The Camino de Santiago is one of the most famous Christian pilgrimages in the world. The pilgrimage leads to the shrine of the apostle Saint James the Great in the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain. There are many routes from Spain, France, and even Portugal, and is one of the three great Christain pilgrimages in the world.
Regardless of the route taken, it is going to be a long hike. Make sure to pack the right items when hiking the Camino de Santiago. But if one has ever hiked the massive Appalachian Trail in America, the Camino de Santiago will likely be quite simple and straightforward.
Origin Of The Camino de Santago And Why It is Revered
Tradition states that the remains of St James are buried here (at one point in the early 1500s it was said that 18 of the 12 apostles were buried in Spain). The remains of the great apostle were supposedly discovered by a shepherd.
- Relics: The Remains Of James of Zebedee
- Destination: Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela
- Discovered: By A Shepherd
- Date: 9th Century
The way was established after this "discovery" of the relics of James of Zebedee at the beginning of the 9th century. It soon became a major pilgrimage route during medieval Christianity from the 10th century.
During the medieval period, tourism did not exist as we know it today, but people have always been people and many have always had a wanderlust. Many did go on pilgrimages out of devotion. But many more did so as an excuse to get permission to leave their towns, enter new territories, and gain discounted or even free accommodation along the way, Kings and Generals have a great documentary about Medieval travel and Pilgrims.
After the end of the Reconquista and the capture of Granada in 1492 (resulting in the expulsion of the Muslims from Spain), Pope Alexander VI officially declared the Camino de Santiago as one of the "three great pilgrimages of Christendom". There's no award for guessing the other two great Christian pilgrimages - they were to Jerusalem and Rome.
- Status: One Of The Three Great Pilgrimages Of Christendom
- Other Two: Other Great Pilgrimages are To Jerusalem and Rome
The Pilgrimage Today
Today while many may hike the route out of genuine Catholic devotion, many more hike it because it is a popular thing to do and it's a fun tradition. It is popular with hiking and cycling enthusiasts alike.
In recent times, the mention of the relics of St. James has waned with John Paul II not mentioning the word "tomb" or "relics" in his speeches. While Benedict XVI simply stated that the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral is "associated with the memory of Saint James."
The Routes And The Options
Today there are several routes with some in both Spain and southern France. They are now listed in the World Heritage List by UNESCO. While there is a set destination, there is no one starting point.
- Listed: UNESCO World Heritage
- Routes: There Are Many Routes To Choose From
There are many starting points for the Camino de Santiago and one can choose whichever one would like. This is because in the past the original pilgrims would have commenced their pilgrimage from their own homes and many Camino ways emerged over the centuries.
The most popular route is the Camino Frances - in fact, it has been the most popular since the Middle Ages. This route can get very crowded in the summer and stretches for some 780 kilometers or 500 miles from St. Jean-Pied-du-Port in France to Santiago.
The main French routes on this way are Voie de Tours, the Voie de Vezelay, and the Voie du Puy. Today the Camino Frances attraction around 55% of all the pilgrims and it normally takes around 5 weeks to walk if one starts at St Jean Pied de Port (remember one can start at any point).
- Most Popular Route: Camino Frances
- Length: 780 Kilometers or 500 Miles
- Percentage: Around 55% of All Pilgrims
- Duration: Around 5 Weeks (Starting From St. Jean Pied de Port)
Some of the other ways are the Camino Portugues Coastal, Camino del Norte, Camino Primitivo, Via de la Plata, Camino Finisterre, Camino Ingles (the popular way the English used to take), Camino Espiritual, Camino Mozarabe, and more.
Once one reaches the Pilgrim's Reception Office they receive all pilgrims and give them an official stamp. They are open on all days of the year except Christmas Day and New Year's Day. One can see all the statistics, events at the cathedral, and other information on the Camino de Santiago's Official Website.
- Hours: 10 am to 6 pm