Let’s start by describing one that I know well: The Camino de Santiago Francés through Aragón. This branch starts at the Somport pass (the first signpost is next to the Aysa Hostel) in Huesca and joins the French Way in Óbanos (just 2km from Puente La Reina de Navarra), on the Plaza de Los Fueros and after having enjoyed one of the most recognizable churches on the Camino: Santa María de Eunate.
I’m not going to deceive you: it is a lonely but worthwhile Camino. However, it is best to avoid summer because of the high temperatures and the lack of shade in some of the stages.
Total length
The total length of the French Way of St. James through Aragon from Somport depends on the variants. I leave you a map so that you can see the detail of each one of them:
- Official: Somport – Jaca – Arrés – Ruesta – Sangüesa – Monreal – Puente La Reina: 165.60 km.
- The variants are as follows:
- Sangüesa to Monreal by the Foz de Lumbier: 170.70 km
- Jaca to Arrés via San Juan de La Peña: 184.50 km
- Puente de la Reina de Jaca to Sangüesa through La Canal de Berdún: 178.20 km
Stages of the French Way of St. James through Aragon
The truth is that, once past Jaca, it is a lonely Camino, but that is precisely why it is special:
- Somport >Jaca: The easiest way to get there is by the bus of the Mancomunidad del Alto Valle del Aragón that goes to the ski resort of Astún. I took it late so I stopped at Canfranc-Estación which is a mandatory stop.
- Jaca > Arrés: There is a stretch parallel to the Jaca-Pamplona road but the arrival at the village of Arrés and its hostel is worth the effort.
- Arrés > Ruesta. Walking through the cereal fields, bordering the Yesa reservoir and reaching the abandoned village of Ruesta is one of the most beautiful stages of this Camino.
- Ruesta > Sangüesa (Navarra). On this occasion it leaves Aragón and enters Navarre. It is a long stage and the entrance to Sangüesa is not one of the most beautiful but the town has many attractions. In addition, the hostel is one of the best.
- Sangüesa > Monreal. I chose the Foz de Lumbier variant. The day was very hot and there were hardly any places to stop for a drink. What I remember most are the fountains and dinner at the lodge. Single stage in summer… and the last one.
- Monreal > Puente la Reina de Navarra. In this stage we pass by the Church of Santa María de Eunate, one of the symbols of the Camino de Santiago. In Óbanos, the Camino joins the French Camino de Santiago coming from Roncesvalles. Here is a spherical photo I took inside the church.
