The Villages of the Ways of Saint James of Compostela

Created in the 9th century, the pilgrimage of Saint James of Compostela is a Catholic pilgrimage with the aim of reaching the tomb of the apostle Saint James the Greater, located in the cathedral of Saint James of Compostela, in Galicia, in Spain. The villages of the Ways of Saint James of Compostela attract travellers. Indeed, the Ways welcome more than 200,000 pilgrims every year, who travel through Spain and France all year round, although journeys in spring and summer are preferred. There are several more or less official routes to reach the tomb, the latter being declared the “First Cultural Itinerary” by the Council of Europe.

All the routes cross pretty, old traditional French villages. The most well-known are departure points: Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port or Le Puy-en-Velay.

Le Puy-en-Velay, located in the Massif Central, is a magnificent town built on volcanic terrain. Its chapel, the hospital and its seven departure points for the Way of Saint James of Compostela are listed as UNESCO World Heritage. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims pass through each year, and can admire the Roche d’Aiguilhe, a neck on which the chapel dedicated to Saint Michael stands. In addition, the cloisters of the cathedral or the statue of Notre-Dame de France are places appreciated by pilgrims. The village has other interesting aspects on a cultural level, such as the culinary specialty that is the green lentil, cultivated for two thousand years, but also the verveine liqueur or the cheese from Velay. La dentelle du Puy is also very renowned: in the 17th century, when Genoese lace was enjoying international success, Colbert decided to bring seamstresses from Italy to create a lace just as renowned and French. This is how the dentelle du Puy was born.

 

Beyond Puy, several other historic villages dot the Ways. Like Rocamandour, a true gem of French medieval villages: perched on a cliff, the high (and numerous…) steps giving access to the esplanade of the sanctuaries is a mandatory passage for pilgrims.

Thus, the Ways no longer attract only believers but many people in search of pretty landscapes, serenity and time to reflect. The villages of the Ways of Saint James of Compostela help us rediscover a bucolic and quiet France… far from the fast life of big cities. A must-visit destination for anyone wanting to discover the French countryside and take a big breath of fresh air.