The classic: Cycling pilgrimage on the Way of St James
The most popular pilgrimage route in Europe, the Camino Francés from the Pyrenees through the north of Spain, measures more than 800 kilometres and more than 16,000 metres in altitude. The numbers already suggest it: Pilgrimage is not necessarily about travelling for pleasure, even if you do it on an e-bike. But the landscape, the cultural cities and the experience outweigh everything. However, you shouldn't cycle in hot July and August. Spring and early autumn are much more pleasant climatically.
Although the cycle route does not generally run along the pilgrims' path, it is always close to it. You have to expect bumpy, unpaved sections as well as strenuous climbs. Blue signs with the yellow scallop mark the route, but not all the way.
Insiders recommend allowing at least two weeks for the 817 kilometres of cycling from St.-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Santiago de Compostela so that there is enough time for rest periods and sightseeing. And if you still have time and energy, you should also cycle the remaining 93 kilometres to the "end of the world", to Cape Finisterre on the Atlantic. It is well worth it.
The GPX track for retracing the Way of St James is available free of charge on the MYBIKE tour portal:
Arrival
Travelling from Germany by train is inconvenient, so we recommend taking a flight. Travel to Pamplona or Biarritz, then continue by bus and train to St.-Jean-Pied-de-Port and back from Santiago de Compostela. You must register in advance if you wish to take your bike on the plane.
Organised trips
Six to twelve-day package tours on the Camino Francés/Camino Santiago, whether individually or in a group, also by e-bike, offer, among other things www.vuelta.de, www.biketeam-radreisen.de, www.belvelo.de and www.launer-reisen.de
Worth seeing
■ Old town of Pamplona
■ Puente la Reina
■ The medieval town of Estella
■ Navarrete
■ Ermita Nuestra Señora de la Peña
■ Burgos
■ León
■ Gaudí Palace in Astorga
■ Templar castle in Ponferrada
■ Santiago de Compostela
■ Cape and harbour of Finisterre
Overnight stay
From St.-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Cape Finisterre, there is a large number of accommodation options of various categories available. Detailed list in the Bikeline cycle tour book (see below).
Literature / Maps
Bikeline cycle tour book "Jakobs-Radweg - Von den Pyrenäen nach Santiago de Compostela", 160 p., with detailed maps 1:75,000
More info
www.jakobsweg.de - the pilgrim website,
www.spain.info/de - Information portal of the Spanish Tourist Board
The tour planner "Pilgrimage routes for cyclists" with the Way of St James and other pilgrimage routes for cyclists was featured in MYBIKE issue 3/2018. You can download the issue in the MYBIKE app (iTunes and Google Play) or in the DK-Shop order.
