Reality or a figment of the imagination?
Only open for four months out of the year, from July through October, the Great St. Bernard Pass connects Martigny to the Aosta Valley in Italy. The famous hospice in the area was run by Augustinian monks in the Middle Ages, and today symbolizes their generosity towards travelers.
Isai is the second-largest city in Romania, and home to Saint Parascheva, one of the most beloved saints of the Balkans. She lived during the 11th century, and today attracts thousands of pilgrimages to Isai.
Legend has it that in 1879 during a rainy witnessing of the apparition of the Virgin Mary in Knock, not a single drop of water fell on the vision. Since then, the town has become one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in Western Europe.
The most popular pilgrimage destination in Austria, the Mariazell Basilica contains a 23-inch (50-cm) high wooden statue of the Virgin Mary with child. It's one of the most visited shrines in Europe.
Travelers can follow the footsteps of Martin Luther in the states of Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia, a region deemed as Luther Country. Sites related to the Protestant Reformation are located in several cities throughout the region.
Sources: (National Geographic) (TourismReview)
A unique pilgrimage experience, this seven-mile (11-km) journey begins in the town of Bellagio, and ends at the Madonna del Ghisallo Chapel in Lombardy. A renowned cycling hub, it's perfect if you want to go by bike.
For over 500 years, this Bavarian town has been one of Germany's most important places of pilgrimage, venerating the Virgin Mary.
Located 60 miles (95 km) from Paris, the Chartres Cathedral is known for holding the Sancta Camisa, the tunic the Virgin Mary wore when Christ was born. The annual pilgrimage starts at Notre-Dame in Paris and ends in Chartres.
This is one of the most sacred sites in France, as the cathedral was built on the exact spot where Saint-Denis is buried. Starting at Notre-Dame-des-Champs, pilgrims go through different related chapels and churches before ending at the basilica.
This Umbrian town is most famous for being the birthplace of Saint Francis. The different routes follow the journey he made in the Middle Ages. And it offers incredible landscapes of the Italian countryside.
One of the most famous pilgrimage sites in Europe, Częstochowa is home to the Jasna Góra Monastery, which attracts millions of visitors every year. And they're all there to see the miraculous painting of the Black Madonna.
Also known as the Saint Patrick route, it was here that the saint established his church. This made the town the ecclesiastical capital of the island.
Einsiedeln gained popularity thanks to its Benedictine Abbey, one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Switzerland. Close to many scenic hiking trails in the Swiss Alps, the town is located about 25 miles (40 km) from Zurich.
In 1917, three young shepherds claimed to have seen an apparition of the Virgin Mary in Cova da Iria. Soon after, pilgrimages to the location began on the anniversaries of the apparitions. Fátima is located nearly 90 miles (130 km) from Lisbon.
One of the oldest pilgrimage routes in the world, it terminates at the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Northern Spain. With many routes, the three most popular are the French Way, Portuguese Way, and Northern Way.
The 44-mile (70-km) route takes travelers through the countryside of Southwest England’s Somerset County. From Glastonbury Tor to Stonehenge, the sites are famous for their Neo-Pagans and druid ceremonies.
Once an important place of worship for both Christians and Muslims, the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul was built in 537 BCE as an Eastern Orthodox cathedral. It was later converted into a mosque in 1453, and served as such until 1931. In 1935, the building was secularized and became a museum.
Typically completed barefoot, pilgrims come across 15 stations on the five-hour trek in Glencolmcille. The pilgrimage occurs annually on the feast day of Saint Colm Cille.
The largest pilgrimage site in France, Lourdes is important due to the apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes and the site's healing stream of water.
In 1981, apparitions of the Virgin Mary appeared in front of six children in this Adriatic city. In turn, the city became a popular pilgrimage destination.
For almost 1,000 years, Mont Saint-Michel has become one of the most popular places of pilgrimage in Western Europe. Located off the coast of Normandy, people go there to ask for eternal life from the Archangel of Judgement, Saint Michael.
Mount Athos is the oldest surviving independent monastic republic in the world, tracing its roots back to the 5th century. It's believed that John the Evangelist and the Virgin Mary sought shelter there from a storm.
This historical 120-mile (190-km) route takes pilgrims from Winchester to Hampshire, while leading them through several religious sites.
Situated in the city of Trondheim, Nidaros Cathedral is the northernmost medieval cathedral in the world and the second largest in Scandinavia. The pilgrimage to Nidaros Cathedral is known as Saint Olav’s Way, and starts in Selånger, Sweden.
The pilgrimage of Rocio is one of the largest Roman Catholic pilgrimages in Europe. It's also one of the most colorful pilgrimages, providing insight into the unique culture of Andalusia.
The Romedius pilgrimage trail is perfect for advanced hikers. Starting at the village of Thaur in Austria, you'll follow the footsteps of Saint Romedius to San Romedio in Italy.
Situated 15 miles (25 km) northeast of Prague, Stará Boleslav is an ancient place of pilgrimage. It's connected to the martyrdom of the patron saint of the Czech state, Saint Wenceslas.
One of the longest Catholic pilgrimages in Europe, Via Francigena starts in Canterbury, England. Pilgrims then pass through France, before wrapping up in Rome.
In the 13th century, a cattle herder found, after a miraculous apparition, an image of the Black Virgin in the deep mountain ranges of Las Villuercas. From then on, the location became a popular pilgrimage site.
On the enchanting coastline of the Scottish island of Orkney exists a route that's 58 miles (93 km) long, honoring the island’s patron saint.
While most pilgrimages started as journeys of religious significance, modern ones are not necessarily about that. You might just want to escape the hectic demands of modern life, or take in some history and culture while admiring spectacular landscapes. Whatever your reason is for embarking on a pilgrimage, it might just change your life. And Europe has some of the most breathtaking pilgrimage routes to test out. Whether it's the classic Santiago de Compostela, or Mount Athos in Greece, these routes promise unforgettable adventures.
Get your body and soul ready for some of the most spiritual routes in Europe. Click on to discover the top 30 pilgrimage sites on the continent.
The top 30 pilgrimage sites in Europe
Discover some of the most spiritual routes on the continent
TRAVEL Spirituality
While most pilgrimages started as journeys of religious significance, modern ones are not necessarily about that. You might just want to escape the hectic demands of modern life, or take in some history and culture while admiring spectacular landscapes. Whatever your reason is for embarking on a pilgrimage, it might just change your life. And Europe has some of the most breathtaking pilgrimage routes to test out. Whether it's the classic Santiago de Compostela, or Mount Athos in Greece, these routes promise unforgettable adventures.
Get your body and soul ready for some of the most spiritual routes in Europe. Click on to discover the top 30 pilgrimage sites on the continent.