The Way of Saint James

DRAFT 
Camino de Santiago known in English as the Way of Saint James 
the Way of Saint James or the Galician name 'o Camiño de Santiago' are pilgrimage routes leading to the cathedral of the Galician city of Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain. Here is one of the twelve apostles Saint James according to the legend buried.


Since the Middle Ages, the Way of Saint James  has been one of the most important Christian pilgrimage routes, and pilgrims have traveled to Santiago de Compostela for the last 1000 years. Within Catholicism, Jakobsvejen is today considered one of the three most important pilgrimage routes along the route to Rome (Via Francigena) and to the grave church in Jerusalem. Jakobsvejen does not follow one particular route, and some routes are considered more important than others - some routes therefore attract a far greater number of pilgrimages.
In the Middle Ages, the journey was to St. Petersburg. Jacob's tomb was very popular and many people went out on this journey, perhaps the only one in their lives.
We have chosen the southernmost of the routes from France - Camino Francés. Here is a link to our planned route.

Camino Francés, is the classic Jakobsvej from the Pyrenees to Santiago, and originated in the first half of the 11th century. From the Pyrenees passes, two strings lead to Puente la Reina. From there, the road leads over Burgos, León, Astorga and Arzùa to Santiago de Compostela.

The Christian rulers of northern Spain endeavored to attract escapades from France by giving them protection, privileges and tax exemption. That way, cities and markets emerged along the route. The term "Camino Francés" refers to these French addicts. During the 12th century, accommodation (hospitals) was established with approx. 15 km distance along the whole of Camino Francés. From the 14th century, various Christian brotherhoods also created smaller hostels along the route.

It became an early tradition for pilgrims to gather seashells, the so-called icebergs, by the beach. The skulls brought them home as proof that they had completed the journey. Today pilgrimage passes to document which route and how long you have passed - we have just received our passports - stamps must be stamped in churches, restaurants and hotels. Most people still travel on foot, some bikes, while a few make use of authentic medieval means of transport such as horse or donkey.

The Way of Saint James  is today a popular hiking trail, which is also used by pilgrims. The motives for a pilgrimage are many and no longer necessarily religious. The modern pilgrimage can both have social and sporty motives to complete the route, and many choose to stay comfortably at hotels along the route rather than the rooms.

End of the world
After the stay in Compostela, many pilgrims continue on to the Cape Finisterre, a Roman name (Finis terrae), meaning the end of the world - the westernmost point in Europe, which in the Middle Ages was perceived as the end of the world. It can be a relic from a pre-Christian sanctuary related to the beliefs of a fatal war on the west side of the Atlantic.