What purpose did the Camino Real serve during Spanish years?

Most historians believe the Camino Real through Texas was developed in 1691 to link the Spanish colonial missions in East Texas with the administrative center of New Spain. And those missions were established to counter the threat of French intrusion into the northern borderlands of New Spain.



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With the establishment of a strict trade monopoly by Spain, the pueblo Indian trail was usurped as El Camino Real, the main route for the importation and integration of Spanish goods and lifeways into the local landscape. The road's initial purpose was to supply the Spanish military and support the missionary effort.

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The Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, also known as the Silver Route, was a Spanish 2,560-kilometre-long road between Mexico City and San Juan Pueblo, New Mexico, that was used from 1598 to 1882.

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El Camino Real connected with the Santa Fe Trail at Santa Fe and became the essential link between the growing U.S. economy and the long-established Mexican economy for the next 60 years.

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Pilgrims originally started coming to this location from all across Europe to witness the reported tomb of the apostle Saint James, son of Zebedee, known as “Santiago” by Spanish Catholics. The alleged remains of Saint James were interred in this location sometime after his recorded death in 44 A.D.

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Most historians believe the Camino Real through Texas was developed in 1691 to link the Spanish colonial missions in East Texas with the administrative center of New Spain. And those missions were established to counter the threat of French intrusion into the northern borderlands of New Spain.

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While it is possible to follow the general route of El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro today on modern highways in New Mexico and Texas, many miles of the Trail cross private lands and many of the most significant trail sites are privately owned or managed by tribal, state, or municipal agencies.

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According to tradition, the first pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago was carried out by the King of Asturias Alfonso II around 820.

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Is the Camino just for Catholics? Absolutely not. While the tradition is originally Catholic, nowadays most people walk the Camino for other reasons than a spiritual pilgrimage.

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The Camino is a network of pilgrimages leading to the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. There, according to tradition, lie the remains of St. James the Great—one of the first apostles called by Jesus, and the first to be martyred.

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Their history goes back to 1906, when Forbes designed the first of the El Camino Real Bells.

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Public bathrooms are not frequent on the Camino de Santiago. But, cafes, restaurants and bars are frequent, you may find one or two during the day, and these all have bathrooms that customers can use.

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Generally, most people believe that the Camino del Norte is the most beautiful in terms of landscape. This is because you walk along Northern Spain and at times have the option to walk on a direct coastal path overlooking the ocean.

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The scallop shell is the most recognizable symbol of the Camino de Santiago and has been used as a wayfinding tool for pilgrims. It represents the pilgrim's journey from all corners of the world and converging at the tomb of Saint James in Santiago de Compostela.

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