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Part 4 - continued from "Best Kept Secrets from Spain" - by Anne-Marie Dingemans
El Camino de Santiago is a pilgrim's route, or more truthfully, a collection of 7 routes, that lead to Santiago de Compostella in Galicia in North-Western Spain. The 'French route' is the most popular; starting in Saint Jean Pied-de-Port low in the French Pyrenees and running for 800km across Northern Spain to Santiago. Existing since the year 950 and once a rival to better know pilgrim sites such as Rome and these days, 'El Camino' is becoming more and more popular as a nature hike, and not so much as a spiritual exercise. With many people walking only parts of the route you may have trouble finding a bed in the 'albergues' (hostals) along the route. It's not very surprising that this pilgrim route is so popular, as it leads one through some of the most beautiful country side in Spain, as well as interesting cities such as Pamplona, Burgos and Leon. Doing a part of the route, with a stop or two in the bigger towns along the way, can make for a very interesting alternative nature/culture vacation. Of course, you can also bike or take your car.
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