Aquitaine has always been a crossing point between north and south.
Born in the 9th century, the pilgrimage to the tomb of the Apostle Saint James
the Greater, in Compostella in Galicia, became very popular in the 11th
century.
« At the meeting point of all the different routes to Compostella –
amazingly, all the main routes to Compostella come together in the little
Basque village of Ostabat to form THE route! – and those on their way to the
Holy Land – for whom churches, commanderies and basilicas were built… »
The
jewels in this heritage, nineteen
monuments and a section of the Le Puy Route, are on the UNESCO
World Heritage List. Among these monuments, the Abbey of La Sauve Majeure,
the eye-opening Cathedral of Bazas and the Gate of Saint-Jacques in
Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, just before the border, are a must.
The rich heritage of the pilgrims’ routes extends far beyond these key
sites, however. Countless sculptures, gateways or bell towers bear testimony
today to these passing visitors from many lands. Not to mention the hospitals,
refuges and commanderies built by the different religious orders to house the
pilgrims.
Nowadays, people continue to take the pilgrims’ routes to Compostella: four
main routes and two secondary itineraries. As well as all the usual
stopping places, there is also “Compostella” accredited accommodation along
the way offering total immersion in the atmosphere of this spiritual quest…
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