To Santiago de Compostela

If you can, arrive in Compostela in the morning, after a relatively short stage. Take a break at Monte del Gozo (Mount Gozo). You can catch your first glimpse of the towers of Santiago Cathedral from the left of the monument erected during the Pope’s visit in 1989. Otherwise, unfortunately, urbanization has invaded the area. However, the small San Marcos chapel and its enclosure have been preserved, where you can still pay your respects.

You arrive in Santiago via the Via Sacra, and you finally contemplate, not without great emotion, the baroque façade of the cathedral, from the Plaza del Obradoiro. Inside, you have two rituals to perform, as you can no longer place your fingers in the marks left by all the pilgrims who have preceded you in this place, on the marble of the column of Jesse that supports Christ and Santiago, and you can no longer place your forehead against that of Master Mateo, depicted kneeling at the back of the column, in the hope of obtaining a piece of the genius of the creator of the Portal of Glory.

Stroll silently through the nave to the crypt, where you’ll find the reliquary of St. James. Another staircase leads up to the statue of the saint which overlooks the high altar. Those who wish to do so can make the abrazo al apostol, i.e. the Spanish-style embrace. As a French citizen, you’ll want to pay your respects in the chapelle de France or chapelle du Sauveur, located in the axis of the transept.

On the right, you’ll see a stained glass window created by Gino de Valerio and donated by our Association on August 25, 2004, St. Louis Day, and a black Virgin Mary from Rocamadour.