What is the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage?

The Camino de Santiago, or the Way of St. James, is an ancient pilgrimage trail originating in medieval times. Made up of a vast network of roads and paths, pilgrims travel these to arrive at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.

What is the purpose of walking the Camino?

The Camino de Santigo is also known as the Way of St James and was an important Christian pilgrimage in the Middle Ages. Pilgrims walked the route in order to reduce the punishment of their sins. The scallop shell has long been the symbol for the Camino de Santiago.

What is the way of St James/Camino de Santiago?

The term “The Way of St James” or the Camino de Santiago, is not actually one path ( chemin) , but rather it describes many Christian pilgrimage routes, dating from medieval times that journey from various locations in Europe, to the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

What is the way of Saint James?

The Way of Saint James is known by many names – the Chemin de Saint-Jacques de Compostelle, the Via Podiensis, the Pilgrims’ Trail or, more simply, the GR 65. It is just one of many long-distance walking paths which arrive in France from all corners of Europe, converging eventually in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port.

What is the Chemin de Saint-Jacques du-Puy?

The most popular of the four routes through France is the Chemin de Saint-Jacques du-Puy which begins in the Auvergne region in Le Puy-en-Velay. The first recorded pilgrimage from here to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port was made by Bishop Gothescale in the tenth century.

How many kilometers are there in the Chemins de Saint-Jacques?

Over time, four main routes became established and today there are over 4,000 kilometres (2,500 miles) of paths, known collectively as the Chemins de Saint-Jacques, which attract walkers from all over France to the southern town of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port.