now secular hikers—for centuries.
Today, this path is partly spiritual reflection, but it’s mostly become a hub for culture, architecture, food, and community.
Starting in the early Middle Ages, Romanesque architecture actually defined much of the Camino Frances at the time. One iconic example is Puente la Reina’s bridge, which was built in the 11th century by Queen Doña Mayor to help pilgrims cross the River Arga.
Nearby stands the Church of Saint Mary of Eunate, which is a Romanesque chapel from the 12th century. Further along the route, pilgrims can find monasteries like San Juan de Ortega, founded by—guess who—and it significantly contributed to developing the pilgrim infrastructure that we see today.
It’s difficult to not stumble across Gothic architecture, particularly in this region of Europe. The Cathedral of Burgos is a great example of this style, as it was built between the 13th and 16th centuries on top of an earlier Romanesque church. It has all the soaring spires and designs that were used to elevate worshippers’ spirits toward heaven.
León Cathedral is also an incredible site to walk past, as it lures you in with its vast stained glass windows and world-class sculptures. Sahagún is also a spot to see Gothic and Mudéjar architecture—which is Islamic-inspired geometric designs integrated into Gothic structures—showing travelers a part of Spain’s history that doesn’t get talked about enough.
Medieval pilgrimage highlights
The medieval era really solidified Camino Frances as what we know it today. The Codex Calixtinus was written in the 12th century and served as history’s first detailed pilgrim guidebook. It described towns, monuments and even accommodations along the way—making you realize it’s not all that different to today. Kings constructed hospitals and monasteries to shelter pilgrims that would travel this route, further encouraging more to undergo it. The ultimate destination was—and remains—the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela itself. The cathedral was mostly built between 1075 and the 13th century, and it was the safe space for Saint James’ tomb to be buried beneath it. At the time, it was Romanesque, but has since had Gothic and Baroque elements added.
Modern history and attractions
While much of these old structures and infrastructure remains today, which is no doubt fascinating to experience, it has also seen renewed interest and new construction. Pope John Paul II’s pilgrimage in 1982 sparked another wave of global enthusiasm for it, and hasn’t slowed since. Antoni Gaudí’s Episcopal Palace is a modern site that is just as stunning, and shows that we continue to add to this pilgrim route in a meaningful way—not only long for its past.