Way of Salvador
The Way of St James connects Leon and Oviedo, linking the French Way with the Primitive Way. A demanding mountain route of great beauty and historical significance to visit the Cathedral of Oviedo.
Organize your Way of SalvadorGeneral Description of Way of Salvador
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.
Connections of Way of Salvador
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
The Primitive Way
Distance:
321 km
Days:
14
Difficulty:
High
Considered the first Jacobean itinerary, the Primitive Way was the route taken by King Alfonso II the Chaste in the 9th century to visit the Apostle's tomb. Starting from Oviedo, this demanding 321 km trail ventures into Asturias and Lugo mountains until it joins the French Way in Melide.
Known for its hardness due to constant inclines, but rewarding pilgrims with breathtaking landscapes, native forests, and a lower crowd, allowing for a more introspective experience. It passes through charming localities such as Tineo and Lugo, whose Roman wall is UNESCO World Heritage Site. It's the perfect option for those seeking a physical challenge and a deep connection to the origins of the Way and nature.
Stages of this variant:
Stage 1: Oviedo to Huelva
Stage 2: Degree in Salas
Stage 3: Salas de Tineo
Stage 4: Thorn in the Side / The Spine
Stage 5: Barrages of Berducedo
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
Aragonese Way
Distance:
165.6 km
Days:
6
Difficulty:
Media
The Aragonese Way is one of the historical entry routes to the French Way on the Iberian Peninsula. From the Somport Pass, it covers 166 km through beautiful Pirenne landscapes, passing by landmarks such as Jaca and its Romanesque cathedral, the Monastery of San Juan de la Peña or the hermitage of Santa María de Eunate. In Puente la Reina (Navarra), it joins the Way that comes from Roncesvalles.
It is a route with an immense Romanesque patrimony and less pilgrim traffic, which offers a more intimate and authentic experience.
Stages of this variant:
Stage 1: Port of Jaca
Stage 2: Jacques d'Arras
Stage 3: Arras to Ruesca
Stage 4: To Sue
Stage 5: Song of Monreal
Cycle Route of St. Salvador
Distance:
121.8 km
Days:
2
Difficulty:
High
The bike route of St. James is a short but extremely demanding route, designed for mountain bike experts. In 2 stages, it connects the cathedrals of León and Oviedo, crossing the Cantabrian Mountains via passes such as Pajares. The phrase "Who goes to Santiago and not to Salvador, visits the servant and not the Lord" takes on a new dimension of effort over two wheels. The landscapes are spectacular and the feeling of achievement is immense. It's one of the purest and most challenging cycling experiences in northern Spain.
Stages of this variant:
Stage 1: Leon to Pajares (Bicycle)
Stage 2: Rides to Oviedo (by bike)
Elevation Profile of Way of Salvador
Visualize the ups and downs of the route.
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Stages of Way of Salvador
Etapa 1: León to La Robla
Description:
This is the inaugural stage of the Camino del Salvador, the historic route that connects León with Oviedo. The journey begins saying goodbye to the majestic Cathedral of León and entering a landscape ...
Etapa 2: La Robla to Buiza
Description:
This stage immerses the pilgrim in the Astur-Leonese mountain range. The route is of exceptional beauty but also considerable demand. The ascent continues through the valley of Bernesga, passing by vi...
Etapa 3: Poladura de la Tercia to Pajares
Description:
This is the queen stage of the Camino del Salvador, a high mountain day that culminates with crossing the historic Puerto de Pajares. The route is an alpine spectacular beauty, but also of great diffi...
Origen: Poladura de la Tercia
Destino: Pajares
Etapa 4: Pajares to Pola de Lena
Description:
After the harshness of the port, this stage offers a long and vertiginous descent along the Asturian slope. The path drops more than 1,000 meters in elevation, putting the pilgrim's knees to the test....
Origen: Pajares
Destino: Pola de Lena
Etapa 5: Pola de Lena to Mieres del Camino
Description:
This is a short and gentle phase that enters the Miners' Basins of Asturias. The route is a transition from mountain landscape to an industrial and populated environment. The trail follows the Caudal ...
Origen: Pola de Lena
Destino: Mieres del Camino
Etapa 6: Mieres del Camino to Oviedo
Description:
The last stage of the Way of St. James is a short and gentle route that culminates in the capital of Asturias. The route moves away from the mining valley to ascend lightly before approaching Oviedo f...
Origen: Mieres del Camino
Destino: Oviedo
Featured Towns of Way of Salvador
Explore the key towns and cities of this route.
León
Old capital of the Kingdom, Leon is a gem on the French Way. It shines with its Gothic Cathedral, Saint Isidore's Basilica and lively Wet Quarter, perfect for tapas.
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Buiza
Small mountain village on the Way of St James. Buiza offers the pilgrim a spectacular natural setting and an authentic experience of the Leónese Cantabrian Mountains.
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La Robla
Industrial village in the Leónese mountains and stop on the Way of St James. The Robla, with its mining tradition, offers pilgrims all services before entering the Cantabrian Mountains.
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Poladura de la Tercia
Authentic mountain village on the Leónese side of the Way of Salvador. Poladura de la Tercia is an idyllic haven for relaxation in a privileged natural setting.
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Pajares
Legendary mountain port that joins Leon and Asturias. The Port of Pajares is the great challenge of the Way of Salvador, a geographical landmark that rewards the pilgrim with unforgettable alpine landscapes.
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Pola de Lena
Heart of the Way of St James in Asturias. Pola de Lena, in the valley of the River Lena, is a key service center and starting point for exploring pre-Romanesque Asturian.
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Mieres del Camino
Heart of Asturian mining region. Mieres, on the Way of St. James, offers the pilgrim an industrial landscape and all services of a vibrant and historically working-class town.
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Oviedo
Capital of Asturias and the birthplace of the Way of St. James. Oviedo is the starting point of the Primitive Way, the original route. Its Cathedral and pre-Romanesque art are must-see attractions.
More InformationMillenary History of the Camino de Santiago: Origins and Evolution Way of Salvador
Discover the origins and evolution of Way of Salvador
The origins of this route date back to the High Middle Ages, when Oviedo, as the former capital of the Kingdom of Asturias, became a major pilgrimage center, rivaling Santiago in importance. Its prestige was based on the extraordinary treasure it housed in its Chamber of Holy Relics. Among these relics, which were brought from southern Spain to protect them from the advancing Muslim forces, stood out the Ark of the Covenant, which contained numerous sacred objects from Jerusalem, and above all, the Holy Sudarium, the cloth that according to tradition covered Christ's face after his crucifixion. The fame of these relics, directly associated with the figure of Jesus Christ, the Saviour, attracted pilgrims from all over Europe.
When the French Way consolidated itself as the main pilgrimage route to Santiago, pilgrims arriving in León, another important center of relics with the remains of Saint Isidore, were faced with a spiritual dilemma. Many, driven by a deep faith, considered it an obligation to deviate towards the north to pay homage first to "the Lord" in Oviedo before continuing on to visit the tomb of their "servant," the Apostle Santiago. This detour was not a whim, but a penitential act that added considerable spiritual merit to their pilgrimage.
The Way of the Saviour is therefore the physical bridge connecting León with Oviedo. It is an 120-kilometer demanding route that traverses the imposing Cantabrian Mountains, a formidable natural barrier. The path ascends from León through the Bernesga valley and faces difficult mountain passes like Pajares, historically challenging and often snow-covered in winter. The difficulty of the route, with its pronounced inclines and harsh climate, was part of the penitential experience. Despite the challenges, the route had a network of hospitals and hostels to care for brave travelers.
Once in Oviedo, after having venerated the relics of the Cathedral of San Salvador, the pilgrim found himself in a unique position: he was at the starting point of the Primitive Way, the original route that King Alfonso II the Wise had taken in the ninth century. In this way, the Way of the Saviour functioned as a perfect connector, allowing the pilgrim to link the French Way with the foundational Jacobean route, thus completing an itinerary of unparalleled historical and spiritual richness.
After a period of reduced traffic, the Way of the Saviour has been rediscovered and marked in recent decades, attracting modern pilgrims seeking a physical challenge, breathtaking mountain landscapes, and a deeper connection with the history of pilgrimage in the Iberian Peninsula. It is a short route in terms of distance but intense in effort and reward, which remains a testament to the complex and fascinating mindset of medieval pilgrims.