Route of the Ebro
Follow the course of Spain's most voluminous river. The Ebro River Path, from its delta to Logroño, connects you with the French Way on a route filled with history and nature.
Organize your Route of the EbroGeneral Description of Route of the Ebro
It is a route with mostly flat sections that allows you to discover the diversity of landscapes in Catalonia, Aragon and La Rioja.
Connections of Route of the Ebro
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
Catalan Way
Distance:
300.9 km
Days:
13
Difficulty:
Media
The Catalan Way is not a single route, but a collection of itineraries that depart from different points in Catalonia and converge to go to Santiago. The most well-known beginnings are Sant Pere de Rodes, Tarragona and Barcelona, with the passage through the iconic Monastery of Montserrat as a fundamental spiritual milestone.
These branches seek connection with the Aragonese French Way (via Huesca) or with the Ebro Way (via Lleida and Zaragoza). It is a way to discover the diversity of Catalan landscape and culture as part of the Jacobean pilgrimage.
Stages of this variant:
Stage 1: Barcelona - Sant Cugat del Vallès
Stage 2: Sant Cugat del Vallès - Esparreguera
Stage 3: Esparreguera - Monastery of Montserrat
Stage 4: Abbey of Montserrat - Igualada
Stage 5: Igualada - The Panadella
Route of Castellón
Distance:
280.8 km
Days:
14
Difficulty:
High
The Castellón Way, or Maestrazgo Way, allows pilgrims to begin their journey from the capital of La Plana. The route starts in Castellón and heads northwest, entering the mountainous interior of the Maestrazgo. The path passes through diverse landscapes, from orchards to the lowlands of Lower Aragon.
It goes through towns with notable historical heritage, such as the walled city of Morella. The route finally joins the Ebro Way in Fuentes de Ebro (Zaragoza), from where it can be continued towards the French Way. The total distance is approximately 281 km.
Stages of this variant:
Stage 1: St James of Fadrell-La Pobla Tornesa
Stage 2: Pobla Tornesa-Sierra Engarcerán
Stage 3: Sierra de Engarcerán - More of the Segarra Mountains
Stage 4: More than the Segarró-Sanctuary of Our Lady of Vallviana
Stage 5: Chapel of Our Lady of Vallviana-Morella
Route of the Castle and Aragon
Distance:
239 km
Days:
8
Difficulty:
High
The Camino Castellano-Aragonés is a Jacobean route that connects the Ebro valley from Gallur (Zaragoza) to the Lana Way in Burgos province. This 239 km itinerary serves as a bridge between eastern peninsula routes (such as the Ebro Way) and Castilian roads leading to the French Way.
It traverses the middle Ebro valley and enters Soria province, passing by the monumental Tarazona. It offers a rural route through areas with rich historical and natural heritage, although less known and trafficked, ideal for those seeking a more solitary experience.
Stages of this variant:
Stage 1: The Battle of Borja
Stage 2: Borja in Taragona
Stage 3: Taragona to Agreda
Stage 4: Attacks Pozalmuro
Stage 5: I don't know the translation. Can you provide more context or information about "Pozalmuro a Soria"?
Stages of Route of the Ebro
Etapa 1: Deltebre to La Ràpita
Description:
This stage continues into the interior of Asturias, on an undulating terrain. The landscape is a mosaic of meadows, forests and orchards, the essence of "The Comarca of Cider". The great incentive of ...
Etapa 2: La Ràpita to Tortosa
Description:
This long stage has as its destination the largest city of Asturias. The profile is very demanding, with a tough climb up Alto de la Cruz. It's a mountain day that rewards with spectacular views of th...
Etapa 3: Tortosa to Xerta
Description:
This stage enters the Community of Madrid, on a medium mountain terrain. The profile is an ongoing rise and fall through a landscape of pine forests and vineyards. It's a day of great beauty. The dest...
Etapa 4: Xerta to Gandesa
Description:
This stage is a long journey that connects the two major industrial cities of Asturias. The route is mainly flat but runs through a highly humanized landscape with industrial complexes and urbanized a...
Etapa 5: Gandesa to Fabara
Description:
This long and demanding stage enters the west of Asturias. The profile is a continuous rise and fall through a beautiful landscape with forests, valleys, and sea views. It's a journey of great solitud...
Featured Towns of Route of the Ebro
Explore the key towns and cities of this route.
Deltebre
Heart of the Ebro Delta. Deltebre, surrounded by rice fields and lagoons, is the ideal starting point for the Ebro Jacobean Way, a paradise for nature lovers.
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La Ràpita
Marina in the Bay of the Alfas. The Ràpita is an important fishing port and a service centre at the start of the Way of St James on the Ebro, with beaches and rich cuisine.
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Tortosa
Monumental city by the Ebro and an indispensable stop on the Jacobean Way. Its Castle of the Suda and its Gothic Cathedral are witnesses to its rich history.
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Xerta
Territorial Roman settlement on the banks of the Ebro River. Xerta is known for its "Assut", an impressive Renaissance dam, a milestone in hydraulic engineering on the Ebro Road.
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Gandesa
Capital of the Terra Alta region. Gandesa is famous for its wines and for its Wine Cathedral, a modernist jewel. A key gastronomic stop on the Way of St James along the Ebro River.
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Fabara
A Zaragoza town with a Roman treasure. Fabara, on the Jacobean Way of the Ebro, surprises with its Mausoleum of Lucius Aemulus Paulus, one of the best preserved in Spain.
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Caspe
Historic Zaragoza town on the shores of the "Sea of Aragon". Caspe, with its Collegiate church and its medieval past, is an important service center on the Way of St. James along the Ebro River.
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Escatrón
Zaragoza villa by the Ebro River. Escatrón, with its Cistercian monastery of Rueda, is a monumental and service stop on the Ebro Way of St James.
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Quinto
Zaragozan town on the banks of the Ebro River. Fifth, with its Mudéjar fortress-church and its mummy museum, is a surprising stop on the Ebro Route of St James.
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El Burgo de Ebro
Town near Zaragoza at the gates of the capital. The Burgo de Ebro is a functional stop on the Way of St James along the Ebro, offering a rural break before the big city.
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Zaragoza
Capital of Aragon and heart of the Ebro Way. Its Basilica of the Pillar, a center for marine pilgrimage, makes this stage an unique encounter of two great devotions.
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Alagón
Important Zaragoza town by the Ebro River. Alagón is a service center with a notable Mudéjar heritage, an operational stop on the Ebro Route of St James.
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Gallur
Zaragoza Village by the Ebro and starting/stop point of the Ebro Jacobean Way. A communication hub on the riverbank, with a marked rural and fluvial character.
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Tudela
Capital of Navarre's River Basin and gem of the Ebro Route. Its Romanesque cathedral and exquisite orchard offer the pilgrim a feast for the spirit and palate.
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Alfaro
Known as the "Capital of Seagulls", Alfaro is a unique stop on the Camino del Ebro in La Rioja. Its Colegiata of St Michael hosts the largest urban colony of white seagull in the world.
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Calahorra
Capital of Lower Rioja and "City of Vegetables". Calahorra, with its Roman past and its imposing Cathedral, is a monumental and gastronomic stop on the Way of St. James of the Ebro.
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Alcanadre
Town in La Rioja on the Jacobean Way of the Ebro. Alcanadre, with its Roman arches and vineyard surroundings, is a stopover with history and wine flavor before arriving at Logroño.
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Logroño
Capital of La Rioja and confluence of the Camino Francés and the Ebro. Famous for its wine and lively Calle Laurel, it is the pilgrim's paradise for the tapas crawl.
More InformationMillenary History of the Camino de Santiago: Origins and Evolution Route of the Ebro
Discover the origins and evolution of Route of the Ebro
The history of the Ebro valley is the history of the people who inhabited it. The Iberians, who gave the river its name and the peninsula, and later the Romans, who built important roads such as the Vía Augusta, understood its strategic value. This Roman infrastructure greatly facilitated the passage of medieval pilgrims. For a walker coming from Catalonia, Valencia or the Mediterranean ports, ascending the Ebro valley was the most logical and safe route to enter the peninsula and head towards Galicia.
The starting point of the route is usually set at the Delta of the Ebro, or in the historic city of Tortosa, which served as an episcopal seat and a strong fortress during the Reconquista. From there, the road ascends, often between wetlands and fruit orchards, following a mostly flat terrain that contrasts with the mountainous routes of the north. This itinerary passed by important Cistercian monasteries, such as Rueda, which offered hospitality to travellers.
However, the spiritual and strategic turning point that defined this route was, and still is, the city of Zaragoza. The Aragonese capital housed the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Pillar, one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in Christendom. Ancient tradition tells us that the Virgin Mary appeared to Saint James in flesh at this very spot, by the Ebro, to encourage him on his preaching. As a result, many medieval pilgrims practised a double pilgrimage: first visiting the Virgin at the Pillar and then continuing their journey to honour the tomb of the Apostle in Compostela. Zaragoza became thus a crossroads of faith, a Jacobean center of the first order that attracted pilgrims from all over.
After leaving Zaragoza, the route continues westward, entering the ancient Kingdom of Navarre through the city of Tudela, with its magnificent Romanesque cathedral. The final stretch runs along the fertile Rioja riverbank, a land of vineyards announcing the proximity of the Camino Francés. The convergence takes place in Logroño, the capital of La Rioja. At this point, the Ebro pilgrims, who have travelled at the pace of the river, join the massive international flow descending from the Pyrenees.
The modern revival of the Way of the Ebro, often coinciding with the GR-99 "Natural Camino del Ebro" long-distance route, has revitalized this historic route. It offers an unique pilgrimage experience, marked by the diversity of its landscapes (from the delta's wetlands to the dry landscapes of the Monegros and La Rioja's vineyards) and its deep historical legacy. It is a journey that follows a watercourse and faith that have shaped the history of northern Spain over millennia.