Most famous pilgrimage destinations in Europe
Most famous pilgrimage destinations in Europe
Historic sacred routes and monumental cathedrals in Europe
Europe's pilgrimage landscape is anchored by the great Christian routes and holy cities that shaped the continent's medieval geography, with sacred paths connecting shrine destinations across thousands of kilometres of way-marked walking routes that remain among the most travelled long-distance journeys in the world. The infrastructure built around centuries of pilgrimage traffic has produced a dense network of accommodation, waymarking and support services that makes extended sacred walking accessible to a wide range of motivations and fitness levels.
The major Iberian routes attract the largest international following, but significant pilgrimage traditions and active sacred destinations exist across most of the continent, from the shrine cities of Italy and southern France to the Orthodox pilgrimage networks of the east. Several routes pass through landscapes of exceptional natural beauty where the walking experience is as compelling as the devotional destination at the end of it.
The most popular routes have become significantly busier in recent years and accommodation on peak season sections books out weeks in advance. Shoulder season walking delivers better conditions with more space and a quieter atmosphere at the most visited shrine destinations. Costs vary considerably by route and country with some of the continent's most celebrated pilgrimage walks among the most accessible and affordable long-distance journeys anywhere.
Lists by region
City in Italy
Rome
The Eternal City of history and charm
Pilgrims climb the 28 marble Scala Santa steps on their knees, praying on each one. This sacred stairway is believed to come from the palace of Pontius Pilate. Visitors also queue for Saint Peter's Basilica, built over the tomb of the apostle Peter. A Holy Door opens in Jubilee years.
City in Spain
Santiago de Compostela
A Pilgrimage Through History and Charm
Unlike pilgrimage sites reached by a short trip, this Galician city is the end of a long walk. Walkers arrive after weeks on the trail. The cathedral holds the shrine of Saint James. A pilgrim Mass is held at noon. Giant incense burners called botafumeiro swing through the nave on special days.
Town in France
Lourdes
Pilgrimage heart, serene mountain sanctuary
A girl named Bernadette Soubirous said she saw the Virgin Mary 18 times in a grotto here in 1858. A spring appeared in the cave and its water is collected today. About three million people visit each year. A candlelight procession winds through the sanctuary each evening in season.
Town in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Medjugorje
Mystical pilgrimage site amid serene landscapes
In June 1981 six local young people said they saw the Virgin Mary on a hill near this Bosnian village. The Catholic Church has not given a final ruling on the claims but allows pilgrimages. Visitors climb Apparition Hill and Cross Mountain on rocky paths. Saint James Church holds daily Mass in many languages.
Town in Portugal
Fátima
Spiritual pilgrimage center amid serene landscapes
Compared with Lourdes, this Portuguese sanctuary is newer but equally popular. Three shepherd children said they saw the Virgin Mary in 1917. Pilgrims gather on the 12th and 13th of each month from May to October. The esplanade is larger than Saint Peter's Square. Some pilgrims shuffle on their knees.
Nature Reserve in Greece
Meteora
Monasteries Suspended in the Sky
Silent and towering, this site in central Greece has Orthodox monasteries perched on sandstone pillars up to 400 metres high. Monks first built them in the 1300s. Six monasteries still hold services. Visitors climb stone stairs to reach them and must cover their shoulders and knees. It is a World Heritage Site.
Island in France
Mont Saint-Michel
A Medieval Island Rising from the Sea
This tiny tidal island is less than one kilometre across. A stone abbey rises to a golden statue of the archangel Michael. Pilgrims have come since the 700s. Tides rise up to 14 metres in the bay. Guided groups walk across the sands at low tide. The island is a World Heritage Site.
Region in France
Occitanie
Sunlit vineyards and historic hilltop villages
In southern France between the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean, this region is full of pilgrim routes. The village of Conques has a Romanesque abbey on the road to Santiago. Rocamadour clings to a cliff and pilgrims climb its 216 step stairway to the Black Madonna. Toulouse has the huge Basilica of Saint Sernin.
City in Italy
Assisi
Hilltop Saints, Frescoes and Peaceful Views
Saint Francis was born in this Umbrian hill town in 1181 or 1182. He died in 1226 and the Basilica of San Francesco was begun two years later. Giotto and his followers painted frescoes on its walls. Pilgrims walk the Way of Saint Francis from Tuscany. The Porziuncola chapel stands in the valley below.
Region in Spain
Galicia
Coastal charm with misty mountains and vineyards
In the green northwest corner of Spain, this region is where the many Camino de Santiago routes end. Paths cross from Portugal at Tui and from the north coast at Ferrol. Some pilgrims walk on to Cape Finisterre on the Atlantic. Others visit the sanctuary of Muxia. Pulpo, which means octopus, is a local meal.
City in United Kingdom
Canterbury
Cathedrals, Cobblestones and River Tales
Each 29 December services mark the feast of Saint Thomas Becket, the archbishop murdered inside the cathedral in 1170. Pilgrims have walked here ever since. Geoffrey Chaucer wrote the Canterbury Tales about a group of pilgrims in the 1300s. The cathedral is a World Heritage Site. Walkers follow the Pilgrims Way from Winchester.
Town in North Macedonia
Ohrid
Ancient Lakeside Bliss and History
The Ohrid Summer Festival is held in July and August with concerts in churches. This lakeside town in North Macedonia is full of Orthodox churches. The Church of Saint John at Kaneo sits on a cliff above the water. Pilgrims visit the Monastery of Saint Naum at the southern end of the lake.
City in Poland
Częstochowa
Home of the revered Black Madonna shrine
Every August walking groups arrive here from all over Poland for the feast of the Assumption. The Warsaw pilgrimage has set out on foot since 1711. They head for Jasna Gora monastery, which holds the Black Madonna icon. Millions of visitors come each year. Pilgrims often sing hymns as they walk.
City in Italy
Bari
Authentic Puglia on the Adriatic
Busy, salty and full of street life, this Adriatic port has a maze of lanes in its old town. The Basilica of San Nicola holds relics of Saint Nicholas, the model for Santa Claus. Sailors brought them from Turkey in 1087. A sea procession honours him each May.
City in Portugal
Braga
Baroque Churches, Roman Roots, Youthful Buzz
Known as the religious capital of Portugal, this northern city has a cathedral begun in the 1070s. The Bom Jesus do Monte sanctuary sits on a hill above town. Pilgrims climb its zigzag baroque stairway of 577 steps, some on their knees. Holy Week processions here are famous.
Monastery in Cyprus
Kykkos
Luxurious Retreat in Cyprus Mountains
High in the Troodos Mountains at about 1,300 metres, this Orthodox monastery was founded around 1100. It holds a famous icon of the Virgin Mary, kept covered in silver. Walls glitter with gold mosaics and paintings. Archbishop Makarios, who became president of Cyprus in 1960, is buried on a hill nearby.
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