St James of St James of CompostelaCompostela

Compostela owes its fame to St James, Compostela owes its fame to St James, the Apostle supposed to have evangelised Spain. the Apostle supposed to have evangelised Spain.

Humble and powerful came there to express and defend their faith. Humble and powerful came there to express and defend their faith.

Today, pilgrims from all around the world are more numerous Today, pilgrims from all around the world are more numerous than ever on the roads to Compostela. than ever on the roads to Compostela.

But they do not stop at Compostela, they walk on to Finisterre,But they do not stop at Compostela, they walk on to Finisterre, where the Earth ends, and the Milky Way joins the Ocean where the Earth ends, and the Milky Way joins the Ocean

Pelgrimage to St James of Compostela

St James the apostleSt James the apostle

James the son of Zebedee James the son of Zebedee and his brother John were among and his brother John were among the twelve disciples of Our Lord.the twelve disciples of Our Lord.

Tradition has it that he made a missionary journey Tradition has it that he made a missionary journey to Spain, and that after his death his body was to Spain, and that after his death his body was

taken to Spain and buried there at Compostela. taken to Spain and buried there at Compostela.

In his supposed burial place there was a major In his supposed burial place there was a major site of pilgrimage in the Middle Ages .site of pilgrimage in the Middle Ages .

A Pilgrimage?A Pilgrimage? Why ?Why ?

Pilgrimage is an important part of spiritual life Pilgrimage is an important part of spiritual life for many Christians. for many Christians.

They see life itself as a journey, coming from They see life itself as a journey, coming from God and returning to God. God and returning to God.

Back in the Middle Ages Back in the Middle Ages pilgrimagespilgrimages were very were very popular. They were long and very dangerous - popular. They were long and very dangerous -

not at all like a holiday! It may have taken not at all like a holiday! It may have taken many years.many years.

The pilgrims would usually travel in groups, The pilgrims would usually travel in groups, and stay in monasteries or inns overnight.and stay in monasteries or inns overnight.

People went on pilgrimage for many reasons - People went on pilgrimage for many reasons - perhaps to say sorry to God for something they perhaps to say sorry to God for something they

had done wrong (penance), or because they had done wrong (penance), or because they were ill and wanted God to heal them.were ill and wanted God to heal them.

The scallop shell,The scallop shell, emblem of the pelgrims emblem of the pelgrims

to St James of Compostelato St James of Compostela

The scallop shell is the traditional emblem of saint The scallop shell is the traditional emblem of saint James and is popular with pilgrims on the way of James and is popular with pilgrims on the way of st James to the apostle's shrine at Santiago de st James to the apostle's shrine at Santiago de

Compostella in Spain. Compostella in Spain. Medieval Christians making the pilgrimage to his Medieval Christians making the pilgrimage to his shrine often wore a scallop shell symbol on their shrine often wore a scallop shell symbol on their hat or clothes. The pilgrim also carried a scallop hat or clothes. The pilgrim also carried a scallop

shell with him and would present himself at shell with him and would present himself at churches, castles, abbeys etc. where he could churches, castles, abbeys etc. where he could expect to be given as much sustenance as he expect to be given as much sustenance as he

could pick up with one scoop. Probably he would could pick up with one scoop. Probably he would be given oats, barley, and perhaps beer or wine. be given oats, barley, and perhaps beer or wine.

Thus even the poorest household could give Thus even the poorest household could give charity without being overburdened.charity without being overburdened.

Saint James is always Saint James is always represented with a big represented with a big

walking stick to his side. walking stick to his side.

It is thanks to it that the It is thanks to it that the pilgrims managed to pilgrims managed to

oppose to the brigands and oppose to the brigands and to push back the wild to push back the wild

animals.animals.

For this reason, this object For this reason, this object became the main attribute became the main attribute of the pilgrims on their way of the pilgrims on their way

to Compostelle.to Compostelle.

The pelgrims made it bless The pelgrims made it bless before leaving their parish before leaving their parish to go to Galicia, in Spain.to go to Galicia, in Spain.

In 950, Godescalc,

bishop in Le Puy,

was the first pelegrim

to Saint James of Compostela

Le Puy en Velay

is a departure town

for the « Via Podensis »,

one of the medieval ways

to Saint James of Compostela.

From Le Puy to ConquesFrom Le Puy to Conques

across the Massif Central mountainsacross the Massif Central mountains

There were 100.000 pelgrims for the Holy Year 1999 and nearly 200.000 in 2004. But these figures mean nothing as only those who ask to receive the "compostella" are counted. They travel to Saint-Jacques de Compostela on foot or by bicycle, sometimes on horseback.

In addition, it is walked since the IXth century by Christians forming step in monasteries, the pilgrimage of Saint James has also become a famous trek, where the walkers cross art lovers