The legends of how the relics of St James the Great arrived in
Northern Spain are complex, and sceptics have doubts, but perhaps this
doesn’t matter. Pilgrims have been journeying to Santiago de Compostela
since the ninth century, and their faith and determination, continuing
today, are what counts.
There are a number of pilgrimage routes to Santiago de
Compostela, but the best known and most travelled, is the Camino, or
French Way, starting at Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, 5 miles inside France, and
continuing for nearly 500 miles across the north of Spain.
To be a true pilgrim this should be walked, which, for the fit
and determined, will take around a month. (There is a get-out which
allows you to walk, or ride on a horse, just for the last 60 miles or
so.) This was a little too challenging for us!
Our tour mainly involved a tourist bus, and took
12 days. We visited many of the towns, churches and monasteries on the
way, and this posting is an attempt to record our experience.
Click on the pilgrimage sign below to start the journey in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. Individual links below that allow you to jump to other destinations.
