January 25, 2025 /  Members  /  Portugal  /  Spain
Consultant for the Council of Europe on a technical visit to the Camino de Santiago in Galicia and Northern Portugal

Mike Robinson was received by the Presidency and Secretariat of the European Federation of Saint James Way (respectively the Xacobeo Foundation and the Vila Pouca de Aguiar City Council), from 19th to 23rd November.

The classification of the Camino de Santiago as a European Cultural Route, 36 years ago, was the starting point for the creation of the Council of Europe’s Cultural Itineraries Program, which now has more than forty thematic routes throughout Europe. The certification process requires periodic reassessment by the Council of Europe, and it is necessary to present evidence of the dynamism, cooperation and sustainability of each route, in relation to the basic values of the European Community.

The Advisor responsible for evaluating the renewal of the title of European Cultural Route, Professor Mike Robinson, has now come to the field to check the development of the Camino de Santiago in Galicia and Northern Portugal.

“There is an international public perception that the phenomenon of the Camino de Santiago essentially involves Spain and France, a perception that it is urgent to extend to other countries, such as Portugal, where the territories along the pilgrimage routes hide real pearls, whether in the landscape , architectural heritage or traditional gastronomy, and which can only truly be experienced and felt, in «slow tourism» mode, by pilgrims on the way to Santiago de Compostela”, highlighted Mike Robinson.

Two days in Galicia: the “Camino del Norte” and the “Camino Primitivo”

The first day, November 20th, began in Santiago de Compostela. Ildefonso de la Campa, Director of Xacobeo (Galician Government) and President of the EFSJW, hosted Professor Mike Robinson in Galicia. Ildefonso de la Campa highlighted the importance of networking, within the European Federation of the Camino de Santiago, and the responsibility of ensuring, among all network entities, the connection between the various Saint James Ways in Europe, so that pilgrims can find security, support and quality, benefiting from the territories crossed from the point of origin to Santiago de Compostela.

A meeting was held at Monte do Gozo, a symbolic place where public and private pilgrim hostels coexist, followed by a visit to the International Pilgrim Reception Center, run by the Church of Santiago, the iconic place where pilgrims collect the ‘Compostela’ certificate and may enjoy meeting spaces and a chapel.

The group then traveled to the North Way, where meetings were held with technicians in charge of maintaining the pilgrimage route, associations of friends of the Camino and representatives of public entities. There was also the possibility to visit the Mondoñedo Cathedral, a public pilgrim hostel and the Camino del Norte Interpretation Center. The dinner, back to Santiago de Compostela, allowed networking with various authorities and experts from the International Committee of Experts on the Camino de Santiago.

The second day of the visit began at the Primitive Way with several sections of the pilgrimage route, with special interest in the ruins of Soutomerille. Meetings with maintenance technicians and the President of the Association of Friends of Saint james Way in Lugo were also fruitful. The public pilgrim hostel in Lugo and the Camino Primitivo Interpretation Center were also included, before celebrating lunch with local and regional authorities.

The historic pilgrimage routes in Northern Portugal

With a new day came new paths, in a new country. After visiting Galicia, the representative of the Council of Europe for Cultural Itineraries had the opportunity to discover the Portuguese Interior Saint James Way, between Vila Pouca de Aguiar, Santa Marta de Penaguião and Lamego, visiting parts of the route, monuments, viewpoints and pilgrim hostels, mostly in old rehabilitated primary schools – an aspect that was highly valued.

Ana Rita Dias, Vice-President of the Municipal Council of Vila Pouca de Aguiar, currently presides over the Portuguese Federation, with Vila Pouca de Aguiar also serving as Executive Secretary of the European Federation, since 2021. The President of the Portuguese Federation of Saint James Way, therefore, played the role of hostess the visit.

Ana Rita Dias emphasized: “For the Board of Directors of the Portuguese Federation it was very enriching to have the opportunity to meet with Professor Mike Robinson, to personally present the various historical routes in Portugal, the reality of each associated, whether municipality or jacobean voluntary association, the work that is being carried out and planned for the future, as well as the challenges in recognizing and disseminating the Camino de Santiago in Portugal.”

She also highlighted that “the Camino de Santiago is a European Cultural Route of excellence, a reference for all other classified routes, as it directly highlights the values of the Council of Europe, such as the union and exchange of experiences between different cultures, social justice or peace, so fundamental in the current international context”.

The technical visit program also included moments of contact with pilgrim associations at the Vairão Monastery, on the Central Portuguese Saint James Way, and revealed several investments that are being made on the Costal Portuguese Saint James Way, on the route between Porto and Matosinhos.

The Consultant shared, with municipalities, associations and local agents, relevant recommendations on the management of pilgrim flows and the importance of interpreting heritage, be it cultural, natural, scenic or intangible.

The result of the evaluation will be known next year at the European Cultural Routes Forum, which will take place in Hungary.


January 25, 2025 /  Members
The Way must go on: how a grant from the EU and the Council of Europe helped restore the Camino Podolico route

Thanks to a grant from the European Union, the Council of Europe and the European Commission, the project “The Way must go on” was implemented in Vinnytsia and Khmelnytskyi regions. As part of it, it was possible to research and promote the Camino Podolico route thanks to the gastronomic component. As a result, a gastronomic catalog of the route was published, as well as a series of videos, and the communities of the route joined the European Heritage Days for the first time.

The Saint James Way of Podillya (Camino Podolico) is a cultural and pilgrimage route from Vinnytsia to Kamianets-Podilskyi created in 2021 with the prospect of joining the European Federation of Saint James Way. Its drivers are the communities of Vinnytsia, Bar, Kamianets-Podilskyi and other 8 communities of Vinnytsia and Khmelnytskyi regions.

This route was launched despite the challenges of the pandemic, but in 2022, due to the military aggression of Russia, it had to be put on hold – primarily for security reasons. Despite this, several dozens of travelers completed Camino Podolico even during martial law. And the initiators of the creation of the route – local administrations, activists, representatives of various institutions – continue to consider it to be a powerful factor in uniting communities for the sake of preserving and popularizing history, culture, tourism and recreation in their territory, and show great interest in the development of the route.

In order to preserve the potential and give communities the opportunity to develop, the team of the department of city marketing and tourism of Vinnytsia City Council is actively continuing work on the project. In June of this year Vinnytsia as the coordinator of the Camino Podolico route was unanimously accepted to the European Federation of Saint James Way, which opened new possibilities for international cooperation. Also, in the summer, a sculpture of Saint James – the symbolic starting point of Camino Podolico – was consecrated in Vinnytsia. And thanks to grant support from the European Union and the Council of Europe it was possible to implement a project “The Way must go on” – expeditions to research and document the local intangible heritage: gastronomy, local legends and customs, history of monuments and their owners along the entire Saint James Way of Podillya route.

Thanks to a number of activities, communities received an incentive to develop, work with tourists, build basic infrastructure, and most importantly – protect and develop local heritage.

The taste of the Podillya Way

The result of several months of work of the project team, together with researchers and experts, was the release of a gastronomic catalog and videos about the gastronomic heritage of 11 communities of Camino Podolico, as well as publications and popularization of the route in the national media.

The gastronomic catalog includes 22 recipes of authentic dishes of Podillya both in Ukrainian and in English. With a list of places on the Camino Podolico where these dishes can be tasted, travelers will be able to taste Podillya and thus immerse themselves more deeply in the culture of the region. Among the dishes are cherry borscht and stuffed chicken necks from Vinnytsia, tripes from the stomach of a young calf from Voroshylivka (near Hnivan), pickled cucumber stew from Brailiv, varenyky with cherries in jelly and stuffed pike from Zhmerynka, cabbage rolls with pork ribs from the time of Queen Bona and milk jelly from Bar, white borscht from Maliivtsi and many other interesting dishes of local Podillya cuisine.

Living heritage

At the same time, workshops were held in the communities of Vinnytsia and Khmelnytskyi regions, located on the tourist route, to start European Heritage Days there. As a result, 6 communities on the Camino Podolico route joined in the celebration of EHD.

For example, in the village of Shchitky of the Vinnytsia community, workshops were held dedicated to cattail weaving, the traditions of which are included in the list of intangible cultural heritage of Ukraine. In Kamianets-Podilskyi, the ancient local dance “Varvarka” was recreated with a gastronomic fair where the traditional dishes of Podillya cuisine were prepared. Excursions for children were organized in Vinkivtsi, where they were told about the historical past of the region, helped to explore typical plants of the area and create botanical illustrations. In Dunaivtsi, local craftsmen participated in the EHD and held a series of events with excursions and workshops: on Easter eggs painting, making souvenirs and pictures from feathers, drying plums, woodcarving, traditional pottery, etc. In Zinkiv, the peculiarities of the intangible cultural heritage elements were investigated: ceramics, decorative painting, Easter eggs painting and the Zinkiv shirt, followed by the production of printed products, which can become a souvenir-hallmark of the village. And in the city of Bar, visitors of the local library were involved in creating a series of puzzles with photos of historical monuments of the region – “Seven Wonders of Bar region”.

All these activities made it possible to present the cultural life and heritage of the communities of Vinnytsia and Khmelnytskyi regions, which are in the rear, as a powerful resource for preserving identity and using it for the purposes of public dialogue, economic growth and promotion of the values of united Europe, which is especially relevant in the context of this year’s EHD theme “Living Heritage”. Such activity and inclusion of communities once again confirms that Ukrainians in the current conditions continue to fight for the preservation of their history and cultural identity.

Also, thanks to the expeditions during the project “The Way must go on”, problematic issues and ways to solve them were worked out. And in the vast majority of communities, communication has been renewed and new coordinators of the Camino Podolico route have been chosen. The communities themselves expressed their intention to resume the functioning of the route in the next season, and in addition, despite the challenges of today, to deepen the knowledge of their residents (in particular, displaced persons who found shelter there) and residents of other regions about history and local traditions.

The material is published as a part of the grant project “The Way must go on” implemented by the department of city marketing and tourism of the Vinnytsia City Council with the support of the European Union and the Council of Europe.

The views expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Union or the Council of Europe.

The gastronomic catalog

Videos about the gastronomic heritage


January 25, 2025 /  Members
The President of the European Federation of Saint James Way visited the communities of Camino Podolico in Ukraine

The president of the European Federation of Saint James Way Ildefonso de la Campa Montenegro visited six communities of Saint James Way of Podillya: Vinnytsia, Hnivan, Bar, Zinkiv, Maliivtsi and Kamianets-Podilskyi.

Mr. de la Campa stayed in Ukraine from October 31 to November 3. His trip was dedicated to the cultural and pilgrimage route Camino Podolico, which this year was officially accepted into the European Federation of Saint James Way. He emphasized the importance of supporting Ukraine as a member of the Federation, which fights for the values of the entire civilized world.

«Today, a part of the Saint James Way, a country through which the Saint James Way runs, is fighting to defend and maintain the signs that define it as a European, free and democratic society. The European Federation of the Saint James Way and the administrations that represent it have already expressed and express their support to the struggle of the Ukrainian people for their freedom, sovereignty and independence in the face of the unjustified war of aggression of the Russian Federation. In this struggle you are not alone. Your heroic resistance is the first retaining wall against intolerance, aggression, the imposition of the strongest and violence as state policy… The Saint James Way are the veins through which our blood flows and mixes, and today, in Europe, Ukrainian blood is watering a future of freedom, democracy and peace», – said Ildefonso de la Campa Montenegro.

Cooperation to develop and popularize the Saint James way in Ukraine.

The main event during the visit of the President of the Federation to Ukraine was the signing of the Memorandum of cooperation to develop and popularize the Saint James way in Ukraine. Mayors of Vinnytsia, Hnivan, Bar and Kamianets-Podilskyi took part in the signing. The document is open, so the representatives of other Ukrainian communities and organizations who are willing to develop the pilgrim routes of the Saint James way in Ukraine are welcome to join.

All the signatories emphasized that for Ukrainians (civilians and veterans), walking the path during the war and post-war period can become an effective way of psychological recovery, reinterpretation of trauma and search for new meanings, because the popularity of the Camino in the world is largely determined by the desire of people to change their rhythm of life, gain a new experience of self-immersion and spiritual practices (regardless of religion or worldview).

In total, the head of the Federation visited three communities each in the Vinnytsia and Khmelnytskyi regions on the way of the Camino Podolico. In Vinnytsia he visited Castle Hill and the oldest city churches of the 17th-18th centuries, got acquainted with the exhibition “Under the Protection of the Defenders” in the Artynov Tower. He also met the abbot of the starting point of Camino Podolico – Church of the Blessed Holy Virgin Mary of Angels Józef Chromy. In Hnivan, the guest attended a service in the sanctuary of St. Joseph, and in Bar went to the folk museum of Bar ceramics and walked near the main sights of the city.

The President of the Federation also visited the wooden church of St. Michael the Archangel and the remains of the Zinkiv fortress, and the Orłowski estate in Maliivtsi. At the end of the intense program in Kamianets-Podilskyi, he was awaited by a city tour with a visit to the fortress and a meeting with the bishop of the Roman Catholic Church, Leon Dubrawski.

During the meetings with representatives of municipalities, religious communities and public organizations, he discussed the perspective of international cooperation, the preparation of joint grant applications and the holding of events dedicated to Europe Day and European Heritage Days in 2024. The President of the Federation also witnessed the first results of the project “The Way must go on”, aimed at studying and popularizing the gastronomic heritage of the route.

While sharing his impressions of the trip, Ildefonso de la Campa noted that he saw in Ukraine an example of strong and effective cooperation between municipalities, as well as an active civil society that, even in wartime, works to preserve its own heritage, strengthen European identity, and build a democratic dialogue through culture and tourism. All this, according to the president, is the key to the successful development of such cultural routes of the Council of Europe as the Saint James Way.


January 25, 2025 /  Belgium  /  France  /  Italy  /  Lithuania  /  Members  /  Netherlands  /  Poland  /  Portugal  /  Spain
The European Federation adds six new members from Croatia, Italy, France and Spain

The Extraordinary General Assembly, held on 12 and 13 October in Torun, ratified its new statutes, with the aim of making it more open and efficient.

The European Federation of the Pilgrims’ Routes to Santiago is growing and incorporates six new members: the municipalities of Šibenik and Dubrovnik, and the Tourism Cluster of South Istria, all of them in Croatia, together with the municipality of Pistoia (Italy), the French Agency of the Pilgrims’ Routes to Santiago (ACIR Compostelle) and the Association of Municipalities of the Pilgrims’ Route to Santiago in Spain (AMCS). A significant agreement, which was made formal during the Extraordinary General Assembly of the Federation, held on 12 and 13 October in Torun (Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Poland).

The Assembly ratified the modification of the Federation’s statutes, with the aim of making it more open and efficient, allowing the incorporation of new members (up to a maximum of six organisations per country) and extending the term of office of its officers to four years.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the Federation members: Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria (Spain), Vila Pouca de Aguiar and the Portuguese Federation of Saint James Way (Portugal), South Limburg (Netherlands), Lithuania, Winnica (Ukraine), the hosts: Regional Government of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region, and distinguished guests. The Extraordinary General Meeting is held in the framework of the celebration of the 550th anniversary of the birth of Nicolaus Copernicus – the creator of the heliocentric theory, born in Toruń.

Objectives: to incorporate new members and to intensify the activities for the promotion of the Pilgrims’ Roads to Santiago.

The most important decision taken by the General Assembly was the modification of the Federation’s statutes. The members agreed to extend the term of office of the authorities (president, manager, secretary, treasurer) to 4 years. The Federation intends to always be open to new members, and it was also decided that a country can represent a maximum of six organisations.

It was also discussed the need to intensify the promotional activities of the Pilgrims’ Routes to Santiago, organising events and obtaining EU funds for development, especially for infrastructures.

Along these lines, the president of the Federation, Ildefonso de la Campa Montenegro, stressed the need to be more dynamic and efficient, reasons which, as he pointed out, motivate the changes in the statutes. -Our organisation needs a fresh look and new projects that contribute to the promotion of the Pilgrims’ Routes to Santiago, objectives that are in line with the advice and recommendations of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe. I count on the initiatives of the newly admitted members and on working together to put them into practice,” he stressed.

On the welcoming day, Piotr Całbecki, Marshal of the host Region expressed his pleasure at welcoming the delegation to the Dąmbski Palace in Toruń – We wanted to organise the General Assembly in Kujawsko-Pomorskie for two reasons. Firstly, on the occasion of the 550th anniversary of the birth of Nicolaus Copernicus, as we believe that the promotion of the idea of pilgrimage along the Ways of St. James corresponds perfectly with the legacy of the Great Astronomer. Secondly, it is an opportunity to present our activities on the Polish Way and the touristic values of our Region, he said.

The meeting in Toruń was also an opportunity to present the activities of the Pomeranian Region in the field of the Pilgrims’ Routes to Santiago, which intends to join the Federation next year. The delegates also agreed that the next General Assembly will be held in June 2024 in Santiago de Compostela.


January 25, 2025 /  Lithuania  /  Members
The European Federation participates in the international conference celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Association of Municipalities of the Pilgrims’ Routes to Santiago in Lithuania

On 5 and 6 October, the international conference to discuss the pilgrimage experience in Lithuania during the last decade was held at the Ecclesiastical Heritage Museum/Archangel Conference and Art Centre in Vilnius (Lithuania). The event was attended by representatives of the European Federation of the Ways of St. James and supported by the signatory of the Act of Restoration of the Independent State of Lithuania, Dr. Laima Andrikienė.

The conference was opened with a significant speech by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Kaunas, Kęstutis Kēvalas and the reception by the Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Petar Rajič, the chairman of the Commission of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania, Prof. Vytautas Juozapaitis, the Deputy Minister of Culture Rimantas Mikaitis, the representative of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania Diana Varnaitė, and other distinguished guests. The conference was attended by heads of municipalities and council members, representing both Lithuania and various countries.

The conference was attended by the Spanish MEP Francisco José Millán Mon, Chairman of the Interparliamentary Group “European Cultural Heritage, European Cultural Routes and the Way of St. James” in the framework of the presentation which analysed how the Way of St. James in Lithuania is seen in the context of European cultural routes.

Representing Ildefonso de la Campa Montenegro, President of the European Federation of the Pilgrims’ Roads to Santiago, was Ana Rita Dias, Vice-Mayor of Vila Pouca de Aguiar and President of the Portuguese Federation of the Road to Santiago (Portugal), who was accompanied by Manon Luijten, representative of the municipality of South Limburg (Netherlands) and Dr. Laima Andrikienė (Lithuania).

The first decade of the Way of St. James in Lithuania, the achievements of the activity and the experiences in these years, were reviewed by Rima Blikertienė, president of the Association of Friends of the Way of St. James in this country. Algirdas Vrubliauskas, president of the Association of Lithuanian Municipalities, also a member of the European Federation, also participated. The organiser Birutė Nenortaitė, who is Vice-President of the Association of Friends of the Way of St. James also participated actively in the conference.

Jorge Martínez-Cava (President of the Spanish Federation of Associations of Friends of the Way of St. James), Marcin Drogorob from the Polish region of Kujawsko-Pomorskie and Beata Sawinska, representative of the city of Torun, members of FECS, as well as Iryna Sobko Vinica, project manager of the Ukrainian Podolica Way, also a member of FECS, spoke about the development of the Way of St. James in the European cultural routes and its technical network.

The conference was enlivened with beautiful Lithuanian folk songs by Milana and Nėja – the young ambassadors of the Way of St. James from Onuškis Primary School in Trakai district.

 


January 25, 2025 /  Members
Photo Contest: “Share your route 2023”

The European photo contest “Share your route 2023” starts on 1 June with a duration of four months and the announcement of winner on 16 October. The contest offers an opportunity to share on the road experience and adventures to all walkers and cyclists travelling along the following European cultural routes and historic itineraries: the Way of Saint James (Camino de Santiago), Via Francigena, Via Romea Strata, Via Romea Germanica, St. Olav Ways and the Ways to Csíksomlyó (the Way of Holy Mary).  

The initiative raises awareness on slow travel and sustainable tourism with a special focus on discovery of rural areas, cultural heritage and traditions. Organized by the European project rurAllure and the European Association of the Via Francigena ways (in charge of the project communication), it transmits the European values of intercultural dialogue, contributes to sustainable development goals and environmental sensibility.  

The 2022 edition of the contest registered over 3.000 photos published by social media users from all over the world, generated over 70 publications and articles on national and international resources, posts in social media and materials in 10 languages. 

To participate in the contest, one needs to publish a post or a reel about the above-mentioned routes on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter featuring travel experiences, cultural heritage or eno-gastronomy, tagging location, liking and tagging @rurAllure page (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) and #rurallure. 

The European project rurAllure (Horizon 2020 programme) unites European routes, promoting cultural heritage in their vicinity, with particular attention to rural areas. Its goal is to create a network of public and private stakeholders from all over Europe so that pilgrims can get to know the territories they cross, discovering their cultural and natural sites.

More information: www.rurallure.eu. 

Winners 2022 (from right to left): @nappatravels_, @wipstorieincammino, @Irenkleivenkunst.


January 25, 2025 /  Members
The European Federation of Saint James Way holds its General Assembly in Cantabria (Spain)

The Cantabrian town of Potes hosted, on 29 and 30 June, the General Assembly of the European Federation of Saint James Way which, coinciding with the Lebaniego Jubilee Year 2023-2024, was hosted by the Fundación Camino Lebaniego.

With more than 23 representatives of the partner territories; Galicia, Asturias and Cantabria (Spain), Portugal, Poland, Lithuania, Belgium, France, the Netherlands and Ukraine, the assembly unanimously approved the accession of Ukraine as a new member, under exceptional conditions of exemption from the payment of its membership fee, due to the war context.

The Assembly also discussed the need for enlargement, agreeing to review its statutes and revise the accession requirements, in order to make it a more open body that can grow and represent different actors. The next Assembly, to be held before the end of the year, will be responsible for approving its revision, if necessary.

The Assembly was attended by the Director of the Fundación Camino Lebaniego, Manuel Bahíllo; the Mayor of Potes Town Council, Francisco Javier Gómez; the President of the European Federation of Saint James Way, Ildefonso de la Campa; the Tourism Director of the Xunta de Galicia and the Director of the Centro de Estudios Lebaniegos and President of Future for Religious Heritage (FRH), Pilar Gómez Bahamonde.

A cultural and cooperative agenda of European cultural itineraries

One of the proposals and roadmaps set out in the assembly of the European Federation of the Saint James Way was the creation of a network of international partnerships between public administrations and civil society associations, especially pilgrims’ associations.

In the framework of the Assembly, the forthcoming signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with the Via Francigena was also announced, aiming at collaboration with other classified routes, as recommended by the Council of Europe itself in the framework of certification.

This cooperation between routes should encourage the exchange of good practices, such as the promotion of local craft and gastronomic products, joint international promotion programmes for both routes and the incorporation of new technologies aimed at young people, among others.

The Federation is responsible for being the driving force behind interregional projects in Europe that promote the protection, development and promotion of the Way of St. James, from the administrations.

Another of the topics discussed at the Assembly was the process of renewal of the certification of the Way of St. James as a European Cultural Itinerary in 2023. Common activities dedicated to the promotion of pilgrimages to Santiago de Compostela and the tourist development of the routes were also discussed, with the aim of channelling own and external investments for its implementation in the period 2023-2025.

The Federation will hold its next General Assembly in September 2023 in the Polish city of Torun, which hosts the event after, during 2021-2022, years whose presidency was held by the region of Kujawsko-Pomorskie, the conditions were not given to hold the Assembly in Poland, first because of the pandemic context and then war.

In addition to its internal decision-making, the Assembly had the opportunity to address the issue of hospitality and the organisation of the network of hostels for pilgrims, with the presence of the Coordinator of the Associations of the Camino del Norte and the hotelier and priest Ernesto Bustio, providing examples from Cantabria, and the presentation of good practices by the Xunta de Galicia, Asturias and the Portuguese Federation of the Camino De Santiago.

During the meeting, the participants were able to get to know places of relevant importance in the Camino De Santiago and religious tourism, among which the Torre del Infantado and the Monastery of Santo Toribio stand out.


January 25, 2025 /  Interviews  /  Members
Agne-Henrik Strid, creator of the Camino_Stories project: The Camino was not just a trail but a moving tableau of life itself

What encourages us to undertake a pilgrimage to Santiago, what feelings inspire us, what is our motivation to take the first step. These are some of the questions that arise in our minds when we face the experience of doing the Camino de Santiago.

Agne-Henrik Strid is one of those pilgrims whose life has been changed by the Camino. Today he leads the project Camino_Stories, a wonderful commitment to life and human wisdom transmitted by people who have shared their different experiences around the Camino.

We open this space on our website to offer you all this rich experience so personal, so human, so positive. We hope that, like us, it enriches you and brings you the values that traditionally, today and in the future, the Camino de Santiago has had, has and will have for humanity.

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First, tell us a little about yourself: where do you come from, what do you do, how did you get to know the Camino?

My name is Agne-Henrik Strid, and I call the Netherlands home. Here, I share my life with my wife and our two wonderful kids. Professionally, I tread the commercial path of copywriting. In my spare time, I often take long walks and lose myself in the beauty of nature, each step a renewed connection with myself.

My affair with the Camino de Santiago began during a semester in Bilbao in 2005. An unforgettable one-day stretch of the camino with fellow students left an indelible mark on my spirit. That day, amidst the picturesque landscapes of the Basque region, I vowed to walk the Camino in its entirety one day. Now, as a seasoned Camino veteran, I find immense joy in encapsulating the inspiring anecdotes of fellow pilgrims into words, creating a mosaic of shared human experience.

READ THE FULL INTERVIEW

Tell us about your Camino experience – which way(s) have you done and when. What inspired you to undertake the way? Do you prefer hiking alone or in company? What’s your main motivation for walking the Camino?

My experiences with the Camino have spanned two routes: the Camino Frances and the Camino del Norte. The desire to undertake these pilgrimages stemmed from a period of introspection and unease. At that time, I was working for the United Nations in Colombia, a role that increasingly didn’t resonate with my inner compass. I knew what I didn’t want, but I struggled to discern what I truly desired. The Camino called to me as a sanctuary, a space where I could wander and wonder and hopefully find the answers I sought.

Initially, I intended to walk alone, using solitude as a canvas for introspection. But the Camino, in its mysterious ways, had different plans. I met an incredible score of individuals along the way – each with their own stories, wisdom, and spirit. These lovely and inspiring souls became unexpected companions on my journey, adding richer hues to my Camino experience.

So my primary motivation for walking the Camino became more than a search for personal answers. It became a journey of connection – with myself and others along these ancient paths. The Camino provided an opportunity to step outside my familiar patterns, look at the world with fresh eyes, and return with a renewed perspective, not only about my career but also about my place in life.

What inspired you to start your project? What message would you like to transmit to people?

The genesis of my Camino_Stories project lies in the individuals I encountered along my Camino journeys. The Camino was not just a trail but a moving tableau of life itself, with people from diverse backgrounds, each carrying their unique experiences, wisdom, and stories. Among them were the wise, the amusing, the exasperating, and the eccentric, each weaving their own thread into the fabric of the Camino.

What struck me was how these fellow pilgrims also served as mirrors, reflecting facets of myself. I realized that each interaction, shared laugh, and irritation, was also a lesson about myself.
This transformative experience inspired me to capture these tales, to provide a platform where others could also glean wisdom, laughter, and perhaps even self-recognition from these Camino stories.

The message I aspire to transmit is one of openness and joy. I encourage everyone to approach the Camino, and indeed life, with an open mind. The Camino provides what you need, often in the most unexpected ways. So, relinquish expectations and let the journey unfold. But amidst these profound experiences, don’t forget the simple joy of being there, in the moment, beneath the open skies, and in the company of fellow travelers on the path of life. Enjoy every step. Enjoy every breath. Enjoy the Camino.

Do you have a story or a person who moved you most of others? Can you share it with us?

Among the many pilgrims, I crossed paths with on the Camino, one individual stands out — an Anglican priest from Oxford. Our paths intertwined for a few days, long enough for me to learn his intriguing tale. He had once been an oil driller for British Petroleum, his work spanning across the globe. Yet, amidst the mechanics and materialism, he felt a profound longing for a deeper connection with people, to be a beacon of support and guidance.

When his church approached him with the proposition of priesthood, he didn’t hesitate. He chose a path diverging starkly from his previous profession, a path of service and spiritual connection. Despite the significant shift, his conviction was unwavering.

Although I’m not religious myself, his journey resonated deeply with me. His courage and resolution to embrace such a drastic change, to follow a calling resonating with his heart, became a beacon for me. Inspired by his daring leap of faith, I made my own. I stepped away from my well-paying job, a role that no longer fulfilled me, and turned to a path that had long called to me: writing.

His story served as a reminder that it’s never too late to follow our dreams, to realign our lives with our authentic selves. It’s a story I carry with me, not just in memory but as a part of my own narrative, shaping the person and the writer I am today.

What would be your advice for people planning to walk the Camino for the first time?

For those planning to walk the Camino for the first time, here’s what I’d say: Prepare not just physically but emotionally too. Pack light, but carry a heart full of openness and curiosity. Expect challenges but also unexpected acts of kindness. The Camino isn’t just a path, it’s a microcosm of life. You will find parts of yourself you never knew existed, meet people who’ll leave an imprint on your soul, and behold vistas that will be etched in your heart forever. But most importantly, remember that the Camino is not just about reaching Santiago, it’s about every step, every breath, and every moment that leads you there. Buen Camino!

Agne-Henrik


January 25, 2025 /  Members
The European Federation of Saint James Way at the photo exhibition “Routes of Europe”

The European Federation of Saint James Way was featured at the “Routes of Europe” (“Cammini in Europa”) exhibition, highlighting shared cultural heritage of historical pilgrimage paths in Europe. The exhibition was organised by the rurAllure Horizon 2020 project, funded by the European Union and aimed at promotion of rural heritage in the vicinity of European pilgrimage routes, in particular the Way of Saint James.

A common thread between past and future of pilgrimage paths

The event took place on 18-21 May 2023 and presented photographs and stories captured by contemporary pilgrims as they travelled along the Ways of Saint James, the Via Francigena, Saint Olav and many other European routes. The opening was attended by more than 50 visitors, including authors of the photographs, local walking and cycling enthusiasts, and made part of celebration of a common thread between past and future of pilgrimage paths, their shared culture, spirituality, heritage and gastronomic traditions.

The photo exhibition was hosted in the Italian town of Fidenza, located in the heart of the Via Francigena pilgrimage route. The Via Francigena was certified as a Cultural Route of the Council of Europe in 1994. Spanning several centuries, the historical itinerary begins in Canterbury, England, passes through France and Switzerland, and concludes in Rome—an important destination for Christian pilgrims, alongside Jerusalem and Santiago de Compostela.


January 25, 2025 /  Members
The European Federation celebrates the European Days of Saint James Way with more than fifty events throughout Europe.

The celebrations will take place from 6 to 14 May 2023: more than fifty activities in seven countries will highlight the inclusive nature of the cultural itinerary and encourage citizens to learn about the heritage and the European component of the Jacobean route, uniting different peoples of the continent.

More than half a hundred events in seven countries

In total, more than 50 actions are planned to promote the Way, including hiking events, conferences, guided visits, podcasts, music concerts, exhibitions, digital activities and interactive experiences. All the information about each activity and location is available online in our calendar of events.

The objectives of the European Federation

By creating a network of associated partners in all the countries crossed by the Way of Saint James, the European Federation aims to bring them together and raise awareness of the Way of Saint James, conceived by the Council of Europe as a common heritage and a historical model of coexistence and solidarity.

The European Federation of Saint James Way was created in 2011, as the sole reference for The European Institute of Cultural Routes and guarantee of the application of the Cultural Route of the Council of Europe label and its values. Since then, it has been working to disseminate the experiences of the Jacobean community and coordinate actions of the different actors in each participating country, developing high-impact joint projects aimed at promoting and expanding the European network, as in the case of the European Days.

Members

The members of the Federation include the Association of Municipalities of St. James Way (Lithuania), Region Of Kujawsko-Pomorskie (Poland), South Limburg Tourist Board (The Netherlands), Cultural Heritage Department Of The Province Of Namur (Belgium), Agglomeration Community Du Puy-En-Velay (France), Città Di Assisi – Ufficio Comunicazione & Marketing (Italy), Interactive Tourism Office Of Vila Pouca De Aguiar (Portugal), Council of Culture, Linguistic Policy and Tourism of Asturias (Spain), Galicia Tourism Agency (Spain), Foundation Camino Lebaniego (Spain) and Portuguese Federation of Saint James Way (Portugal).

 

 



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