For over a thousand years, pilgrims have walked the Camino de Santiago — the Way of Saint James — to the cathedral city of Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain. It is one of the oldest and most beloved pilgrimage routes in the world. But how did it begin, and why does it endure?
The Discovery of the Tomb
The story begins in the 9th century, when a hermit named Pelayo reported seeing strange lights over a field in Galicia. Following the lights, he discovered what was believed to be the tomb of Saint James the Apostle — one of the twelve disciples of Jesus. King Alfonso II of Asturias ordered a church built over the site, which would eventually become the magnificent Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.
The Rise of the Pilgrimage
Word spread quickly across Christian Europe. By the 11th and 12th centuries, the Camino had become one of the three great Christian pilgrimages — alongside Rome and Jerusalem. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims walked the routes each year, from France, Portugal, England, and beyond. Monasteries, hospitals, and villages sprang up along the Way to serve the steady stream of walkers.
The Camino Francés — The French Way
The most famous route, the Camino Francés, begins in the Pyrenean town of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France and stretches approximately 800 kilometers to Santiago. It passes through iconic landmarks — the Cruz de Ferro, the Alto del Perdón, the meseta plains, and the lush green hills of Galicia — before arriving at the great cathedral square.
Decline and Revival
The Camino fell into decline after the Protestant Reformation and the political upheavals of the 16th through 19th centuries. By the mid-20th century, only a handful of pilgrims walked the route each year. Then, in 1987, the Council of Europe declared the Camino Francés Europe’s first Cultural Route — and a revival began. In 1993, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Modern Camino
Today, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims walk the Camino each year from every corner of the world — Christian and non-Christian alike. Some walk for faith, some for adventure, some for healing, and some simply to find themselves. The Camino has a way of meeting each pilgrim exactly where they are.
As the ancient saying goes: “The Camino provides.”
Carry the Camino With You
Whether you’ve walked the Way or dream of walking it one day, our faith-inspired Camino de Santiago designs keep the spirit of the pilgrimage alive. Browse our collection of pilgrim apparel, mugs, art prints, and gifts — and carry the Camino wherever you go.