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Pilgrimage has been one of the most enduring and meaningful practices in human history. At its simplest, a pilgrimage is a journey to a sacred place. Yet this definition barely captures its richness. For centuries, people have travelled vast distances—not simply to arrive somewhere, but to seek healing, forgiveness, transformation, or a deeper understanding of themselves and the world.

In the Middle Ages, pilgrimage was woven into everyday life across Europe and beyond. Ordinary men and women, as well as kings and clergy, set out on journeys that could take weeks, months, or even years. Some travelled in hope of miraculous cures; others went in fulfilment of vows, or as acts of penance. The road itself became part of the experience: a space of hardship, encounter, and reflection.

Canterbury and the culture of pilgrimage

Arriving in Canterbury on the Pilgrims' Way

In England, one of the most important pilgrimage destinations was Canterbury Cathedral. Following the murder of Archbishop Thomas Becket in 1170, the cathedral became a major centre of devotion. Pilgrims travelled from across Europe to visit his shrine, believed to be a site of miraculous healing.

The popularity of Canterbury is vividly captured in The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer, which portrays a diverse group of pilgrims journeying together from London. Chaucer’s work reminds us that pilgrimage was not only a religious act, but also a social experience—bringing together people of different backgrounds, professions, and perspectives.

The Camino de Santiago

The road to Santiago - the Camino!

 

Perhaps the most famous pilgrimage route in Europe is the Camino de Santiago, the network of roads leading to Santiago de Compostela Cathedral. According to tradition, this cathedral houses the remains of Saint James the Great, one of Christ’s apostles.

Medieval pilgrims travelled from across the continent, following well-established routes marked by churches, hospices, and shrines. The scallop shell—still used today as a symbol of the Camino—served as a sign of the pilgrim’s identity.

In recent decades, the Camino de Santiago has experienced a remarkable revival. Thousands now walk these routes each year, drawn not only by religious devotion, but also by a desire for reflection, physical challenge, or escape from the pressures of modern life. In this sense, pilgrimage remains a living tradition, continually reinterpreted by each generation.

Pilgrimage beyond Europe

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem

Pilgrimage was never limited to Western Europe. Early Christian travellers journeyed to Jerusalem, retracing the life of Christ, while others visited important sites across North Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean, such as the great pilgrimage centre of Abu Mena in Egypt.

These journeys connected distant regions, enabling the exchange not only of ideas and beliefs, but also of artistic styles and objects. Pilgrims carried home souvenirs—small badges, flasks, and relics—that acted as tangible reminders of their travels and experiences.

Why pilgrimage still matters

Although the medieval world has long passed, pilgrimage continues to resonate today. Routes such as the Camino de Santiago attract people from around the globe, many of whom would not describe themselves as traditionally religious. What they share is a sense that the journey itself offers something rare: time to think, to walk, and to step outside the routines of everyday life.

Pilgrimage also invites us to reconsider the relationship between place and meaning. Certain locations—whether Canterbury, Santiago, or Jerusalem—have acquired significance through centuries of human experience. To visit them is to participate in a long, shared history of movement, belief, and storytelling.

Interested in exploring this further?

This article introduces just some of the themes explored in our online course on the history and meaning of pilgrimage, where we examine the routes, objects, and ideas that have shaped this remarkable tradition from the medieval world to the present day.

Find out more about this course on our website.