Long-distance walking route. Way of St James
Nothing could describe the famous Way of St James better than this saying. For the Way of St James essentially consists of a multitude of pilgrimage routes across Europe. The destination, however, is always the same: namely, the Holy Tomb of St James the Apostle in Santiago de Compostela in north-western Spain. The best-known Way of St James is therefore the Spanish route from the Pyrenees to Santiago de Compostela. St James is one of the most important saints in the world and is the patron saint of numerous towns and cities, but is, of course, primarily known as the patron saint of pilgrims. His symbol is the scallop shell, which is why many pilgrims wear one in plain view – usually on their rucksack.
Parts of the route were established as early as the first half of the 11th century. During the Middle Ages, the shrine at Santiago de Compostela became the third main destination for Christian pilgrimage, alongside Rome and Jerusalem.
The network of routes has been continuously developed since 1980. The main branch of the Way of St James in Austria is largely the result of a private initiative by the author Peter Lindenthal, who began in 1997 to develop an east-west route from Wolfsthal to Feldkirch through field research based on the medieval Way of St James. In the meantime, several sections – such as the Weinviertel Way of St James, the West Styria Way of St James, the Göttweig–Melk Way of St James, the Way of St James routes in Upper Austria and Salzburg, the Tyrolean Way of St James and, following on from this, the Landeck–Einsiedeln Way of St James.
“I place my foot mindfully on the earth, knowing that I am walking on a wonderful earth.”
The Tyrolean Way of St James consists mainly of forest and cycle paths and is best walked between May and October. It leads through the Hall–Wattens region from Gnadenwald to Thaur, passing beautiful places of spiritual significance in the region such as St Martin’s in Gnadenwald, the Basilica of Our Lady in Absam, and the Romedi Chapel high above the village of Thaur.
Please contact us if you are looking for suitable pilgrim accommodation. We are happy to assist you in ensuring your pilgrimage is an unforgettable experience.
+9
