Aragonese Way
The Aragonese Way is the starting point of the French Way from the Pyrenees of Aragon. It forms part of the Somport Pass and joins the Navarre branch in Puente la Reina.
Organize your Aragonese WayGeneral Description of Aragonese Way
It is a route with an immense Romanesque patrimony and less pilgrim traffic, which offers a more intimate and authentic experience.
Connections of Aragonese Way
The French Way
Distance:
779 km
Days:
33
Difficulty:
Media
The Camino Francés is the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela of excellence, chosen by thousands of pilgrims every year. With a journey of approximately 780 km from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port or less from Roncesvalles, it traverses northern Spain. This path, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, offers exceptional infrastructure for services and hostels.
Pilgrims traverse Navarra, La Rioja, Castile and León, and finally Galicia, marveling at monumental cities such as Pamplona, Burgos, and León, and charming villages. The diversity of its landscapes is one of its greatest attractions, from the Pyrenees and the Castilian plains to the green forests of Galicia. It's a physical and spiritual journey that leaves an indelible mark, ideal for both experienced pilgrims and those starting out on the Camino de Santiago.
Stages of this variant:
Stage 1: St. Jean Pied de Port to Roncesvalles
Stage 2: Roncesvalles to Zubiri
Stage 3: Zubiri is going to Pamplona.
Stage 4: Pamplona to Pontevedra
Stage 5: Bridge of Queen to Estella
The Camino by Bike
Distance:
779 km
Days:
14
Difficulty:
Media
The Camino Francés by bike offers a dynamic experience for "bicigrinos". Although the general route follows the walking trail, stages are designed to cover greater distances, condensing the journey into 14 days. This mode allows cyclists to pass through Pamplona, Burgos and León, and traverse the Pyrenees, Meseta and Galicia landscapes at a brisk pace.
Stages of this variant:
Stage 1: St. John of Pied de Port to Zubiri (By Bike)
Stage 2: Zubiri to Puente la Reina by bike
Stage 3: Bridge of Queen to Towers of Rio (Bicycle)
Stage 4: Rivers of the Rio to Santo Domingo de la Calzada (Bike)
Stage 5: The Bike Route from Santo Domingo de la Calzada to Burgos
Way of the Asturias
Distance:
465 km
Days:
22
Difficulty:
High
The Camino of Asturias is a historical itinerary that connects the French Way in Pamplona with the Primitive Way in Oviedo. This route, of great scenic beauty and notable physical demand, traverses the mountains of Navarre, Álava, Cantabria, and Asturias. It offers a deep immersion in nature and the heritage of interior Spain, with mountain landscapes, valleys, and villages with history.
Stages of this variant:
Stage 1: Pamplona to Irurzun
Stage 2: Irun to Alsausa
Stage 3: Asunción a Salta
Stage 4: Salvaterra to Vitoria
Stage 5: Victory over La Puebla of Arganzón
Winter Path
Distance:
267 km
Days:
10
Difficulty:
Media
The Winter Way emerges as a historical variant for pilgrims on the Camino Francés who sought to avoid the difficult snows of O Cebreiro. The route diverges in Ponferrada and follows the course of the Sil River, crossing the Valdeorras region, the Ribeira Sacra, and the Deza region before joining the Vía de la Plata/Camino Sanabrés near Lalín.
With a 267 km journey, it is the only Camino that traverses all four Galician provinces (Ourense, Lugo, Pontevedra, and A Coruña). It offers spectacular landscapes like the Sil Canyons and its heroic viticulture, allowing you to discover a natural and cultural heritage of great value, less known but equally fascinating.
Stages of this variant:
Stage 1: Ponferrada to Las Médulas
Stage 2: The Mines of O Barco de Valdeorras
Stage 3: To Valdeorras Boat to A Rúa de Valdeorras
Stage 4: Route from Valdeorras to Quiroga
Stage 5: Quirós to Pobra de Brollón
Way of Salvador
Distance:
119.4 km
Days:
6
Difficulty:
High
The Way of Salvador, or the Way of St. Salvador, is a historic 120 km route that connects León to Oviedo, allowing pilgrims on the French Way to connect with the start of the Primitive Way. It crosses the Cantabrian Mountains, which implies considerable physical challenge but offers spectacular mountain landscapes.
Its motto "Who goes to Santiago and does not go to Salvador, visits the servant and not the Lord" reflects the historical importance of Oviedo Cathedral and its relics. It is a short but intense route, ideal for pilgrims with good physical preparation who seek to add a mountain component and deep historical connection to their pilgrimage.
Stages of this variant:
Stage 1: Leon at La Robla
Stage 2: Robla to Poladura of the Third
Stage 3: Adhesion of Third to Pajares
Stage 4: Hair to Pola de Lena
Stage 5: Valley of Lena to Mieres
Elevation Profile of Aragonese Way
Visualize the ups and downs of the route.
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Stages of Aragonese Way
Etapa 1: Somport to Jaca
Description:
This stage continues through the Vinalopó valley in a gentle slope terrain. The landscape is dominated by vineyards and fields of cultivation. It's a transition day that brings the pilgrim closer to t...
Etapa 2: Jaca to Arres
Description:
This stage marks the transition of the Valencian Community to Castile-La Mancha. The profile becomes more demanding, with a continuous rise and fall. The landscape is a mix of vineyards and low hills....
Etapa 3: Arres to Ruesta
Description:
This stage enters the province of Albacete, on a terrain of gentle undulations. The landscape is a mix of vineyards and cereal fields. It's a day of great beauty and solitude. Arrival in Almansa, domi...
Etapa 4: Ruesta to Sangüesa
Description:
This stage continues across the Manchegan plain. The profile is flat and the landscape is dominated by vineyards. It's a transition day that brings the pilgrim to the heart of the region. Arrival in A...
Etapa 5: Sangüesa to Monreal
Description:
This stage enters the Manchuela region. The profile is a continuous rise and fall through a landscape of pine forests and fields of cultivation. It's a day of great beauty and solitude. Arrival in Ala...
Etapa 6: Monreal to Puente la Reina
Description:
This long stage marks the return to the Valencian Community. The route passes through a beautiful landscape with pine forests and vineyards. The profile is demanding, with continuous ups and downs. Ar...
Origen: Monreal
Destino: Puente la Reina
Featured Towns of Aragonese Way
Explore the key towns and cities of this route.
Somport
Somport, the Pirenne pass that marks the beginning of the Aragonese Way. A spectacular starting point for a route, surrounded by wild nature and deep silence, perfect for adventurous pilgrims.
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Jaca
First capital of the Kingdom of Aragon and a gem of the Aragonese Route. Its Romanesque cathedral, one of the oldest in Spain, and its Fortress make it an indispensable stop.
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Arres
Small French village in the Central Pyrenees. Arres is a rural and tranquil stop for pilgrims seeking authenticity and silence on mountain routes.
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Ruesta
Abandoned and recovered village on the Aragonese Way. Ruesa, with its castle and hostel, is a symbol of resilience and spirit of the Way of St James.
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Sangüesa
Historic Navarran city on the Aragonese Way. Sangüesa, with its church of Saint Mary the Royal, is a jewel of Romanesque and an indispensable monumental stop before joining the French Way.
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Monreal
Monreal is a Navarran locality on the Way of St James. It offers the pilgrim a peaceful rest in a rural setting, with its medieval bridge as witness to the Jacobean passage.
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Puente la Reina
Heart of the Camino Francés in Navarra. In Puente la Reina, the routes of Roncesvalles and Somport converge. Its majestic Romanesque bridge is a universal symbol of pilgrimage to Santiago.
More InformationMillenary History of the Camino de Santiago: Origins and Evolution Aragonese Way
Discover the origins and evolution of Aragonese Way
The Primitivo Way, with its high mountain profile and constant inclines, remained for a long time an almost exclusive territory for walkers. Its geography seemed incompatible with cycling. However, with the rise of mountain biking in the late 20th century and early 21st century, audacious cyclists began to see the Primitivo not as an obstacle, but as a definitive challenge. The first ones to ride it were true explorers, opening up the route without guides, often carrying their bikes on their shoulders ("hike-a-bike") for long and grueling stretches.
The story of this modality is therefore that of a conquest. The cycling community gradually documented the route, identified bikeable sections and those requiring precise technique or were impossible to ride. The first guides and GPS tracks emerged, allowing others to follow in their footsteps. Unlike the Camino Francés, where often variants are sought on asphalt, in the Primitivo the goal of the "bicigrino" is precisely to stay on the original path as long as possible, enjoying the essence of "pure mountain".
The bike ride reinterprets the difficulty of the route. The legendary Route of the Hospitals, a high mountain stretch without services, becomes an epic journey of "cross-country". The feared ascent to Alto del Palo transforms into a cardiovascular endurance test followed by a vertiginous and technical descent that requires maximum concentration. The constant ups and downs ("rompepiernas") that characterize Asturias' interior and the entrance to Lugo become a constant challenge for the cyclist. For this reason, the Primitivo on a bike is not recommended for beginners; it demands excellent physical fitness, a well-prepared mountain bike with double suspension, and great technical skill.
The reward for all this effort is immense. The bike allows the pilgrim to immerse themselves in the breathtaking beauty of the Cantabrian Mountains at a speed that allows them to cover more ground in less time, without losing their connection with the environment. The solitude and silence of the route, the feeling of riding through unexplored territory, are magnified. The arrival in the walled city of Lugo or the final convergence with the Camino Francés in Melide feel like a genuine victory.
In conclusion, the Primitivo Way on a bike is a modern tribute to the difficulty of the original journey. It's a form of pilgrimage that substitutes the penance of slowness for extreme exertion, an adventurous sport that connects the cyclist of the 21st century with the spirit of overcoming of the first pilgrim in history.