The Camino de Santiago is far more than just a long distance hiking trail. For one thing, it is a choice of several different routes, and for another, it is part of a continuous tradition going back to the Middle Ages. The most popular route is the Camino Francés, the subject of a new title from Lonely Planet. Journey Camino de Santiago: Camino Francés by Mark Eveleigh and Anna Kaminski combines everything you need to know about planning your walk with a wealth of background information.
Contents
Why Walk The Camino Francés
The Camino Francés (or French Way) is a 767 km walking route from St-Jean-Pied-de-Port in the Basque region of France to Compostela de Santiago in Galicia, northwestern Spain. One of over 200 pilgrimage routes to the shrine of St James, it is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Routes of Santiago de Compostela: Camino Francés and Routes of Northern Spain was added to the list of Spain’s UNESCO sites in 1993, recognised for its historical and cultural significance.
Some choose to hike the Camino for religious reasons; others might want the challenge of a long walk, or to discover the history and culture of a varied landscape that has attracted pilgrims for centuries. As the authors of this book say, “the long-distance hiker feels every nuance in the landscape at a level that few other travellers rarely do…”
Journey Camino de Santiago is an invitation to immerse yourself in the experience of walking the Camino and to discover the many faces of the Spanish countryside.
Planning Your Camino Adventure
This book has everything you need to plan your walk along the Camino Francés. It includes a detailed guide to the route, with pictures, maps and descriptions of places along the way. There are walking notes, recommendations for food and lodging, and suggestions for how to spend your rest days.
You will find notes on different ways to do the Camino – whether you want to be fast or leisurely, to explore en route, or even to take to two wheels. And a toolkit at the end explores the practicalities of your journey, from language to accommodation to staying safe and healthy as you walk.
While the book focuses on the French route, there is also a short section on some of the other popular Camino routes.
Inspiration For Walkers
But this is much more than just a handbook for walkers. It is a guide to everything the Camino has to offer, a book to whet the appetite. There are sections on gastronomy, wildlife, history and local customs. There are city guides and information sections with intriguing headings – such as “Ghosts of the Camino” or “Legends of the Templars”.
You might need to allow some extra time if you want to try everything this book has to offer! It is bursting with ideas: exploring churches and chapels, sampling local food and wine, or walking in Hemingway’s footsteps around the historic centre of Pamplona…
Adding The Personal Touch
What really makes this book stand out is the personal experiences of the authors and others they meet. There are cameo portraits of fellow pilgrims encountered along the way, and stories about the people and places they come across. And a series of short essays by Camino walkers, on subjects like “The Impact of Pilgrimage” and “Why Pilgrims Return”.
Whether you’re a returning Camino walker, planning your first trip, or just enjoying an armchair experience, Journey Camino De Santiago: Camino Francés is an essential companion for your journey. Buen Camino!
Journey Camino de Santiago: Camino Francés, Mark Eveleigh and Anna Kaminski, Lonely Planet, 2025, 9781837586660
