The official season of the Saint James Way of Podillya (Camino Podolico) in Ukraine began on April 25. Pilgrims has already started walking and cycling the route, which has not officially functioned since 2022 due to Russian aggression.
Camino Podolico is a cultural and pilgrimage route from Vinnytsia to Kamianets-Podilskyi through the town of Bar, modeled after the Saint James Ways, which pass through the whole Europe. The route was launched in test mode thanks to the support of the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation in 2021 and become a member of the European Federation of Saint James Way in June 2023.
Due to the full-scale war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, the organizers were unable to open the official season, which was supposed to start in the spring of 2022, and postponed the launch indefinitely. The main reason was the large number of shellings and the overcrowding of temporary residences with internally displaced persons. But despite all the warnings, several dozens of people during these two years still went on hiking and cycling trips, getting to know the beauty and hospitality of Podillya. Organizers constantly received requests from those willing to walk the route, in particular, from veterans and family members of the military servicemen.
«Since the end of last year, we have been preparing for the full functioning of the route with all the necessary information support and infrastructure. Together with all the coordinators from the communities of the Camino Podolico Way we have managed to start the season from April 25, as it was originally intended. After all, a lot of people write to us that they plan to spend a vacation on the route as a small retreat for psychological recovery in war conditions», – says the director of the Department of City Marketing and Tourism of Vinnytsia City Council Oleksandr Vesheleni.
On the website www.caminopodolico.net, in the Route section, information about places where one can eat and stay for the night has already been updated: apartments, hotels, hostels, rural houses, etc. The organizers emphasize that accommodation must be booked in advance at all stops and a reserve should be sought in case of full occupancy of one or another establishment. Staying outdoors at night is prohibited due to curfew from midnight till 5:00 AM.
As for security issues, some general recommendations for the safety of pilgrims as well as the list of all the shelters in communities are available on the Camino Podolico website. The recommendations include: always have ID and pilgrim’s passport during walking; do not come close to or and take pictures of the regime facilities (such as air defence systems, hydroelectric power plants etc.); use the “Air alert” app to know if there’s any threats in the region; if there is an air raid – move to shelters and stay away from the glass.
Despite the difficulties, the Camino Podolico route has been successfully launched on April 25, and during the first month 26 people have already passed the route. In addition to that, this year Camino Podolico team is working on alternative branches and some continuations which will connect the route with other countries and marked sequences. A special highlight of this year is the route leading to the only functioning church and spring of St. James in Podillya region, which is located approximately 30 kilometres from Kamianets-Podilskyi in the village of Panivtsi of Ternopil oblast. On April 27-28 a first group consisting of 15 people walked along this part of the route and visited the villages of Zavallia, Panivtsi, Rykhta and Zhvanets. The participants found out some interesting facts about the history of each community and also visited a unique cave “Atlantis” in Zavallia. The highlight of the trip was a visit to the Sunday holiday service in the Church of St. James in Panivtsi village, as well as the conversation with the abbot of the church – father Ihor, who has been serving there for more than 30 years.
This part of the route is currently being organized, and soon the official website www.caminopodolico.net will have detailed information on how to plan the new section of the Camino Podolico on foot or by bike.
Check out the image gallery of the Camino Podolico!
