Publications
Pilgrimage as a Regional Socio-Economic Driver: Case Study of Sarria, Km 0 of the Camino de Santiago
Pilgrimage tourism, traditionally undervalued for its socio-economic potential, can serve as a powerful driver for regional development when strategically leveraged. A case study of Sarria, the starting point ('Km 0') of the French Way on the Camino de Santiago, demonstrates this untapped potential. By analyzing qualitative and quantitative data—including surveys, interviews, and mystery shopper audits—Sarria emerges as a model for micro-planning in tourism development. Its strategic location, cultural heritage, and role in issuing Compostela certificates position it to attract diverse tourist groups and extend pilgrim stays, offering practical insights for municipalities seeking to capitalize on pilgrimage routes. A SWOT analysis and proposed municipal actions further highlight the transformative impact of integrating pilgrimage into broader tourism strategies.
The Covered Market of Cadouin, France
Medieval covered markets, often constructed from perishable materials and subject to significant modifications or destruction over time, are rare survivors of their original form. The Halle de Cadouin in France offers a unique example of late-medieval market architecture, providing insights into the role of such structures in medieval trade and commerce. Strategically located along the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, the market is associated with the Cistercian abbey of Cadouin, which attracted pilgrims due to its spiritual significance and advanced agricultural practices. The study highlights the Halle de Cadouin's architectural features, including a star-shaped wooden frame anchored with dowels, and its place within the broader context of Aquitaine's covered markets, many of which were established during the Hundred Years' War to stimulate trade and settlement in frontier regions.
Early Studies in Romanesque Architecture and the Discovery of the Pilgrimage Routes to Santiago de Compostela
Early studies on Romanesque architecture revealed the historical significance of the pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela, particularly through the works of Émile Mâle and Arthur Kingsley Porter. A pivotal moment came with the 1878 excavation of the apostle James' mausoleum in Santiago, which revived the dormant pilgrimage tradition. Fidel Fita's 1882 publication of the Codex Calixtinus further cemented this discovery by documenting various routes. Auguste Bouillet's 1893 essay established the first transnational artistic connections between key sites like Sainte-Foy de Conques and Saint-Sernin de Toulouse, marking a turning point in art history. However, subsequent research has challenged the canonization of these routes as described in the Codex Calixtinus.
Pilgrimages and Other Spiritual Journeys
Pilgrimages, whether religious or secular, can evoke profound spiritual experiences akin to awe and transcendence. A study on the Camino de Santiago, a historic pilgrimage route from Southern France to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, reveals that even non-religious individuals ('nones') engage with such journeys for their spiritual significance. Interviews conducted along the route highlight diverse motivations, ranging from secular to deeply religious, underscoring the multifaceted nature of pilgrimage experiences. The research extends this insight by comparing the Camino de Santiago to other secular pilgrimage sites like Walt Disney World and the Vietnam War Memorial, suggesting that these locations also foster a sense of awe comparable to religious feelings. This dual perspective challenges traditional notions of spirituality, proposing that transcendence is not exclusive to religious contexts but can emerge in various cultural and historical settings.
A Pilgrim's Deliberation
A unique fictionalized account provides insight into the motivations and experiences of Johaneta Aymara, a 15th-century brothel manager from Marseille who embarked on a pilgrimage to Le Puy-en-Velay—a key starting point for one of France's main routes to Santiago de Compostela. Drawing from historical records, including notarial inventories and municipal archives, the narrative reconstructs her journey, offering a glimpse into the lives of sex workers in medieval Europe and their participation in penitent pilgrimages. This approach combines historical documentation with speculative storytelling to explore the social and spiritual dimensions of pilgrimage during this period.
Wine and monasteries: Benedictine monasteries in Europe
Only five out of 68 European Benedictine monasteries still produce wine, with none exhibiting a cohesive regional or national promotional strategy to leverage their potential as key nodes for wine tourism. The study, based on qualitative analysis, reveals that while these monasteries possess their own promotional tools, they lack integration into broader tourism strategies in France, Italy, Germany, and the UK. This finding underscores missed opportunities for developing long-distance wine routes and enhancing cultural heritage tourism along historic pilgrimage paths like those of Santiago de Compostela.
« Plus on y va, plus on a envie d’y aller » Questionner l’envie de revenir sur les Chemins de Saint-Jacques de Compostelle
A significant increase in pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela was observed between 2000 and 2019, with the number of pilgrims rising from 55,000 to 347,000. This trend persists even in France, where pilgrim numbers have grown despite modest overall figures. The study reveals that many pilgrims are repeat visitors, often drawn back by socio-relational motivations rather than solely spiritual or physical ones. Fieldwork conducted in southwest France highlighted the importance of these social and relational factors in sustaining repeated journeys along the Camino de Santiago routes.
Vie Francigene for All?
Over 60 million European citizens and more than 300 million international tourists with specific needs face barriers to accessing cultural heritage sites, including the Via Francigena—a historic pilgrimage route. Despite Italy's advanced legal framework for accessibility (e.g., Plans to Remove Architectural Barriers), persistent gaps remain, particularly in touristic practices. This study highlights how solutions designed for those with disabilities often benefit the broader community, as seen with voice-activated phones or remote controls. By analyzing Italian and European good practices, it argues that inclusive design can transform the Via Francigena into a model for universal tourism, akin to France's Santiago de Compostela route, which attracts 300,000+ pilgrims annually. The research evaluates physical and cultural barriers to propose sustainable, resilient solutions for all.
Sacred Landscapes, Spiritual Travel: Embodied Holiness and Long-Distance Pilgrimage in the Catholic Reformation
Long-distance pilgrimage to shrines such as Santiago de Compostela and Mont Saint-Michel experienced significant growth during the Counter-Reformation (1580–1750), challenging the notion that it declined post-Luther. This study reveals how pilgrims perceived, experienced, and utilized these landscapes despite religious conflicts, including attacks by Huguenots and theological opposition from Protestant authors. By focusing on autobiographical accounts and employing phenomenological theory, the research shifts from examining 'place' to 'landscape,' providing insights into the broader religious and cultural contexts of pilgrimage during a transformative period in European history.
Pseudo‐Turpin ChronicleTradition
The Pseudo-Turpin Chronicle, a medieval narrative text, reveals its significant role in promoting the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. Composed around 1145, likely in France, it claims to be an eyewitness account of Charlemagne's wars in Spain by Turpin, archbishop of Rheims, contradicting the chanson de geste tradition where Turpin is depicted as dying at Roncevaux. The chronicle links Charlemagne's campaigns to a divine request from St. James and supports the Reconquista, as evidenced by its connections to the Liber Sancti Jacobi in manuscripts like the Codex Calixtinus. Its widespread circulation across multiple languages underscores its cultural and religious influence during the medieval period.
Gender, Nation and Religion in European Pilgrimage
European pilgrimage routes, particularly those leading to Santiago de Compostela, serve as dynamic nodes where gender, national identity, and religious expression intersect. This interdisciplinary study reveals that these ancient paths are not merely relics of the past but active stages for contemporary social and political debates, including gender emancipation, transnational identities, and European unification. The research explores diverse pilgrim experiences—from African migrants renewing family ties at Lourdes to Swedish women navigating midlife transitions—highlighting how pilgrimage reconfigures personal and collective identities. It also examines the revival of sacred spaces, such as the shrine of Our Lady of Santa Cruz, and the reinterpretation of traditional saints like Mary Magdalene within New Age spirituality. Through qualitative analyses, including case studies on Marian anti-abortion movements and interfaith coexistence at pilgrimage centers, the study demonstrates how these routes facilitate complex negotiations between religion, politics, and cultural identity in a secularized Europe.
Producing the Route of St. James: The Camino de Santiago in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries
The Camino de Santiago, a historic pilgrimage route leading to the tomb of St. James in Santiago de Compostela, experienced significant cultural and political transformation during the 19th and 20th centuries. This study reveals that the modern revival of pilgrimage along this route was not merely a religious phenomenon but also a strategic construction of political ideology, which gained substantial cultural capital over time. The research focuses on the intensive efforts behind the production of the cult of St. James during the medieval period, particularly under the leadership of Diego Gelmírez (1093–1140), who used textual sources like the Codex Calixtinus to document privileges and appeal to donors. These texts, though often seen as outsider accounts, were actually produced in Santiago de Compostela to serve specific audiences, including wealthy patrons and pilgrims. The study employs a combination of historical analysis and documentary evidence to uncover the complexities of this cultural and political landscape.
Genetic Structure, Origins, and Relationships of Grapevine Cultivars from the Castilian Plateau of Spain
A genetic analysis of grapevine cultivars from the Castilian Plateau in Spain reveals three distinct clusters, suggesting historical introductions along pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela. The study identified 121 unique genotypes among 425 samples, including 27 previously unreported varieties. Among these, Muscat-type accessions and interspecific hybrids formed one cluster, while another grouped French and western Castilian Plateau varieties, indicating their shared origins or introductions via pilgrimage paths. A third cluster comprised central plateau cultivars and local table grapes, with chloroplast data supporting local origins or crossbreeding between introduced and indigenous varieties. Three of four wild samples were confirmed as genuine Vitis vinifera ssp. sylvestris, based on morphological traits and genetic composition.
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