The most important thing here is the Goal, not the Way. Jacobean Pilgrims do not go on pilgrimage for the sake of the Way. Through the Way they do get to the Tomb of Saint James "the Great". Their sacrifice and suffering while journeying to Compostela are living symbols. It consists in revealing their solidarity and compromise to the Good News of Jesus, which echoes from the Apostle's Tomb: "The time has come. The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" (Mark 1,15).

Thus, the Way is just a means, a road the pilgrim walks along. The starting point is our home. Subsequently, there should be as many ways as homes. But from the beginning the pilgrimage to St. James has been, due to its Christian meaning, an open decision for the community taking into account its goal - the Apostle's Tomb -, its fulfilment - with the community - and its meaning: to build the Kingdom of the Lord. That is why the Way is a meeting point for people with similar goals in life. It is a place of love and solidarity between pilgrims and the inhabitants of the villages they go through. And also - by means of the monuments - a permanent remembrance of the efforts and sorrows of those coming to Compostela. The Pilgrimage to St. James was determined by the European Church in the 8^th century. That was the time when the Apostle's Tomb was discovered. A time when the ways to the Holy Places were blocked by Islam's progression. In the Holy Places ruled the Redemption and Toledan Syncretism, whose representative was the Archbishop Elipando with the support of other bishops. This movement tried to confuse Christianity and Islam.  The discovery of the Tomb led to the creation of a European movement around the Jacobean heritage. Obviously, only the Hispanics from the northern coast could go on pilgrimage to St. James, since it was not under the Muslims' control. Here lies the importance of the French Way, consolidated after the conquer of La Rioja by the Navarrese in the 10^th century and protected by law. 

The so-called 'Camino del Norte" (Northern Way) was a less common alternative because of its hardness. Just remember the descriptions in Codex Calixtinus and La Historia Compostelana. The ways coming from the South began to arise at the end of the Middle Ages, as the progression of Christian Kingdoms made the pilgrimage possible. Sea routes are linked to the development of sea travels from England and Ireland. Do not forget that sea navigation, in its splendour in Roman times, underwent a hard decline in the Middle Ages and did not recover until the end of that time.

The Ways to Saint James

It led non-Spanish Christians through France to Saint James. It crossed France from three different points, where pilgrims from all over the world met. Obviously, these starting points gave rise to the creation of four main routes:

a) From Paris, through Tour and Poitiers (Touronensis)

b) From Vezelay, through Limoges and Perigeux (Limosina)

c) From Le Puy, through Moisac and Conques (Podiensis)

d) From Arles (Toulesana)

- The first three (a, b, c), before entering Spain, come together in Ostabat. From there, pilgrims get to Saint Jean Pied de Port, Valcarlos and Roncesvalles. 

The fourth one (d) comes to Spain crossing over Somport pass, Canfranc and Jaca.

It is in Puente la Reina (Navarra) where the Ways to Saint James continue as a single road (Codex Calixtinus). Here is the small hermitage of Eunate, whose exceptional octagonal form has awakened so many people's imagination. Its form along with the fact of being the meeting point of all the roads reminds us of the Sacrament of Baptism. In fact, ancient baptisteries usually had an octagonal ground plan and all roads to man's happiness turn into a unique one by accepting Jesus and receiving the Sacrament of Baptism. 

The distance from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Saint James de Compostela is approximately 775 Km. It can be completed in 25 stages on foot and in 12 stages by bicycle. You could also need a couple of days to rest. From there and Roncesvalles the pilgrim goes through a number of villages with refuges and other religious services at pilgrims' disposal. Most refuges are free and in other cases it is convenient to give some contribution. As reference point here you have the names of the Spanish dioceses existing along the Way. Click here for information on every diocese: Jaca, Pamplona, Calahorra-La Calzada-Logroño, Burgos, Palencia, León, Astorga, Lugo and Santiago.

a) "Camino Primitivo del Norte de España" (Primitive Way of the North of Spain) through Asturias entering Lugo through different places.

b) "Vía de la Plata", starting from Seville, through Mérida, Cáceres, Salamanca, Zamora, joins the French Way in Astorga or enters Galicia through Orense.

C) Portuguese Way. It comes to Spain through Valença (Portugal) and Tuy, starting from Oporto via Braga or Viana do Castelo.