April 25, 2026 /  Lithuania  /  Members  /  Portugal  /  Spain
The European Federation of Saint James Way participated in the 11th Annual Advisory Forum on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe

The importance of cultural heritage when faced with the challenge of sustainability, the importance of promoting cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue were the main points discussed in the 11th Annual Advisory Forum on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe, held in Chania, Crete, from October 5-7, 2022.

There were over 400 attendees and 100 speakers, representing 37 member states and 48 certified cultural routes. These included representatives from other international organisations, such as the EU, UNESCO, the Organisation of Ibero-American States for Education, Science and Culture (OEI) and the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC), as well as various university and tourism professionals. The forum’s motto this year was “Safeguarding European values, heritage and dialogue”, and it was organised by the Council of Europe, in cooperation with the Greek Government, the region of Crete, the Municipality of Chania and its Chamber of Commerce, as well as the “Historic Cafés Route”. It was sponsored by the presidency of the Hellenic Republic.

A large delegation from Lithuania, Portugal and Spain (Galicia and Cantabria) participated on behalf of the European Federation of Saint James Way, the first of the cultural routes certified in 1987.

Laura González Dopeso, from Galicia, made a presentation on behalf of the Federation in the panel on the values inspired by the Way of Saint James.

Our colleague, Laura González Dopeso, from Galicia, participated in the panel on the values that the Saint James’ Way has inspired throughout its history, which continue today and into the future: friendship, safety, trust, care, freedom, responsibility and respect; as well as the honour and fraternity of common goals, hospitality and charity. Today, these have led to solidarity, tolerance, empathy in understanding different feelings, compassion and peace. All of these are values common to other European cultural routes and are recognised today by the pilgrims who travel Saint James’ Way throughout Europe.

In parallel with this event, a technical meeting took place that continued the dynamic started at the Fontainebleau Training Academy, with the creation of 3 working groups and the participation of representatives from the different cultural itineraries dedicated to the topics of Visibility, Cooperation and Sustainability. The partners were invited to participate actively, with specific proposals for each topic, in preparation for the next Training Academy, to take place in Périgueux-Montignac, France, organised in collaboration with the Prehistoric Rock Art Trails.

During the 3 days of the meeting, the interest and importance of good practice implemented by European cultural routes to promote culture and the social and economic development within the territories they cross became clear: A unique opportunity to highlight the importance of projects, practices and experiences and promote future alliances between the participants.

The next Annual Advisory Forum will take place in September 2023 in Lódz, Poland.


April 25, 2026 /  Members  /  Portugal
National Pilgrim’s Day in Portugal

National Pilgrim’s Day in Portugal

The Municipality of Vila Pouca de Aguiar celebrated the National Day of the Pilgrim in Portugal, with a 10 km walk on the Portuguese Interior Saint James Way, last Sunday, October 16th.

The initiative comes to relaunch the pilgrimage from Vila Pouca de Aguiar, in stages, started before the pandemic, with the gradual objective of completing the arrival to the Compostela Cathedral.

A 10 km route along the Portuguese Interior Camino de Santiago as it passes through the municipality of Vilapouca de Aguiar served to relaunch the pilgrimage after the pandemic.

The initiative was also part of the municipal campaign “Pink October” dedicated to raising awareness to Breast Cancer.

The journey carried out was very pleasant, with a low degree of difficulty, following the ancient path of medieval origin, from Sabroso to Vidago villages, with great safety and scenic beauty for the pilgrim.

More information about Portuguese Interior Saint James Way: https://cpisantiago.org/


April 25, 2026 /  Members  /  Portugal
The European Federation of the Saint James Way celebrates its 10th anniversary

The European Federation of the Saint James Way celebrated its tenth anniversary on 30 June at a meeting hosted by the Federação Portuguesa do Caminho de Santiago and the town of Vila Nova de Gaia. The event highlighted a decade of activities promoting and publicising the Camino de Santiago throughout Europe, and introduced to the public the digital tools which have been developed as part of the European project Creative Loci Iacobi, financed by the Council of Europe via the COSME programme.

The celebration also included the Portuguese Federation joining its European counterpart. The municipality of Vila Pouca de Aguiar had been the only representative of Portugal, so this action also marked the addition of a second Portuguese entity in the European Federation, this time at the national level, and the possibility of including the rest of the Portuguese Ways under the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe, which currently applies only to the Inland Way (Viseu – Chaves).

A decade of activities promoting and publicising the Camino de Santiago throughout Europe

 

The event was attended by representatives of the European delegations, as well as the Portuguese delegation: Poland (current chairs of the FECS): Piotr Całbecki, Marcin Drogorób, Jacek Gajewski; Lithuania: Algis Kašėta, Gintarė Jociunskaitė, Dainius Varnas; France: Clemence Damians; Spain: Galicia – Laura María González-Dopeso Portela; Asturias – Pablo León Gasalla; Netherlands: Manon Luijten.

The Region of Cantabria also participated through the Camino Lebaniego Foundation, whose incorporation had been approved in the General Assembly the previous day.

Alongside the European delegations, the main regional and national entities relating to St James’ Way were guests at the ceremony, as of course were all the current members of the Portuguese Federation of the Saint James Way.

This event was organised by the European Federation of the Saint James Way, the Portuguese Federation of the Saint James Way, and the Town Council of Vila Nova de Gaia, and was held in the historic Cavas Ferreira.


April 25, 2026 /  France  /  Members
The European Federation participates in the 9th edition of the Council of Europe Cultural Routes Training Academy

The European Federation participates in the 9th edition of the Council of Europe Cultural Routes Training Academy

The European Federation of the Saint James Way participated in the 9th edition of the Cultural Routes Training Academy of the Council of Europe, which this year took place from May 31 to June 3 and was hosted by the city of Fontainebleau (France) on behalf of the European Cultural Route of the Impressionists.

Sixty representatives of 35 cultural routes from 17 countries participated in a meeting whose main theme was cultural tourism.

The welcome reception was held at the Château de Fontainebleau, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Visibility, cooperation, sustainability and the young

 

The École de Mines Paris Tech hosted the second day of work, in which the main future challenges for cultural routes were raised: visibility, cooperation, sustainability and today’s youth; topics that will be focused on in the debates of the Forum of European Cultural Routes to be held in October in Crete, with greater political participation and media coverage. The result of the Training Academy will be a memorandum with all the information and discussions

Throughout the day, thematic presentations and good practices were carried out by the routes and participating entities (Route of Carlos V, Route In Footsteps of RL Stevenson, Central Istria – Croatia, The Hansa, Route of San Martín de Tours, Via Regia, University of Bologna, Route of the Impressionists, European Route of Ceramics, European Route of Jewish Heritage, Europeana and Napoleon Destination, among others).

The Route of the Impressionists, host of the event, was the protagonist of the visits organized to places as emblematic as the medieval city of Moret-Loing et Orvanne or Barbizon, in which the representatives of the different cultural routes were able to get to know each other better and share experiences.

Recepción 9th Training Academy

From left to right:

Translator, Stephano Dominioni (Executive Secretary of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe), Bruno Favel (Minister of Culture), Barbara Zeches (vice president of the European Cultural Routes), Pierre Bedouelle (President of the Impressionist Routes), Marie-Christine Labourdette (President of the Château de Fontainebleau)

Catarina Chaves (Technical Secretary of the European Federation of the Caminos de Santiago with Eladio Fernández-Galiano (Special Advisor for Cultural Routes).


April 25, 2026 /  Members  /  Spain
The European Federation takes part in the 12th Assembly of the Group of Associations of the Camino del Norte

The European Federation takes part in the 12th Assembly of the Group of Associations of the Camino del Norte

From 20 to 22 May, the European Federation of St James’ Way was invited to participate in the 12th Assembly of the Group of Associations of the Camino del Norte, held in Potes, Cantabria, Spain. This body, chaired by Valeriano Teja Oruña, is working to be admitted to the European Federation representing the Autonomous Community of Cantabria.

The town of Vila Pouca de Aguiar (Portugal), represented by Catarina Chaves, took part in the Assembly acting as executive secretary for the European Federation, highlighting the important work of the body and the great potential of the region in relation to the various Ways of St James.

Focus on cultural and religious tourism and pilgrimage to Santo Toribio de Liébana

As well as the Assembly, the Federation took part in the wide-ranging programme of cultural and religious tourism organised by the hosts, including the official opening of the exhibition on the last shepherds of the Picos de Europa and a lecture by the priest and photographer Ernesto Bugio, “Life, a pilgrimage”; a performance by the Coro Santa María de Cueto choir and the group of rebec players “L’Asomá” from the Conservatory of Cabezón de la Sal; a cultural tour of the church of Santa María de Lebeña and the Torre del Infantado with the exhibition on Los Beatos; and especially, the pilgrimage to Santo Toribio and the Pilgrims’ Mass in the monastery, accompanied by the Coral de Camaleño choir.

In the picture, from left to right:

Ernesto Bugio, priest and photographer; Marta Barca Pérez, Director General of Tourism for Cantabria; Valeriano Teja, coordinator of the Pilgrims’ Associations of Cantabria (the host of this event); Manuel Bahillo, director of the Camino Lebaniego; the Mayor of Potes; representatives of the Association of Friends of the Camino del Norte and the Spanish Federation of Pilgrims’ Associations; Catarina Chaves, Secretary of the European Federation of St James’ Way; and Pablo León, Director General for Culture in the Principality of Asturias.


April 25, 2026 /  Members  /  Spain
New Honorary Ambassador of the Santiago de Compostela Pilgrim Routes

New Honorary Ambassador of the Santiago de Compostela Pilgrim Routes

On 24 October, the Council of the Galician Government (Xunta de Galicia) appointed the Council of Europe as the new Honorary Ambassador of the Santiago de Compostela Pilgrim Routes for its contribution to the knowledge of Saint James Way as well as the promotion and dissemination of Jacobean values.

On the occasion of the Santiago de Compostela Declaration, the Council of Europe certified the Santiago de Compostela Pilgrim Routes as the first Cultural Route of the Council of Europe in 1987. “The influx of the Jacobean routes owes much to that impulse given by the Council of Europe. Its support is still necessary and for this reason the Xunta appoints him as Ambassador of the Camino” officially stated the Galician Government.

Santiago de Compostela Pilgrim Routes as the first Cultural Route of the Council of Europe

The appointment as Ambassador of the Santiago de Compostela Pilgrim Routes is an honorary and life-long position recognising the work of natural and legal persons in favour of culture and values of the Camino de Santiago. The Council of Europe is the first organization to receive this distinction. The first appointed was King Felipe VI of Spain, followed by Vicente del Bosque, former manager of Spanish football team, the former president of the Government Mariano Rajoy and the King emeritus Juan Carlos I.

The Santiago de Compostela Pilgrim Routes, Cultural Route of the Council of Europe certified in 1987, feature a tangible heritage such as places of worship, hospitals, accommodation facilities, bridges, as well as non-tangible heritage in the form of myths, legends and songs along an endless number of branches to Santiago. Nowadays, these ancient pilgrim routes provide an intense human experience, creating a sense of fraternity amongst travellers and a strong bonding with the land.

Font: Council of Europe Newsroom.

 


April 25, 2026 /  Belgium  /  France  /  Italy  /  Lithuania  /  Members  /  Netherlands  /  Poland  /  Portugal  /  Spain
The Federation promotes the European Days of the Camino de Santiago

The Federation promotes the European Days of the Camino de Santiago

In order to highlight its integrative nature, the European Federation of the Saint James Way is promoting the celebration of the first European Days of the Camino de Santiago, during the weekend of October 19 and 20th 2019. Different activities carried out in seven countries will allow the citizens to understand the European component of the Jacobean route and the multiple ties that it has, contributing to unite the different peoples of the continent.

54 actions in seven countries

In total, 54 actions to promote the Camino were held, which included walks in the different territories, conferences, visits to the Jacobean heritage, music concerts, exhibitions, etc.

Check the full program!

 

 


April 25, 2026 /  Members  /  Portugal
Portugal joins the celebration of the European Days of the Camino de Santiago

Portugal joins the celebration of the European Days of the Camino de Santiago

The celebration of the European Days of the Camino de Santiago in Portugal featured a walk through the municipality of Vila Pouca de Aguiar, in the heart of Caminho Português Interior de Santiago, held on October 20.

From Tourencinho to Sabroso de Aguiar

The itinerary started in Tourencinho and ended in Sabroso de Aguiar. The initiative included the vice president of the municipality, Ana Rita Días, of the “caminheiros” of Vila Pouca de Aguiar and of more neighbors who wanted to join the route to publicize this section of the Camino in Portugal.

 


April 25, 2026 /  Members  /  Netherlands
European Days of Saint James Way in South Limburg

European Days of Saint James Way in South Limburg

During the first edition of ‘The European Days of Saint James Way”, celebrated on October 19 and 20, the main cultural and pilgrimage centers in the region opened their doors, free of charge, to the public. The objective of this initiative, jointly organized by five member countries of the Federation: the Netherlands, Portugal, Poland, Spain and France, is to highlight the religious past and the Camino de Santiago throughout Europe.

On October 19, a guided tour was made in the famous Rococo crypt and library of Rolduc Abbey, the largest complex of abbeys in the Benelux and one of the top 100 Dutch UNESCO monuments. The rich history of the abbey dates back more than 900 years!

On October 19 and 20, there were guided tours of the Sanctuary of St. Gerlach, where visitors were able to learn all about the beautiful frescoes in the church, the treasures on display and the beautiful decorations on the walls in the chapel of the day. They were also able to visit the shelter, the pilgrim hostel, and chat to people who have walked or cycled along the Camino de Santiago.

The Basilica of San Amelberga opened for visitors with a procession for pilgrims.

On October 20 the ‘Kloosterfestival’ was held in Wittem, a religious event in the famous library of the abbey. The day was also dedicated to the valuation and auction of religious objects. Wittem Abbey has been a major pilgrimage site for over a hundred years.

 


April 25, 2026 /  Belgium  /  Members
Namur celebrates the third edition of the «Rando du Saint-Jacques»

Namur celebrates the third edition of the «Rando du Saint-Jacques»

Organized by the Namur Province Tourism Federation, on September 28 and 29, 2019 more than 630 participants were able to discover part of the Belgian province, touring the legendary path of Saint Jacques de Compostelle in the third edition of the “Rando du Saint Jacques ”.

From Beauraing to Vencimont

The trail started from Beauraing, and covered 46 km of trails in 2 days, passing through the Hileau Valley and the Houille Valley, before reaching the Vencimont Holiday Village. A welcoming land with varied landscapes and renowned gastronomy.



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