Although walking on the Road may not be possible for a while, it’s a good time to start ‘Camino dreamin’! Check out Camino Aragones, a 100 mile route that starts in the Pyrenees on the border of France & Spain (shown above). Dad & I walked it as part of our third Camino in 2015. The Aragones is a ‘less traveled’ route with challenging stretches & a limited infrastructure (albergues, etc.), so it’s recommended for more experienced trekkers/travelers.
The Aragones includes mountain peaks, rolling hills, & quaint stops with art historical treasures. We spent a ‘rest’ day sightseeing in Jaca, a tourist town with the 16th c. pentagonal Ciudadela de Jaca known as the Castle of San Pedro. The star-shaped structure is surrounded by a grass moat with deer grazing.
During the Middle Ages, Jaca was a major pilgrim portal with at least 4 hospices that provided shelter to walkers. The town’s 12th c. Catedral de San Pedro set the architectural style for many churches along the Road to Santiago. It has a Romanesque foundation with Gothic, Renaissance, & Baroque elements added over the centuries.
The Aragones route is historically important to the Camino — until the 12th c. pilgrims coming from France entered Spain via the Aragones rather than more north across the border into Navarra. This Spanish region is at the beginning of the Frances & became a popular starting point in later centuries.
By Izco Dad stands next to a Camino marker in a design typical of this region.
Near Obanos is Iglesia de Santa Maria de Eunate, a 12th c. octagonal Romanesque church. It’s origins remain a mystery, though it’s been associated with the Order of the Knights Templar. Old graves with shells have been found in the area, signifying that medieval pilgrims visited here.
The Aragones connects with Camino Frances in Obanos, which is adjacent to the major pilgrimage town of Puente la Reina. The town includes 12th c. Iglesia del Crucifijo that was built by the Knights Templar & located next to a medieval pilgrims’ hospital.