St James's Way by Cristian Rosero

History of St James’s Way

The Way of St. James or St. James’ Way, often known by its Spanish name, el Camino de Santiago, is the pilgrimage to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain, where legend has it that the remains of the apostle, Saint James the Great, are buried.

The Way of St James has existed for over a thousand years. It was one of the most important Christian pilgrimages during medieval times. It was considered one of three pilgrimages on which all sins could be forgiven; the others are the Via Francigena to Rome and the pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

 

There is not a single route; the Way can take one of any number of pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela. However a few of the routes are considered main ones. Santiago is such an important pilgrimage destination because it is considered the burial site of the apostle, James the Great. During the middle ages, the route was highly travelled. However, the Black Plague, the Protestant Reformation and political unrest in 16th– century Europe resulted in its decline. Until the 1980s, only a few pilgrims arrived in Santiago annually. However, since then, the route has attracted a growing number of modern–day pilgrims from around the globe. The route was declared the first European Cultural Route by the Council of Europe in October 1987; it was also named one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites in 1993.

 

The modern day pilgrimage

Today tens of thousands of Christian pilgrims and other travellers set out each year from their front doorstep, or popular starting points across Europe, to make their way to Santiago de Compostela. Most travel by foot, some by bicycle. In addition to people undertaking a religious pilgrimage, there are many travellers and hikers who walk the route for non–religious reasons: travel, sport, or simply the challenge of weeks of walking in a foreign land.

 

Routes to Santiago

Pilgrims on the Way of St. James walk for weeks or months to visit the city of Santiago de Compostela. They can follow many routes (any path to Santiago is a pilgrim’s path) but the most popular route is the French Way or Camino Francés. The most common starting points on the Camino Francés are “Saint Jean Pied de Port“ on the French side of the Pyrenees or Roncesvalles on the Spanish side.  Some Europeans begin their pilgrimage from the very doorstep of their homes just as their medieval counterparts did hundreds of years ago.

In conclusion, "the Way of St. James" is a spiritual trip, but also considered as a family outing or friends, for sports, where you enjoy fresh air, a good walk and an unforgettable experience.

 

 taken from:

www.caminosantiago.com/

www.thewayof-stjames.com/