To end of camino
838.70
Altitude
1640
Accommodation in Somport.
Private
→ 1.0km.
To end of camino
837.70
Altitude
1510
Accommodation in Candanchú.
Private
Camino de Santiago Accommodation: Albergue Pepe Garcés
→ 5.5km.
To end of camino
832.20
Altitude
1204
→ 2.1km.
To end of camino
830.10
→ 2.2km.
To end of camino
827.90
Altitude
1045
→ 4.7km.
To end of camino
823.20
Altitude
951
Accommodation in Villanúa.
Municipal
→ 6.6km.
To end of camino
816.60
Altitude
914
→ 7.5km.
To end of camino
809.10
Altitude
826
The camino splits shortly after passing through Jaca. The longer of the routes, which visits the monasteries of San Juan de la Peña is the most original of the two. Pilgrims being pilgrims, a shortcut was made which for its shortness has become a well-worn path parallel to the national road. If you can manage an additional 11.5km, you are advised to take the more southern route to the monasteries. Both paths rejoin in Santa Cilia. NOTE: The Jaca to Puente la Reina stage splits just before Puente La Reina. Puente is actually on the Northern Route to Sangüesa. Crossing the bridge and entering Puente is not a large detour if you wish to follow the road to Arres (returning over the bridge), and there are services in Puente but no albergue.
Accommodation in Jaca.
Municipal
→ 5.0km.
To end of camino
804.10
→ 5.2km.
Altitude
797
→ 3.3km.
Altitude
792
→ 4.1km.
Altitude
758
→ 10.0km.
To end of camino
794.10
Altitude
649
Accommodation in Santa Cilia.
Municipal
→ 6.2km.
To end of camino
787.90
The distance to Arres (on the Southern route) is about 4km from the Puente la Reina bridge.
→ 3.6km.
To end of camino
784.30
Altitude
693
Accommodation in Arrés.
Association
→ 17.4km.
To end of camino
766.90
Altitude
630
→ 10.3km.
To end of camino
756.60
Altitude
552
→ 11.3km.
To end of camino
745.30
Altitude
626
→ 10.7km.
To end of camino
734.60
Altitude
399
→ 2.2km.
To end of camino
732.40
Altitude
455
→ 15.6km.
To end of camino
716.80
Altitude
709
→ 2.0km.
To end of camino
714.80
Altitude
703
→ 4.8km.
To end of camino
710.00
Altitude
560
→ 2.4km.
To end of camino
707.60
Altitude
545
→ 4.3km.
To end of camino
703.30
Altitude
549
→ 1.7km.
To end of camino
701.60
Altitude
532
→ 1.8km.
To end of camino
699.80
Altitude
520
→ 1.6km.
To end of camino
698.20
Altitude
590
→ 4.0km.
To end of camino
694.20
Altitude
579
→ 4.0km.
To end of camino
690.20
Altitude
568
→ 1.4km.
To end of camino
688.80
Altitude
584
→ 4.5km.
To end of camino
684.30
Altitude
427
Off Camino
2.60

Octagonal 12th century Iglesia de Eunate.

The history of this ermita is still up for debate, and like most things in Spain are divided into two camps. Some believe it is of Knights Templar origin, and the rest believe it was a funeral chapel. Separate yourself from that intellectual debate and you will find a countryside setting with a small gem of architecture for you to contemplate.

SUMMER HOURS:

March 24th to June 30th

MON - SUN 10:30-14:00 / 15:00-19:00

July 1st to August 31st

MON - SUN 10:30-14:00 / 16:00-20:00

September 1st to October 14th

MON - SUN 10:30-14:00 / 15:00-19:00

→ 5.2km.
To end of camino
679.10
Altitude
414
History

Obanos is the real-life setting of a passion play that takes place here every even-numbered year at the end of July. It is a tragic tale of two saints.

The origins of the play are traced to the 14th century, when Santa Felicia, sister to the Duke of Aquitaine (San Guillén), left her home for a pilgrimage to Santiago.

The life suited her and when she arrived in Obanos she decided to devote herself to aiding pilgrims. Her brother set out on a mission of his own, that of bringing her back home with the lure of the comfortable lifestyle she had left behind. He was unable to do so, and in a fit of rage killed her.

Wracked with remorse, the young Duke decided to complete her pilgrimage in penitence. On his return journey, he holed up in the nearby hermitage of Arnotegui. He built a chapel there and continued the mission that his sister had begun.

The Iglesia de San Juan Bautista preserves the skull of Guillén.

Fiesta

The Mystery of Obanos - end of July on even numbered years, see history below.

The Road

Outside of Obanos, on the road to Puente la Reina, the Camino Aragonés joins the Camino Francés.

Photo of Obanos on the Camino de Santiago
→ 2.5km.
To end of camino
676.60
Altitude
350

There are a pair of churches in town that are worthy of a peek. They are the Iglesia del Crucifijo (with a rather distinct crucifix) and the Iglesia de Santiago (with its black Santiago).  The best view of the old bridge is from the new bridge.

History

The name of this town is rather romantically attributed to the benefactor of the bridge over the río Arga. It is a nice sentiment, but not an altogether accurate one. In fact, historians quibble over which 11th century Queen had it built. One thing is for certain, banditry continued to present a problem to the growing town, and in the 13th century a wall was built to protect it.

It was rectilinear in shape and was not much bigger than the current town, and little remains: 

1. Calle Cerco, ‘cerco’ being the word for wall. Of the 26 original towers most have become part of private homes, the best visible example is the stonework inside Hotel Cerco. 

2. The city gate which opens to the bridge. Of the original 4 doors, it is the only one that remains.

Fiesta

Puenta la Reina celebrates Santiago as their patron, from July 24th to July 30th. They also have a few harvest festivals in September, including one which celebrates the red peppers that are grown in the hills between here and Eunate.

The Road

The camino leaves Puente la Reina by passing over its namesake bridge. From there it turns left, crosses the main road, and follows a footpath. Shortly, it begins a short but steep ascent on slippery-when-wet terrain. It is not uncommon to find cyclists pushing their gear upwards. 

Photo of Puente la Reina [Gares] on the Camino de Santiago
Photo of Puente la Reina [Gares] on the Camino de Santiago