For over a thousand years, pilgrims have made their way across Europe on the Camino de Santiago—the Way of St. James—seeking spiritual growth, healing, or simply a deeper encounter with life. But where did this ancient path begin, and why has it captured the hearts of so many, century after century?
A Sacred Beginning
According to early Christian tradition, James the Greater, one of Jesus’ twelve apostles, travelled to the western edges of the Roman Empire to preach the gospel in Hispania (modern-day Spain). After returning to Jerusalem, he was martyred around AD 44. Legend tells us that his followers carried his remains back to Galicia by boat, where they buried him in a forgotten tomb.
Centuries later, around 813 AD, a hermit named Pelayo saw a mysterious light—some say a shower of stars—shining over a field. Guided by the phenomenon, he discovered what was believed to be the apostle’s long-lost tomb. The site was named Campus Stellae (“Field of Stars”), which evolved into the name Compostela. King Alfonso II of Asturias made the first recorded pilgrimage to the site and commissioned the first church there—laying the foundation for what would become one of Christianity’s most beloved pilgrimage routes.
Pilgrimage in the Middle Ages
By the 11th century, the Camino de Santiago was one of the three major pilgrimage routes of the Christian world, alongside pilgrimages to Rome and Jerusalem. Pilgrims from all over Europe travelled on foot for weeks or months to reach Santiago, believing the journey would grant them spiritual merit, penance, or divine favour.
Monasteries and churches along the route offered shelter and care to weary travellers. In the 12th century, a guidebook known as the Codex Calixtinus was compiled—containing stories of miracles, music, and maps, and even offering safety tips for the road.
The Camino became a grand network of trails and roads, with the Camino Francés (French Way) as the most travelled route. Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, completed in Romanesque and later Gothic style, welcomed pilgrims with open arms and the promise of grace.
Decline and Silence
With the arrival of the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century, interest in relics and pilgrimages waned across much of Europe. Wars, plagues, and changing theological perspectives led to a dramatic decline in pilgrim numbers. For centuries, the Camino became a quiet road, remembered mainly by local devotees and Catholic faithful.
A Modern-Day Revival
In the late 20th century, the Camino was rediscovered by spiritual seekers, hikers, and cultural travellers. The revival was gradual but steady, fuelled by books, documentaries, and word of mouth. In 1987, the Council of Europe declared the Camino de
Santiago the First European Cultural Route, recognising its role in shaping the shared heritage of the continent. In 1993, UNESCO named the Camino Francés a World Heritage Site.
Today, hundreds of thousands of people walk or cycle the Camino each year, for reasons as diverse as faith, grief, adventure, or simply the need to unplug from modern life. They carry a credential (pilgrim passport) and collect stamps at albergues, churches, cafés, and hostels along the way. Those who complete the final 100 km (or 200 km by bike) and arrive in Santiago can receive a certificate called the Compostela, written in Latin and awarded in the name of the Church.
More Than a Walk
The Camino is not just a historical path or a scenic trail—it’s a sacred space where footsteps meet faith, where ancient stones echo with prayer and longing. Whether walked as an act of Christian devotion or a journey of personal discovery, the Camino continues to offer what pilgrims have sought for centuries: renewal, peace, and purpose.
Selah offer Camino opportunities each year. Always in hotels, a Christian leader accompanies the group for spiritual direction, and luggage is transported from one town to the next, so that you only carry a daypack as you walk.
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