European Heritage Days were held in Vinnytsia for the sixth time, and this year a special place in the events was given to the Saint James Way of Podillya (Camino Podolico).
This walking route is now a part of the first certified cultural route of the Council of Europe – Camino de Santiago. European Heritage Days – is also an initiative of the Council of Europe, which includes the promotion of heritage and the giving access to usually closed objects. The theme of this year’s events is the importance of historical routes, networks and connections that unite different peoples and cultures of Europe.
First of all, everyone interested had the opportunity to walk the first part of the Camino Podolico route. On September 21 a group of 10 people walked approximately 25 kilometres from the Church of the Virgin Mary of Angels in Vinnytsia to the Sanctuary of Saint Joseph in Hnivan.
On September 26 at a lecture of local historian Tetiana Karoieva, all interested could learn about where and how ancient pilgrims walked in Podillya. The professor spoke about religious routes, important shrines of Podillya and the routes pilgrims took to reach them. In general, the lecture highlighted the historical aspects and significance of pilgrimage in the cultural and spiritual life of the region, which has always been at the crossroads of the routes.
In addition, the series of EHD events connected with the Camino Podolico route included excursions to the dungeons of the Capuchin church, which in ancient times were used for evacuation during enemy attacks, burying the dead, storing food and even brewing beer.
More than a hundred people took part in the EHD events connected with the Camino Podolico route.
The final evet of the EHD series was a meeting of the pilgrims of the Camino Podolico route, held on October 2. Several dozen people gathered at the Visit Vinnytsia Tourist Hub to share their experiences or find out more information before their trip. The participants included experienced hiking guide Svitlana Hordiichuk, researcher of Podillya cuisine Olena Pavlova, a teacher at a service sector school Natalia Rybak and others. Participants from other Ukrainian cities (Kyiv, Shepetivka) and even abroad (France, Turkey, Sweden) joined the meeting online.
«When you start walking the Way for the first time, your life changes dramatically, because it is impossible to leave it. The routes will change, the people will change, but you will stay on the Way and strive for this inner freedom and new experiences. For me, it’s like a concentrated life. And when you trust the Way, real miracles happen to you: you meet people, who will support and help you, who will give you the keys to their apartment saying: ” Spend the night and leave it under the mat in the morning” – and this trust is incredible. This is what the Way teaches. This year, for example, I was in Canada, where I travelled 10 thousand kilometres, and this is all thanks to the people that I met on the Way and with whom I am now friends. Therefore, for all those who are still thinking – step on the Path, start with the Camino Podolico, because it is an opportunity to test yourself and to get to know each other better», – shared Natalia Rybak, who walked the Camino in Spain and in Ukraine.
«Сamino Podolico – is probably the first route you should try, before all the others. First of all, it’s quite easy to walk, secondly, you don’t have any language barrier, thirdly, almost all route has network coverage. And in such a safe format, you can have a lot of fun, adventure, and fall in love with the Podillya region so that you can become its ambassador for life», – added Olena Pavlova, who walked the Saint James Way of Podillya in 2023.
In total, more than a hundred people took part in the EHD events connected with the Camino Podolico route.
The coordinator of European Heritage Days in Vinnytsia City Territorial Community – the department of city marketing and tourism of Vinnytsia city council.
