Italy

Camino de Santiago (Saint James Way) celebrates the European scale of the many pilgrim routes to Santiago de Compostela!

Between May 2 and 11 the European Federation of Saint James Way as the holder of the Council of Europe’s Cultural Route certification presents its annual series of events coinciding with the celebrations of Europe Day. Check out these inspiring and emotional activities around the continent!

Share your impressions with us using the hashtag #EuDaysOfCamino !

SPAIN

09 May, 12:00

The Bells of the Camino

Location: Santiago de Compostela and other localities along the pilgrims’ routes to Santiago, GPS coordinates: 42.88076625289638 /  -8.544399121897

The bells of the churches along the Camino de Santiago will ring at the same time to commemorate the Camino de Santiago and Europe Day.

Contact: https://www.caminodesantiago.gal

11 May, 09:00

“Los Safaris del Camino” Nature activity

Location: Fuente Dé Cable Car, Picos de Europa, Cantabria, GPS coordinates: 43.144091790579466 / 4.812128310066112 

Educational and recreational activity organized by the Fundación Cam,ino Lebaniego through the Steps for LIFE project. This initiative seeks to promote the conservation of biodiversity and environmental awareness through guided routes along the Camino Lebaniego pilgrimage route territory.  Participants, guided by expert biologists, will have the opportunity to observe and learn about the local fauna and flora, thus contributing to the protection of ecosystems. Join us to explore and preserve nature! Safari on May 11th : Banding in Tina Menor, taking advantage of the migratory passage of ascent. Registration required.

Contact: programacion@caminolebaniego.com

PORTUGAL

10 May, 15:00 p.m.

Location: Church of Taipas, next to the Supreme Court of Justice, Oporto, GPS coordinates: 41.144607541291 / -8.616883851947952

Celebration: 700 years of the Historical pilgrimage of the Holy Queen Isabel to Compostela and 400 years since her canonization

The Jacobean Study Center – Portuguese Ways to Santiago de Compostela, noting that in the year 2025, 700 years will have passed since the historical pilgrimage of the Holy Queen Isabel to Compostela and 400 years since her canonization, decided to celebrate these dates with a Seminar under the themes:

• Holy Queen Isabel presentation and reason for the thematic celebration – reference to the persistence of her cult, by Maria da Graça Gil Beça Sanches da Gama;
• Holy Queen Isabel (1270-1336) inspiring life of a woman from the Middle Ages in the 21st century, by DOCTOR Maria José Azevedo Santos – Faculty of Arts of the University of Coimbra – Center for the History of Society and Culture;
• Holy Queen Isabel: an example of Holiness in the world, by Father Gonçalo Portocarrero.

Contact: +351 916 464 189

16 May, 15:30

Location: Igreja do Castelo Templário, Estrada do Convento, GPS coordinates: 39° 36′ 15″ N / 8° 25′ 22″ O

Workshop “Tarte de Santiago e Chá do Peregrino”

Learn how to make and taste the Santiago Tart with hot tea, a drink much appreciated by pilgrims. No registration required.

Contact: turismo@cm-tomar.pt ; +351249329823, https://www.cm-tomar.pt/index.php/comunicacao/agenda/outros-eventos/dias-europeus-do-caminho-de-santiago

16 May, 18:30

Discussion “Caminho a cultural bond” by writer and pilgrim Luis Ferreira

Location: Igreja do Castelo Templário, Estrada do Convento, GPS coordinates : 39° 36′ 15″ N / 8° 25′ 22″ O

Talk about the great cultural experience that the Caminno can be. No registration required

Contact: turismo@cm-tomar.pt, +351249329823, https://www.cm-tomar.pt/index.php/comunicacao/agenda/outros-eventos/dias-europeus-do-caminho-de-santiago

22-24 May 2025

Location: – Vila Pouca de Aguiar

III Pilgrim Forum

The Pilgrim Forum is an annual event organized by the Portuguese Federation of the Way of Saint James with the aim of discussing current and relevant topics for the development of the Way of Saint James in Portugal, involving pilgrim associations, local authorities, religious entities, national entities that oversee Culture and Tourism, civil society, private operators and the general public. The aim is to create a moment of open participation and broad strategic reflection, where all actors on the Camino de Santiago can make their contribution. The Forum will include a first day of lectures, with some of the best national and international speakers, in thematic panels, and a second training moment, aimed at all human resources who deal directly with pilgrims. The third day includes the experience of walking a section of the Interior Portuguese Way of Saint James and visiting two public pilgrim hostels.

Pre-registration:  https://forms.gle/zZBVySbnismp4pG66

Contact: geral@fpcsantiago.pt , https://fpcsantiago.pt/

THE NETHERLANDS

Location: multiple locations in the Grensmaasvallei 

Cycling tour: the wonders of the Grensmaasvallei

Discover the wonders of the Grensmaasvallei by bike with one of the loops of the Route full of Wonder! Using your smartphone, you can use audio and 360-degree tours to take a look at places that normally remain closed. The route can be cycled daily. Pick up the free route map at one of the Visit Zuid-Limburg Experiences.

Contact: info@visitzuidlimburg.nl , https://www.visitzuidlimburg.nl/ontdek/bezin-in-zuid-limburg/route-vol-verwondering/

Location: multiple locations in Zuid-Limburg 

Walks: pilgrim for a day

Is a multi-day pilgrimage along the Jacob’s path too much? Experience the pilgrim feeling during one of the 11 caminis in South Limburg. These short walks are each linked to a life lesson and help you come to your senses through sayings and assignments. Just like on the real route to Santiago de Compostela, you can get a stamp for each one. The walks can be walked daily. Get the ‘Bezin in Zuid-Limburg’ brochure at one of the Visit Zuid-Limburg Experiences.

Contact: info@visitzuidlimburg.nl , https://www.visitzuidlimburg.nl/ontdek/bezin-in-zuid-limburg/jacobspad-zuid-limburg/camini-s/

Location: multiple locations in Zuid-Limburg 

A digital glimpse of religious heritage

Along the Jacobs route, you will find a lot of extraordinary religious heritage. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to take a look inside. Would you still like to take a look inside? At several places, you can use your smartphone to take a look inside with 360-degree images or go upstairs and listen to the special stories of the audio tours. Take a look at the Vault on the Sjaasberg, at the Cunibertus Church in Wahlwiller or one of the other places. You can even do it from the comfort of your own home!

Contact: info@visitzuidlimburg.nl , https://www.visitzuidlimburg.nl/te-doen-in-zuid-limburg/historisch-erfgoed/kerken-en-kloosters/

Location: Multiple locations in Zuid-Limburg

Pilgrimages by bicycle along the basilicas

Beschrijving evenement: South Limburg has a rich religious past. You don’t have to look far to find exceptional religious heritage. Extra special are the basilicas: churches elevated to basilica by the Pope because of their special function or past. Discover the two ‘pilgrim cycling routes’ that lead you past the basilicas of Sittard, Susteren and Meerssen and other special religious heritage. Part of the route leads you along the Jacob’s path to Santiago de Compostela.

Contact: info@visitzuidlimburg.nl , https://www.visitzuidlimburg.nl/te-doen-in-zuid-limburg/routes-in-zuid-limburg/detail/langs-de-zuid-limburgse-basilieken—meerssen/405342/

03, 07 and 10 May

Location: Klooster Wittem, Wittem

Tour behind the monastery walls and place of pilgrimage in Wittem

Take a look behind the monastery walls of the place of pilgrimage in Wittem on this guided tour. During the tour, you will be taken through the church and chapels, the refectory, the garden, the crypt and the monumental monastery library. Afterwards there will be coffee or tea with cake. Costs: € 14 incl. coffee/tea and cake.

Contact: +31434501741, https://www.kloosterwittem.nl/?utm_source=www.visitzuidlimburg.nl&utm_medium=referral

02-11 May, 10.00 AM to 5.00 PM

Location: Museum Maastricht, Avenue Céramique 50, Maastricht

Exposition: Pilgrimage to Maastricht

Pilgrimage to Maastricht: An inspiring perspective on the history of the Pilgrimage of the Relics. The Maastricht Museum presents a remarkable exhibition that brings the rich tradition of the Pilgrimage of the Relics to life. This centuries-old tradition, which intertwines religion, cultural history, and commerce, is given a renewed perspective in an exhibition filled with captivating stories and historical masterpieces. Visitors are taken on a journey through time, from the Middle Ages to the present day. Closed on 5 May.

Contact: +31434501741, https://www.maastrichtmuseum.nl/en

ITALY

2-4 May

Location: Piazza Duomo – Pistoia, 51100 – Toscana, GPS coordinates: 43°56′N / 10°55′E

Jubilee on the Way – From S. Giacomo to S. Pietro

Pilgrim meetings, conferences, stand opening and Departure from Pistoia of pilgrim relay & walk on the Via di San Jacopo up to Rome to bring together a message of Peace.

Contact: federcammini@gmail.com , https://www.federcammini.com

CROATIA

10 May

Location: Nezakcij – Mutvoran, GPS coordinates: 44.959801343501645 / 13.98376990371318

Camino South Istria

Promotion of the Camino Southern Istria through walking along the section of 13 km from Nezakcij to Mutvoran. Refreshments are provided along the way, and lunch for participants at the finish line. All participants must come to Mutvoran from where a bus will take them to the starting point. Registration is required and starts from 14.4.2025.

Contact: info@pulainfo.hr ; +38552219197, https://www.southistria.com/en/camino

UKRAINE

02 May, 16:00

Location: 89 Soborna Street, Vinnytsia, GPS coordinates: 49.233939873569945 // 28.46185752784241

How to pack a pilgrim’s backpack

The event is organized in cooperation with “Gorgany”, a hiking equipment, clothing and footwear store. At the event, participants will learn how to properly prepare for the Camino, as well as what clothes and equipment to take with them. Free attendance, without registration.

Contact: caminopodolico@gmail.com , www.caminopodolico.net

09 May, 16:00

Meeting of pilgrim guides of Camino Podolico

Location: 89 Soborna Street, Vinnytsia, GPS coordinates: 49.233939873569945 // 28.46185752784241

A meeting with guides, who lead groups along the Camino Podolico route, as well as with pilgrims who have already completed the route. At the meeting, they will share their experiences, tips and ideas about the Camino Podolico route. Invited guests:

• Yuriy Tsybukh (online) – a guide and architect in Lviv, walked the Camino Podolico route in 2024
• Ruslana Dolhovesova (online) – guides pilgrims along the Camino Podolico route
• Svitlana Hordiychuk (offline) – a guide, Camino Podolico ambassador

Free attendance, without registration

Contact: caminopodolico@gmail.com ,: www.caminopodolico.net

11 May, 18:00

Presentation of the book “The Way of St. James” by Dzvinka Matiyash

Location: 89 Soborna Street, Vinnytsia, GPS coordinates: 49.233939873569945 // 28.46185752784241

Description: Presentation of the book “The Road of St. James” by Ukrainian writer and translator Dzvinka Matiyash, in which the author tells about her experience of traveling the path, physical and moral efforts, meeting people from different countries and their stories. Free attendance, without registration.

Contact: caminopodolico@gmail.com , www.caminopodolico.net

The European Federation of Saint James Way actively participated in the 13th Annual Advisory Forum of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe, held in Visegrád, Hungary, advancing its strategic objectives of network expansion, geographical continuity and academic collaboration, through the working meetings and multiple encounters held during the three-day event, which focused on the theme ‘Transmission and Innovation: Encouraging youth participation along the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe’.

The Federation was represented by secretary Catarina Chaves (from the Portuguese Federation of the Camino de Santiago) and technical assistant to Vice President-elect Oleksandr Vesheleni (from Vinnytsia City Council, Ukraine).

In the working meetings held during a boat trip on the Danube, the Federation had direct dialogue with representatives of the present countries of the EPA (Enlarged Partial Agreement), seeking to expand the Pilgrims’ Routes to Santiago to new countries and regions. These discussions contributed to the Federation’s strategy of achieving geographical continuity of the routes in Europe as continuous pilgrimage routes.

One of the highlights was the presentation of the 1st International Academic Conference of the European Cultural Routes University Network, to be held in Santiago de Compostela on 13 and 14 November, reinforcing the role of the Federation in the research and study of the cultural routes.

As for the Forum in general, highlights included:

The welcoming ceremony for the new member state of the Council of Europe’s Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes.

The certification ceremony for the Council of Europe Cultural Routes that received certification in 2024, including the Santiago de Compostela Pilgrim Routes.

The Awards recognising the best practices of the European Cultural Routes aimed at youth participation.

For more information on the 13th Annual Advisory Forum and the Council of Europe’s Cultural Routes, visit: https://www.coe.int/en/web/cultural-routes/2024-visegrad-forum

The best moments of the Forum in pictures – check out the gallery!

The European Federation of the Saint James Way participates in the 13th Annual Cultural Routes Advisory Forum, which this year will be held in Visegrad (Hungary) from 25 to 27 September 2024. The main theme of this edition is ‘Transmission and innovation: encouraging the participation of young people along the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe’; The aim is to rethink the involvement of young people in the European Cultural Routes Programme, either from the perspective of their knowledge and enjoyment, as public, but also in the management of heritage and the decision making of the governance itself.

It is organised by the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes (EPA) of the Council of Europe in collaboration with the European Cultural Routes Institute, the Hungarian Ministry of Culture and Innovation and the Hungarian Open Air Museum.

The European Federation is represented at the event by Oleksandr Vesheleni, representative of the Municipality of Vinnytsia in Ukraine, which was elected to the Vice-Presidency of the Federation, and Catarina Chaves, representative of the Municipality of Vila Pouca de Aguiar in Portugal, which holds the position of Secretariat of the European Federation.

The event features a series of general panels, accompanied by debates, thematic and special sessions and a welcoming ceremony for the newly admitted member state of the Council of Europe’s Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes. It includes the certification ceremony of the Council of Europe Cultural Routes that received or renewed certification in 2024 (as is the case of the Pilgrimage Route of Santiago de Compostela) and the attribution of an award recognising the best practices of the Cultural Routes, aimed at youth involvement.

In addition to attending the moments planned in the programme, the participation of the European Federation of the Way of St. James in the Forum is of utmost importance to foster collaboration and projects between different classified routes, as well as to expand the network to new countries and regions.

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.

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.

The Federation promotes the European Days of the Camino de Santiago