in 2024, over 300 kilometers of inspiration: #berndscamino 👣 2,372 km since Berlin
300 kilometers lay between Saint-Étienne and Conques. In 2024, the #berndscamino took me across remote plateaus and volcanic landscapes of the Massif Central, through picturesque villages and to Christian UNESCO World Heritage sites. I had ended my journey to Santiago in 2023 on the rarely traveled #lechemindesallemands near Saint-Étienne. That’s where I picked it up again in 2024. It took a few more days before I reached the pilgrim center of Le Puy-en-Velay, the impressive starting point of the #viapodeniensis. This is the route traditionally chosen by pilgrims from southern Germany and Switzerland.
My path was marked by warm hospitality and unexpected highlights, such as the charming Montarcher. Until Le Puy, quite a bit of improvisation was required: thanks to the support of the Association Rhône-Alpes des amis de Saint-Jacques de Compostelle, I was able to find private hosts – yet it remained a challenge. From Le Puy onward, much changed, and for the first time I got a sense of what it means not to be walking alone. The spiritual pilgrims’ Mass at the cathedral in Le Puy, with its typically Catholic-theatrical staging, marked the symbolic starting point for many pilgrims. The subsequent wild beauty of the Aubrac surprised me with its historical, spiritual places and the heavily marketed tourist legends of the Beast of Gévaudan.
This year’s 300 kilometers culminated in a spectacular finale in Conques: the Abbey Church of Sainte-Foy, one of the most beautiful pilgrimage sites in France, formed the high point of my journey. Until then, each day was unique – full of nature, culture, and inspiring encounters with impressive fellow pilgrims, casual hikers, and warm-hearted hosts.
In short: C’était un rêve pèlerin, Bernd. 🙏👣