Camino Francés ou Camino del Norte ? Voici ce que tu dois savoir avant de choisir…
Like many people wishing to tackle the Spanish part of the Camino de Santiago, I wondered which route to take. The Camino Francès or the Camino del Norte? In light of my discussions with other walkers, and in particular with my friend Bernard, who has walked both routes, here is a brief summary of the advantages and disadvantages of these two routes. For the Camino Francès, it is first and foremost the fact that it is the most natural route arriving from the Puy-en-Velay route, since it is a continuation of the arrival in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. It is also a very popular route with many, even enormous, pilgrims, which creates a friendly atmosphere and easy encounters. The infrastructure is abundant. There are many accommodations, services, and facilities adapted to pilgrims. From a historical and cultural point of view, these are of course passages through emblematic cities such as Logroño, Burgos, and Léon with a strong historical and religious richness. On the downside, it’s a very busy route. It can be extremely busy, especially in high season, with more people on the paths. It also means less scenic diversity. It’s a path through the interior, sometimes very monotonous and without views of the ocean. For the Camino del Norte, the advantages are of course the coastal landscapes. These are magnificent views of the Cantabrian Sea with varied landscapes between mountains and ocean. It’s also a less busy route. There are far fewer pilgrims than on the Camino Francès, which allows for a quieter atmosphere and more privacy. It’s also the diversity of the stages: These are much more varied routes than the Camino Francès, with picturesque villages despite stages that can sometimes be more physical. On the downside, first of all, it’s a much less obvious link from the Puy route. Indeed, once you arrive in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, you have to reach Hendaye, which adds either a train ride or another connecting hike, which is magnificent by the way; I send you my video made in 2022 on the GR10. It is a more demanding route. Some stages are hilly and more physically demanding. There are also fewer services, less infrastructure than on the Camino Francès, which may require more anticipation or sometimes longer stages than expected, especially if you are not independent. In summary, the Camino Francès is perfect for a first experience, with more amenities and a lively atmosphere, while the Camino del Norte is ideal for those looking for more authenticity and tranquility. In both cases, I wish you a Buen Camino!
Comme beaucoup désirant s’attaquer à la partie Espagnole du Chemin de Compostelle, je me suis posé la question de savoir quelle voie emprunter : Le Camino Francès ou le Camino del Norte ?
À la lumière de mes discussions avec les autres marcheurs et en particulier avec mon ami Bernard, qui a parcouru les deux itinéraires, voici un petit résumé des avantages et inconvénients de ces deux parcours.
Lien sur ma vidéo de l’itinéraire de jonction de Saint-Jean-pied-de-port à Hendaye par le GR10 :