France

Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France

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The Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France represent the routes and conditions of the pilgrimage and the cultural exchange it stimulated.

Four main routes were followed through France by pilgrims since the late Middle Ages to get to Spain and eventually Santiago de Compostela. The associated buildings that catered to the spiritual and physical well-being of the pilgrims comprise churches, bridges, hospitals and other wayside constructions.

Community Perspective: Comprising 71 sites (of which 7 are already inscribed separately) plus 7 stretches of the route of the Chemin du Puy, this format for a WHS has raised eyebrows (see Solivagant’s review). It does contain many fine buildings though (see the reviews by Hubert, Thibault, Tsunami and Ilya for some ideas), with the Tour Saint-Jacques-de-la-Boucherie in Paris maybe the most symbolic as it’s the starting point.

Site Info

Official Information
Full Name
Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France (ID: 868)
Country
France
Status
Inscribed 1998 Site history
History of Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France
1998: Revision
Includes former TWHS Saint Sernin de Toulouse, Abbaye (et village) de Conques, Moissac (1981)
1998: Inscribed
Inscribed
WHS Type
Cultural
Criteria
  • ii
  • iv
  • vi
Links
UNESCO
whc.unesco.org
All Links
UNESCO.org
Related Resources
News Article

Community Information

  • Community Category
  • Religious structure: Christian
Travel Information
Exact locations inscribed twice (or more)
Exact locations inscribed twice (or more)
Contains 8 sites already inscribed on their own account
Ile-de-France Hotspot
Ile-de-France Hotspot
Tour St. Jacques lies in Paris city center
Toulouse Hotspot
Toulouse Hotspot
Basilique Saint-Sernin and Hotel-Dieu Saint-Jacques (both in Toulouse)
Bilbao hotspot
Bilbao hotspot
cathedral of Bayonne (southwestern France)
Lyon Hotspot
Lyon Hotspot
2 locations in Le Puy-en-Velay (3h by train)
Burgundy Hotspot
Burgundy Hotspot
Vézelay
Aquitania hotspot
Aquitania hotspot
The cathedral and 2 basilica's in Bordeaux City Center
Recent Connections
View all (126) .
Connections of Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France
Individual People
  • Louis XIV
    From the 13th century, when Poitou was united with the crown of France, the function of abbot of the chapter of the church Saint-Hilaire-le-Grand in Poitiers would henceforth be carried out by the kings of France. The chapter would therefore be particularly protected: Richard the Lionheart, Charles VIII, Henry IV, Louis XIII, Louis XIV were received there as "abbots".

    See fr.wikipedia.org

  • John D Rockefeller Jr
    The Cloisters Museum of New York (now part of Met Museum of Art) was created by Rockefeller between 1935-9 with close personal involvement as a result of his interest in mediaeval art and contains reconstructed cloisters which were originally part of 5 religious buildings in France and had been collected by a sculptor friend of Rockefeller. One of these, The Abbey of St Guilhem-le-Desert is inscribed as part of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France.

    See www.metmuseum.org

  • Richard Lionheart
    He spent three months at the abbey of Vézelay in 1190. – It was in the church Saint-Hilaire-le-Grand in Poitiers that in June 1172, Richard the Lionheart received from the hands of the local bishop and the archbishop of Bordeaux the insignia of ducal power. – In 1193, Richard the Lionheart visited the tomb of Saint Leonard, situated in the Saint Leonard Church in Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat

    See fr.wikipedia.org

  • Charlemagne
    According to a tradition, the abbey Saint-Jean de Sorde was founded by Charlemagne. (Nomination file) - The Historia Caroli Magni (or (Pseudo-)Turpin Chronicle) states that the Saint-Jacques-de-la-Boucherie Church, of which the Tour Saint-Jacques is a vestige, was founded by Charlemagne. However, historians have never been able to verify this.

    See fr.wikipedia.org

Geography
  • Basque
  • Pyrenees
    Several sites in Midi-Pyr?n?es
  • Cirques
    The Notre-Dame-du-Bon-Port de Gavarnie is a parochial church situated in the cirque of Gavarnie. (Nomination file)
  • Linear inscriptions
    "It may also be a linear cultural landscape, as indicated in paragraph 40 of the Operational Guidelines" and "In addition, seven stretches of the Chemin du Puy are included in the nomination ".(AB)
  • Bay of Biscay
    Eglise de Notre-Dame-de-la-Fin-des-Terres Soulac-sur-Mer
  • Located in a Capital City
    Paris (Capital of France)
Trivia
  • Tourist Treks
  • WHS within walking distance
    Amiens: walk from the front entrance of Amiens Cathedral; Paris: to Tour Saint Jacques
  • Serial sites with the greatest number of locations
    78 separate locations
  • Modelled after
    Church of Neuvy-Saint-Sepulcre is "modelled upon" the Church of the Holy Sepulcre in Jerusalem
  • Furthest distance apart
    Amiens - Gavarnie: 1032 km
  • Built or owned by British
    Grande-Sauve Abbey came under the control of the kings of England following the marriage of Eleanor of Aquitaine to Henry II Plantagenet in 1152.

    See fr.wikipedia.org

  • Built elsewhere as a full size replica
    The Hall of Architecture at the Carnegie Museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, exhibits a plaster cast of the façade of the Abbey of Saint-Gilles.

    See carnegiemuseums.org

  • In Video Games
    Assassin's Creed Unity – Tour St Jacques (with historical church still attached)
  • Viewable from another WHS
    Saint Jacques Tower, from the inscribed section of Paris, Banks of the Seine; from the banks of the Canal Du Midi along the Boulevarde de Minimes in Toulouse it is possible to look down the Rue de la Concorde and see the tower of the Basilica of Saint-Sernin (Route of Compostela)
  • Tour de France
    Tour de France 1921, stage 5: they're cycling through the porch of the Ancien hôpital des pèlerins of Pons. And in 2022: Stage 19 Castelnau-Magnoac > Cahors. The stage finishes by following the core zone of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France through Cahors

    See gallica.bnf.fr

History
  • Neolithic age
    Dolmen of Pech Laglaire 2

    See fr.wikipedia.org

  • Normans
    Cathedral of Saint-Front in Périgueux: The Norman invasions in the Périgord in the 9th century destroyed the church in 845, leaving only the oldest part, discovered by the faithful in the 16th century.

    See fr.wikipedia.org

  • Famous suicides
    In 1862, the painter Léon Soulié committed suicide by throwing himself from the bell tower of the Basilica of Saint-Sernin in Toulouse.

    See fr.wikipedia.org

  • Chalcolithic
    The Pech Laglaire 2 dolmen is integrated into a Chalcolithic dolmen necropolis (2300 to 1800 BC). (Nomination file)
  • Sieges and Battles
    During the Siege of Pons (1568-69), part of the French Wars of Religion, the church of the hospital lost its vaults and roofs. (Nomination file) - Saint-Sever Abbey suffered serious damage from numerous sieges during the Hundred Years' War.

    See fr.wikipedia.org

  • Celtic history
    The cathedral of Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges is located on the acropolis of a Celtic oppidum which gave rise to the Roman city of Lugdunum Convenarum, the ruins of which extend across the plain.

    See fr.wikipedia.org

  • Carolingian Empire
    According to legend, Charlemagne supposedly founded the abbey of Sainte-Foy in Conques. The abbey's treasure holds the A of Charlemagne, one of the twenty-four reliquaries that Charlemagne is said to have had made for the abbeys he founded in his empire. The A designates the abbey of Sainte-Foy de Conques as "the first of these monasteries".

    See fr.wikipedia.org

  • Buried treasures
    Abbey Church of Sainte-Foy: On October 9, 1568, Protestant troops devastated Conques, setting fire to the church and destroying the cloister fountain. The treasure was then hidden under the pavement and only discovered in 1875 during the restoration of the ambulatory. (Nomination file)
  • Knights Hospitaller
    "Aragnouet: Hospice du Plan and Chapel of Notre-Dame-del'Assomption, known as the Chapel of the Templars". Taken over by the Knights Hospitaller after disbanding of Knights Templar.
  • Knights Templar
    "Aragnouet: Hospice du Plan and Chapel of Notre-Dame-del?Assomption, known as the Chapel of the Templars". Taken over by the Hospitallers after disbanding of KT.
  • Located in a Former Capital
    Including sites in Poitier, capital of powerful Duchy of Aquitain, Toulouse and Arles which also were capital cities
Architecture
  • Octagons
    Octagonal bell tower Saint Sernin Toulouse

    See www.flickr.com

  • Domes
    Saint-Etienne de Cahors (Nomination file, p. 6) - Périgueux Cathedral, domed apse of the church of Saint-Sever Abbey, Cathédrale Notre-Dame du Puy-en-Velay, Prieuré Notre-Dame de La Charité-sur-Loire, Abbey Church of Sainte-Foy (Nomination file)

    See fr.wikipedia.org

  • Conical roofs
    The rotunda of the collegial church Saint-Étienne – Conical roofs of the side bell towers of the church Saint-Pierre in Aulnay (Nomination file) - The belltower of the Cathedral of Saint-Front in Périgueux has a conical roof.

    See fr.wikipedia.org

  • Renaissance
    The façade of the Cathédrale Sainte-Marie d'Auch was inspired by the Renaissance. (Nomination file)
  • Baroque
    The choir of the Church Sainte-Quitterie d'Aire – Main altar of the Cathédrale Notre-Dame du Puy-en-Velay – The baroque style canopy of the tomb of Saint Saturnin in the Basilica of Saint-Sernin in Toulouse

    See fr.wikipedia.org

  • Mudejar style
    Église Saint-Blaise in L'Hôpital-Saint-Blaise: The church has a particularity that remains unique in the Romanesque architecture of France and Spain. These are the beams decorated with billets and various Hispano-Mudejar motifs that, replacing the ordinary stone tablet, form the cornice of the choir. (Nomination file)
  • Mosaic art
    Abbey Saint-Jean de Sorde: discovery of a Gallo-Roman villa under the abbot's house, with a mosaic ensemble dating back to the V and VI centuries. The apse of the abbey church also features mosaic art, from around 1100. (Nomination file)

    See fr.wikipedia.org

  • Designed by Vauban
    Porte St Jacques in Saint Jean Pied de Port is directly connected to the Vauban Citadel
  • Carrara marble
    The main altar of Bayonne Cathedral (Nomination file) – Church Saint-Jacques-le-Majeur-et-Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Folleville: The recumbent figures of Raoul de Lannoy and his wife Jeanne de Poix are in Carrara marble, finely sculpted, and were considered by Léon Palustre to be "the most admirable artistic creation of northern France". (Wikipedia)

    See fr.wikipedia.org

  • Pre-Romanesque
    The oldest part of the Cathedral of Saint-Front in Périgueux preserves fragments of the 6th century church. Under the current bell tower, two bays of the Carolingian basilica remain. – The main apse of the church Sainte-Quitterie is part of pre-Romanesque architecture. – The Abbey of Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert has some pre-Romanesque constructions, e.g. the Saint-Martin Tower and the walls of the first bay of the nave. (Nomination file) - The treasure of the Abbey Church of Sainte-Foy includes unique pieces of art from the Carolingian era, including the reliquary statue of Saint Foy.

    See fr.wikipedia.org

  • Gothic Revival
    Façade of the chapel of the Hôtel-Dieu in Puy-en-Velay (Nomination file)
  • Gothic
    Bazas Cathedral, Basilica of St. Michael in Bordeaux, Bordeaux Cathedral, Église Sainte-Quitterie d'Aire, Bayonne Cathedral, Oloron Cathedral, Basilique Notre-Dame de L'Épine, Notre-Dame-en-Vaux, Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges Cathedral, Cathédrale Sainte-Marie d'Auch, choir and cloister of the Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Cahors, church Notre-Dame-du-Bourg in Rabastens, Church Saint-Jacques de Compiègne (Nomination file)

    See fr.wikipedia.org

  • Spolia
    The Saint-Just Church in Valcabrère was built with elements coming from the necropolis in which it was situated. Sarcophagi and bas-reliefs were reused in the construction. (Nomination file) - Many elements of the Miègeville door in the Basilica of Saint-Sernin in Toulouse were made from sarcophagi recovered from the early Christian cemetery that preceded the cathedral.

    See fr.wikipedia.org

  • Restored by Viollet-le-Duc
    Basilique Saint-Sernin (Toulouse)
  • Dry Stone Construction
    Bach-Cahors section of the Chemin du Puy: One can see the large stone slabs of the Roman road between dry stone walls sometimes incorporating enormous blocks. (Nomination file)
  • Brick architecture
    Basilica of St. Sernin, Toulouse
  • Romanesque
    Several, including the Basilica of St. Sernin in Toulouse
Damaged
  • Damaged in World War II
    Allied bombardments destroyed the Church Saint-Jacques in Compiègne during the Second World War.

    See fr.wikipedia.org

  • Damaged in World War I
    The Church Saint-Jacques in Compiègne was damaged in World War I, but restored shortly after. (Nomination file)
  • Destroyed by Hurricanes or Typhoons
    Bazas Cathedral: On January 1, 1723, a hurricane brought down part of the facade as well as the first two vaults of the cathedral.

    See fr.wikipedia.org

  • Destroyed or damaged by Earthquake
    The Basilica of Notre-Dame du Port in Clermont-Ferrand was damaged by strong earthquakes which shook the region in 1478 and more particularly in 1490. This resulted in the fall of the pinnacle of the transept tower which was replaced by a bulbous bell tower.

    See fr.wikipedia.org

  • Iconoclasm
    Some decorations (e.g. on capitals) in the Grande-Sauve Abbey show signs of iconoclasm. Of certain male figures, the lower part has been hammered away, probably because they showed genitals. The sculptures probably fell victim to puritans in the 18th century. Other sculptures show Jesus with his face missing. This probably dates back to the times of the French Revolution, when churches were often vandalised. Other churches that are part of the WHS were also vandalised during the French Revolution, e.g. Bordeaux Cathedral. (Nomination file) + Cathedral of Saint-Front in Périgueux: In 1575, the Huguenots pillaged the future cathedral, destroying much of the furniture and stealing the relics of Saint Front, which were taken away and thrown into the Dordogne. (Wikipedia)

    See fr.wikipedia.org

  • Thefts since inscription
    Oloron Cathedral: In November 2019, the cathedral was the victim of a car-ramming attack. Among the thefts, 16th-century clothes belonging to king Francis I were stolen.

    See fr.wikipedia.org

World Heritage Process
Religion and Belief
  • Jesuit Order
    Church Notre-Dame-du-Bourg in Rabastens: During the Wars of Religion, the monument was looted and transformed into a guardhouse. After the return to Catholic worship, the church was entrusted to the Jesuits.

    See fr.wikipedia.org

  • Legends and Folk Myths
    Église Sainte-Quitterie d'Aire: Legend has it that Quitterie, a young Gothic princess, took her head, which the executioner had just cut off, in her hands and carried it up the hill to the place where the basilica dedicated to her now stands, the crypt of which still houses the marble sarcophagus which is said to have contained her relics until the 16th century. (Nomination file) – The legend of the Pont Valentré

    See en.wikipedia.org

  • Pilgrimage route
    Way of St. James
  • Marian Shrines
    "At the same time there was renewed fervour for the cult of the Virgin Mary. Pilgrimages to shrines such as Notre-Dame du Puy, Notre-Dame de Chartres, and Notre-Dame de Boulogne, which had been renowned since the early Middle Ages, experienced a spectacular renaissance in the 12th century". (AB Ev) - Basilique Notre-Dame-de-la-fin-des-Terres, Notre-Dame-en-Vaux, Notre-Dame-de-Tramesaygues d'Audressein, Basilique Saint-Sauveur de Rocamadour (Nomination file) - Basilique Notre-Dame de L'Épine: its name comes from the devotion to a statue representing the Virgin carrying the Child Jesus which, according to a legend known in the 17th century and which subsequently evolved, was found by shepherds in the Middle Ages in a burning thorn bush. - Basilica of Notre-Dame du Port in Clermont-Ferrand: The statue of the miraculous Back Madonna in the underground chapel dates back to 1734, but legend dates it back to the 6th century. The Miraculous Virgin of the Port experienced considerable growth with the development of a procession from 1614 that still takes place today.

    See fr.wikipedia.org

  • The Magi
    A fresco depiction the Adoration of the Magi in the Church Saint-Pierre de La Sauve. The tympanum of the bell tower of Mimizan and the tympanum of the north portal of the Priory of Notre-Dame de La Charité-sur-Loire show the Adoration of the Magi. (Nomination file) The Adoration of the Magi also features on the tympanum of the west portal of Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges Cathedral.

    See fr.wikipedia.org

  • Cistercian
    Cadouin Abbey

    See fr.wikipedia.org

  • Relics from John the Baptist
    Royal abbey Saint-Jean-Baptiste in Saint-Jean-d'Angély: The abbey originates from a legend: that of the head of Saint John the Baptist brought back from Alexandria by the monk Felix in a boat that ran aground on the coast of Saintonge. In order to shelter this invaluable relic, the king of Aquitaine Pepin is said to have brought monks from the Order of Saint Benedict of Cluny to found an abbey in 923. (Nomination file)
  • Order of Cluny
    Abbaye Saint-Pierre de Moissac; Prieuré Notre-Dame de La Charité-sur-Loire; Ancienne abbatiale, Saint-Gilles-du-Gard; Abbaye royale Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Saint-Jean-d’Angély; Abbaye de Saint-Sever

    See fr.wikipedia.org

  • Christian Pilgrimage Sites
  • Nymphaeum
    Église Sainte-Quitterie d'Aire: The determining element for the history of the church is the presence of a spring which flows into the crypt of the church: the object of devotion in Antiquity, it was converted into a nymphaeum, then probably christianized at the time when the church of the bishopric of Aire was organized. (Nomination file)
  • Devil's Bridge
    Devil's bridge between the abbey at Aniane and the Gellone Abbey at Saint-Guilhem-le-D
  • Fortified religious buildings
    St. Avit Sénieur in the Dordogne
  • Hercules
    The 17th-century pulpit in the Saint-Front Cathedral is carried by Hercules.

    See commons.wikimedia.org

  • Saints' Caves
    Périgueux Cathedral contains the cave of Saint-Front, where the saint lived as a hermit in the 4th century.

    See fr.wikipedia.org

  • Augustinian Order
    On March 21, 1141, Pope Innocent II placed the community of the Basilica of Saint-Sernin in Toulouse under the rule of Saint Augustine.

    See fr.wikipedia.org

  • Cathedrals
    Cathedrale St Front (Perigueux), Ancienne Cathedrale (Bazas), Cath Notre Dame (Bayonne), Cathedrale Saint Capres (Agen), Bas Cath Notre Dame (Le Puy), C ND dl Sede (St Lizier) - Former Cath, N-D St B
  • Religious Relics
    "From the 11th to the 13th century "staging post" churches developed along the pilgrimage route, and in particular in France. Each of these was proud to house holy relics; indeed, the cult of relics was the mainstay of medieval pilgrimage." (Ab Ev) - The cult of relics is jointly linked to characteristic architectural creations, so much so that the term "pilgrimage church" is always used, even if by tradition and convenience, to designate buildings constructed from the end of the 12th century and which can be grouped by common architectural characteristics. (Nomination file, p. 5) Examples are the relics of Saint Foy in Conques, Saint Leonard in Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat, Saint Giles in Saint-Gilles du Gard, Saint Severin of Cologne in the Basilica of Saint Severinus in Bordeaux, Saint Quitterie in Sainte-Quitterie Church, Saint Bertrand in the Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges Cathedral, Saint Saturnin in the Basilica of Saint-Sernin in Toulouse, Saint Amadour in the Saint-Sauveur Basilica of Rocamadour.
  • 12 Apostles
    The Basilica of Saint-Sernin in Toulouse houses relics of six apostles.

    See fr.wikipedia.org

  • Griffins
    Roman Basilica of Notre Dame Du Port in Clermont-Ferrand (sculpture); and: Griffins on the lower arch of the southern portal of the Church Saint-Pierre in Aulnay - Sculptural art on a capital in the presbytery of the Grande-Sauve Abbey shows two griffins drinking from the "Vase of Life".

    See commons.wikimedia.org

  • Premonstratensians
    Abbey Church of Sainte-Foy, Premonstratensian since 1873

    See fr.wikipedia.org

  • Benedictines
    Church of Saint-Pierre at Moissac was a Benedictine abbey until 1626 - Grande-Sauve Abbey is a former Benedictine abbey - Royal abbey Saint-Jean-Baptiste in Saint-Jean-d'Angély (Nomination file)

    See fr.wikipedia.org

Human Activity
  • Cultural Routes
  • Historical Graffiti
    The hospital of Pons is known for its Romanesque porch that spans the road. On each side, the walls are decorated with low arcades, in front of which are placed stone benches that allowed pilgrims to rest in shelter. This remark explains the presence on the facing of very numerous graffiti: horseshoes, crosses, coats of arms. Graffiti can also be found in other places, such as the dormitory for the pilgrims or the sick. (Nomination file)

    See commons.wikimedia.org

  • Erotic art
    Sculptural art (e.g. on the capitals) in the Grande-Sauve Abbey shows figures in sexual acts, e.g. persons showing their anus, as a symbol of homosexuality, and a young man with an erect penis, as an example of a sinner. - The Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Cahors has an erotic scene between a man and a woman above its portal.

    See www.routard.com

  • Transhumance
    Route section Nasbinals-St.-Chély d'Aubrac: The descent towards the Lot valley begins with a transhumance trail which reaches Saint-Chély at an altitude of 800 m on the Boralde. (Nomination file)
  • Mummies
    Basilica of St. Michael, Bordeaux: "From the late eighteenth century until 1979, over 60 of the mummified bodies were exhibited in the crypt. In 1881 a Gallo-Roman cemetery and catacombs were discovered under the tower, with several naturally mummified bodies".

    See en.wikipedia.org

  • Festivals
    An yearly organ music festival was founded at Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges Cathedral in 1975. (Nomination file) - The procession of the Miraculous Virgin of the Basilica of Notre-Dame du Port in Clermont-Ferrand takes place every Sunday following May 15. It gives rise to a period of festivity for the basilica and its neighbourhood.

    See fr.wikipedia.org

  • Salt
    The Priory of Notre-Dame de La Charité-sur-Loire had a salt attic.

    See fr.wikipedia.org

Constructions
  • Historic Pharmacies
    Hôtel-Dieu in Puy-en-Velay: The hospital pharmacy of the Hôtel-Dieu is one of the oldest and largest in France. In the 16th century, apothecaries were called upon to follow up on patients on a regular basis. It was equipped with a herbal tea room in the 19th century, consisting of dryers for plants intended to be served as herbal teas. The Hôtel-Dieu and its hospital pharmacy have experienced 10 centuries of hospital activities in Puy-en-Velay.

    See fr.wikipedia.org

  • Astronomical clocks
    "The Astronomical Clock of Bourges cathedral dates back to 1424. It is the work of canon and mathematician Jean Furosis. The clock consists of a tower holding two clocks, painted red and decorated with flowers, shields and golden lines."

    See frenchmoments.eu

  • Cultural sites connected to Cliffs
    Rocamadour

    See fr.wikipedia.org

  • Equestrian Statues
    Église Saint-Hilaire de Melle

    See fr.wikipedia.org

  • Carillons
    Notre-Dame-en-Vaux has a carillon of 56 bells.

    See fr.wikipedia.org

  • Cemeteries
    Cemetery of the church of Saint-Laurent in Jézeau, with a funerary cross featuring a shell and a pilgrim's staff - Cemetery of the Church Saint-Pierre de La Sauve – Cemetery surrounding the chapel Saint-Julien in Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges - Saint-Just Church in Valcabrère - Church Saint-Pierre in Aulnay (Nomination file)
  • Cenotaph
    In 1843, a monolithic cenotaph of Saint Eutropius was found in the Basilique Saint-Eutrope in Saintes. It now stands in the centre of the crypt.

    See fr.wikipedia.org

  • Clock Tower
    Auch Cathedral, Basilique Notre-Dame de L'Épine

    See commons.wikimedia.org

  • Cryptoporticus
    Abbey Saint-Jean de Sorde: cryptoporticus under the south terrace of the convent (Nomination file)
  • Unfinished constructions
    Of the abbey church of the royal abbey Saint-Jean-Baptiste in Saint-Jean-d'Angély only the western façade with its towers was built. (Nomination file)
  • Walled cities
    The Gallo-Roman walls surround the upper town of Saint-Lizier. They are almost entirely preserved because they served as support for many buildings, including the medieval rampart, the palace of the bishops of Couserans, the adjoining Notre-Dame-de-la-Sède cathedral and various medieval and modern houses in the city.

    See fr.wikipedia.org

  • Notable Bridges
    Includes 7 bridges, such as the 11th century Pont du Diable on the Hérault River and the Pont Valentré, a fourteenth century six-span fortified stone arch bridge

    See en.wikipedia.org

  • Historical Organs
    Basilica of St. Sernin, Toulouse: The basilica also contains a large three-manual Cavaillé-Coll organ built in 1888. ... considered to be one of the most important organs in France. (wiki)
  • Freestanding Bell Tower
    The belltower of the Basilica of St. Michael in Bordeaux and the Tour Pey-Berland of Bordeaux Cathedral (Nomination file)

    See fr.wikipedia.org

  • Horse Stables
    Abbey Saint-Jean de Sorde: the east courtyard had horse stables in the 19th century – Former horse stables in the royal abbey Saint-Jean-Baptiste in Saint-Jean-d'Angély (Nomination file)
  • Leaning Tower
    Basilica of Saint-Sernin in Toulouse: "The bell tower is slightly inclined towards the west direction, which is why from certain standpoints the bell tower roof, whose axis is perpendicular to the ground, appears to be inclined to the tower itself."

    See en.wikipedia.org

  • Mausolea
    The mausoleum of Saint Betrand in the form of a monumental reliquary in the choir of Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges Cathedral (Nomination file)

    See fr.wikipedia.org

  • Medieval buildings with significant 19th century murals
    The Saint-Caprais Cathedral in Agen, built from the 12th to the 14th century, has 19th century mural and ceiling paintings (1845-1869) by Jean-Louis Bézard.

    See fr.wikipedia.org

  • Prison
    The Mont-Saint-Michel abbey was a prison from 1811 to 1863. – The Episcopal Palace in Saint-Lizier also served as a prison during its history.

    See fr.wikipedia.org

  • Necropolises
    Église Sainte-Quitterie d'Aire: Archaeological excavations have revealed a necropolis from the Early Middle Ages at the chevet of the church. (Nomination file) – Around the burial place of Saint Hilary of Poitiers, where the church of Saint-Hilaire-le-Grand was built, a paleochristian necropolis developed, which was corroborated by excavations in 2007 and 2008.

    See fr.wikipedia.org

  • Hospitals
    Several former pilgrim's hospitals are included in the Route, including ones in Toulouse, Pons and Figeac.
  • Tombs
    Tomb of Saint Giles in the Abbey of Saint-Gilles (Nomination file)
  • Bridges with Buildings on them
    The Valentre Bridge Cahors

    See www.cahorsvalleedulot.com

WHS on Other Lists
  • European Capital of Culture
    Bourges 2028
  • Ramsar Wetlands
    Baie du Mont Saint-Michel + Marais et tourbières
  • Global Geoparks
    Rocamadour lies in Causses du Quercy Global Geopark (2017)
  • Most beautiful villages
    Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, Vézelay, Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert, Conques, Estaing, Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges, La Romieu are among Les plus beaux villages de France ('France's most beautiful villages')
Timeline
  • Built in the 11th century
    From the 11th-13th centuries 'staging post' churches developed along the pilgrimage route, and in particular in France.
WHS Hotspots
Science and Technology
  • Digitized by Iconem
    Saint-Jacques Tower in Paris
  • Geocentric model
    The third bay of a gallery of the Basilica of Saint-Sernin in Toulouse houses two maps of the sky, painted in the 12th century, probably for didactic purposes. The second map represents the universe. The earth is divided into three continents: Europe, Africa, Asia. It is at the centre of the universe represented by twelve concentric circles. This representation illustrates the geocentric conception inherited from the Ptolemaic model.

    See fr.wikipedia.org

  • Astronomy and Astrology
    The sky maps of the Basilica of Saint-Sernin in Toulouse are wall paintings representing an astronomical map and a wind map. They have been dated to the 13th century and linked to the beginnings of the University of Toulouse, created in 1229. They bear witness to the transmission, in the Middle Ages, of ancient astronomical science as well as the intellectual life of the basilica. The geocentric map represents the universe in a geocentric vision, as it was imagined since Antiquity and until 1543, when the scientist Copernicus proposed the heliocentric conception.

    See fr.wikipedia.org

  • Scientific Developments
    Tour St Jacques in Paris was where Pascal carried out experiments on atmospheric pressure and there is still a meteorological laboratory installed at the top of the tower.
News
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First published: 08/02/23.

Tsunami

Routes Of Santiago De Compostela In France

Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France (Inscribed)

Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France by Tsunami

I have visited 11 (Paris, Amiens, Mont Saint-Michel, Vézelay, Asquins, Clermont-Ferrand, Poitiers, Bourges, Toulouse-2, Gavarnie) out of the 78 components, but here I will talk about just one of them, Hôtel-Dieu Saint-Jacques in Toulouse, as it has not been much talked about previously.

If you are in Toulouse, you would want to visit both the two components, right? I was in Toulouse in summer 2022 and visited Basilique Saint-Sernin but failed to visit this hospital. So when I found myself again in Toulouse in winter 2022, I made sure to visit it.

I tried to find the best way to see this place and did some research. The building, still used today as the administrations for the Toulouse Hospitals and Toulouse University Hospital, has a website where they mention its WH status, even with a virtual tour of the three historical rooms.

Hôtel-Dieu Saint-Jacques

But it does not say how we can actually see them in reality. 

So the first thing I did in Toulouse was to visit the tourist info office behind Le Capitole / City Hall and to enquire how. They said that it was a working hospital and not normally a place for tourists to visit, but only once a year, on the World Heritage Day in September, they opened it up for the public.

OK, well, I'd still go there to see the hospital from outside anyway and to take photos.

I walked around the courtyard (top photo) with …

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First published: 11/09/17.

Ilya Burlak

Routes Of Santiago De Compostela In France

Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France (Inscribed)

Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France by Ilya Burlak

I visited two properties that are part of this serial site in August of 2017 and three more in June of 2018.

In an otherwise nondescript Rabastens, Notre-Dame-du-Bourg may end up as the first impression that is impossible to beat. The exterior is stately enough, but the interior is simply dazzling. Most vivid colorful frescoes, brilliant stained glass, every little detail is just impossible to take your eyes off. Some parts of the walls are in need of restoration; there was a local conservation worker examining those throughout my visit. The out-of-the-way nature of this church was underscored by the fact that the custodian and I were the only people inside the church for over half an hour. The place was definitely worth the time.

My second target was in Toulouse, at the Basilique St-Sernin. It is among the biggest churches on the pilgrimage route. The intricate bell tower is one of the architectural highlights, but the interior of the basilica was somewhat underwhelming for my taste. It is impressive in a way any big church's interior is, but also sparsely decorated to the point of being on the bland side. The marble altar is undeniably beautiful and don't get me wrong, there are a few other fine features, sculptures, and paintings. The main entry is free, but access to ambulatory and the crypt requires a payment of €2.50. Overall, a worthwhile investment.

The abbey church of St-Avit-Seineur has several fresco remains, but otherwise is a typical …

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First published: 10/06/16.

Clyde

Routes Of Santiago De Compostela In France

Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France (Inscribed)

Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France by Clyde

I had already visited several parts of this WHS by car (some of which are inscribed twice). This year however I arrived in Bayonne by bus from Biarritz and since I had some time to spare before catching the next train to St Jean Pied de Port, I decided to wander about and explore Bayonne first. Although I was going to start my pilgrimage to Santiago from St Jean, I asked for some info at the pilgrims' welcome desk inside the cathedral and since I quite liked the cathedral and the warm welcome I received, I also decided to stamp my credencial for the first time here. However, although I wore the pilgrim shell on my backpack and although there were quite a few other pilgrims passing by, no local greeted me with a "Bon Chemin" as was the case in practically all the other villages, towns and cities I had visited in the previous years. My gut feeling is that nowadays the route of Santiago de Compostela in France is no longer "alive" amongst the locals. Some if not most aren't even aware that a given town or village is right on the camino/chemin. It's as if it is merely a tourist label to attract tourists. Yet it is not why most tourists visit so it's not given much importance. The only exception to this is of course St Jean Pied de Port which lies at the base of the Roncevaux Pass across the Pyrenees. The routes from Paris, …

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First published: 14/12/15.

Michael Turtle

Routes Of Santiago De Compostela In France

Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France (Inscribed)

Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France by Michael Turtle

I have a plan to one day walk some of these routes properly and see a large range of the sites along the way. In the meantime, I am ticking this one off mainly because of a visit to Rocamadour. Seeing as I cycled there in the middle of a summer heatwave - I think that counts as a pilgrimage in many ways! :)

The Rocamadour site is fantastic and I'm a little surprised it hasn't been considered for its own listing.

I'll update this review when (if) I do a decent walk along the routes! :)

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First published: 14/10/14.

Thibault Magnien

Routes Of Santiago De Compostela In France

Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France (Inscribed)

Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France by Thibault Magnien

I had previously seen Asquins (when I went to Vézelay), Saint Sernin and the Hospital in Toulouse, Saint Guilhem le Désert, le Pont du Diable and Saint Gilles, all in addition to sites being already labelled as WHS on their own such as Amiens, Bourges, Mont St Michel and Paris (Tour Saint Jacques).

But the big part was when I went on the way from Lyon to the south west of France during summer 2013.

We started in Le Puy en Velay with its Hotel Dieu and above all, its magnificent cathedral. The cloister is especially awesome. We then went throughout the countryside to reach Saint Chely d’Aubrac, Espalion and Estaing, each village having a medieval bridge that was used by the pilgrims. The village of Estaing is really lovely. We stopped at a camping in Conques.

The following day, we visited the medieval bridge in Conques and of course, the superb abbey, Sainte Foy, located in the historical village. The abbey is a fine example of Romanesque architecture and is especially famous for its sculpted portal. We then left for Figeac to see the Hotel Dieu, currently the town hospital. It is badly indicated and not promoted and we had to search for a long time before finding it. There is not a lot to see except the facades. Leaving Figeac and on the way to Cahors, we went through the small and lost village of Grealou hosting a Dolmen delimitating the way to Santiago. However, we did not …

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First published: 19/06/14.

Hubert

Routes Of Santiago De Compostela In France

Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France (Inscribed)

Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France by Hubert

We visited the sites of the first sections of the Via Tolosana and the Via Podiensis on our trip through southern France in June 2013; a total of sixteen sites: nine churches and monasteries, five bridges and two former Hôtel-Dieu. The highlights were the cloister of the Abbey of Saint-Pierre at Moissac (photo) and the decorated portal of the monastery church of Ste-Foy in Conques.

The cloister at Moissac is impressive not only by its size, but mainly by the rich decoration. The capitals of the many columns depict characters and scenes from the Old and New Testament and from the live of the saints.

The Church of Sainte-Foy at Conques was a real surprise. The church itself is rather plain, but the tympanum of the portal is marvellous. The reliefs show the Last Judgement, Heaven and Hell with more than 100 figures. It is exceptional because of its size, the abundance of details and its surprisingly good state of preservation. In the centre is the figure of Christ in a mandorla, at his right a depiction of the paradise and saints and martyrs, and at his left - much more fanciful - the "devil's world" of hell and perdition with demons and ghastly figures. My favourite scene shows a sinner thrown head first in the jaws of hell. You should also make a detour to the viewing point south of the village, it offers a wonderful view of the abbey and the medieval village (a small road branches off …

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First published: 17/11/13.

Rom

Routes Of Santiago De Compostela In France

Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France (Inscribed)

Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France by Els Slots

You can find churches and cathedrals in this WHS, but, if you can, you have to stay in Conques or Rocamadour overnight, both places will make you feel like you were a medieval pilgrim. St-Jean-pied-de-port is also a charming town, last stop before crossing the Pyrenees.

I've also been to: St-Sernin (Toulouse), St-Guilhem-le-Désert, St-Bertrand-de-Comminges, L'Hôpital-St-Blaise, Périgueux, Bayonne, Bordeaux, La Sauve, St-Gilles, the superbe Arles, Cahors, St-Lizier, Valcabrère, Figeac, Gavarnie (worth a day at the cirque), Rabastens, Amiens, Poitiers, Melle, Saintes, and the stunning Mt-St-Michel.

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First published: 27/04/13.

Els Slots

Routes Of Santiago De Compostela In France

Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France (Inscribed)

Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France by Els Slots

The Amiens Cathedral, a WHS in its own right, is also part of this Route in France. I wasn't aware of that when I visited. Thanks to Klaus Freisinger (see visitor reviews below) for pointing that out!

My second visit to this elaborate WHS also involved a site inscribed twice: the city center of Bordeaux. Three of its medieval churches are on the Route to Compostela. We visited Saint-Seurin and St. Andre Cathedral. Especially the latter is one of the highlights of Bordeaux. The Route is also widely displayed around Bordeaux, so I guess it receives numerous pilgrims although we didn't see any.

After a third visit, I now think that I safely can tick this one. This time I went to the Tower of Saint-Jacques in Paris. As this is the starting point for the routes across France, this is a major site among the 78. The richly decorated tower can be seen from afar, but there's nothing left of the 16th-century church. The site is located a bit north of the Seine banks. Although it looks in pretty good shape, I was surprised to find no pilgrims here. There's also no way to get in. I just had to make do with a stroll around it, there's a small garden where you can sit and enjoy the view.

Basilica Saint Sernin in Toulouse was my 4th visit. An enormous building in a scruffy neighbourhood, surrounded by a cheap market on the Sunday morning that I …

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First published: 15/03/13.

Clyde

Routes Of Santiago De Compostela In France

Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France (Inscribed)

Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France by Clyde

I visited several sites listed in this WHS : in Paris, Amiens, Arles, Mont-St-Michel, etc. Still I feel that it would make much more sense to only have the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela only as a WHS and not the whole route.

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First published: 09/05/10.

John Booth

Routes Of Santiago De Compostela In France

Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France (Inscribed)

Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France by john booth

I don't have a problem with the French and Spanish routes being kept separate, I travelled them separately. But what bothers me is the amount of duplication; sites that are on the Route of St James of Compostela as well as being listed separately.

The sites that I have visited that are duplicated include:

Paris (Tour de St Jaques), Arles (Alyscamps), Vezelay church, Mont St Michel, Bordeaux (churches of St Seurin and St Michel, and St Andre cathedral), Bourges cathedral and Amiens cathedral.

The remaining sites that I have visited:

Toulouse - St Sernin basilica, an elegant structure, and Hotel Dieu (metro:St Cypriens)

Agen - St Caprais cathedral (white stone exterior and colouful interior)

Moissac - abbey and cloister (interior decor looked like wallpaper, but was hand painted in the 1960s).

St Lizier - St Peter's cathedral (bus from Boussens)

Auch - huge cathedral that dominates the skyline (train from Toulouse)

Figeac - Hospital St Jacques, still part of the town's hospital (a scenic bus route links Figeac and Cahors through the Lot valley).

Cahors - cathedral with stunning stained glass, and Valentre bridge.

Valcabrere - St Just church (train/bus to Laures-Barbazon)

Comminges - St Bertrand's cathedral with wood carvings and huge organ (walk from Valcabrere then climb 142 steps).

Gavarnie - parish church, being restored (a series of connecting buses from Lourdes)

Oloron Ste Marie - St Mary's cathedral, lots of stained glass and wood carvings (train from Pau)

Bayonne - cathedral with English and French royal coats of …

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First published: 17/05/09.

Philip T.K.

Routes Of Santiago De Compostela In France

Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France (Inscribed)

Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France by Philip T.K.

I actually never planned to visit this WHS although it consists of so many sites that it is hard to miss on a trip to France. Last July, I saw the Saint-Jacques Tower (fortunately without the scaffolding described by Ian) on my first full day in Paris and I later visited the huge Amiens Cathedral (also a WHS in its own right). Unfortunately, I was not able to visit the Alyscamps cemetery while in Arles due to time constraints, but I have seen photos and it looks quite interesting.

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First published: 01/08/06.

Klaus Freisinger

Routes Of Santiago De Compostela In France

Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France (Inscribed)

Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France by Els Slots

The historic and religious importance of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela, whether in Spain, France, or beyond, is obvious - what is unique to the French site is that it includes several component sites that are inscribed on their own merits as well. Of the sites I have visited, these include the Cathedrals of Amiens and Bourges, as well as Mont St. Michel and the Alyscamps necropolis in Arles. Vézelay would also be on this list.

I also visited the Gothic-style Tower of St.Jacques in central Paris, next to the Louvre on the rue de Rivoli. It is actually the only remaining part of the former church of St. Jacques de la Boucherie, a popular stop for pilgrims on the Way of St. James. It is set in a pleasant park right in the heart of Paris and was for many years renovated and covered by scaffolding. A nice sight, but nothing extraordinary. Many tourists have probably wandered by already and ignored it, but for WH collectors it is an easy pick.

On a separate trip, I have visited the Church of St. Hilaire le Grand in Poitiers (close to the centre), as well as the 3 listed churches in Bordeaux (the massive Cathedral of St. André, and the basilicas of St. Michel and St. Seurin).

On yet another trip, I saw the 2 inscribed buildings in Toulouse - the Basilica of St-Sernin (very impressive, apparently the largest remainig Romanesque building in Europe) and the Hôtel-Dieu …

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First published: 23/01/06.

Solivagant

Routes Of Santiago De Compostela In France

Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France (Inscribed)

Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France by Solivagant

Reading this site's description is like reading a gazetteer of French towns and villages west of the Paris/Rhone axis – it contains 69 different locations (out of 800 possible ones linked to the pilgrimage route). But think what it would have been like if France had followed the approach of Spain for its “Route” and inscribed its entirety together with 30 metres either side! Instead the “locations” are usually 1 building per town and cover the 4 starting points at Paris, Vezelay, Le Puy and Arles together with places as varied as Mont-Saint-Michel and Bordeaux. 10 cathedrals are included, together with abbeys, churches and hospices. 7 of the locations are already inscribed in their own right, usually because of their role in the pilgrimage route – a nice bit of double counting!

However, as Els’s “themes” section shows, Christian sites are heavily over-represented in the WHS list and this site should surely have been combined with the 2 Spanish Compestela route sites and some of the separate French pilgrimage route sites such as Vezalay and Bourges as well !. All this duplication does seem “overkill”- If the UK can agree to “give up” Hadrian’s Wall and subsume it with a German site under a combined “Frontiers of Rome” how come France was given a separate inscription for this site in 1998?

Leaving aside these issues, there is no doubt that the inscription contains many interesting and even significant buildings. Most of the towns and villages would well justify a couple …

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First published: 01/05/05.

Ian Cade

Routes Of Santiago De Compostela In France

Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France (Inscribed)

Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France by Ian Cade

The Pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compestela plays a large role in European history and as such is very justified in being inscribed on the WH list however I would like to support what Paul Tanner has said below about the viability of this site, it is an inscription that would make much more sense if it was to be combined into a much larger single site containing all the routes in the many Western European countries, the separate inscriptions suggest the route is a manifestly different entity in France than it is in Spain (or in the other countries) which seems to run against the importance of the route. The Council of Europe made the route to Santiago its first cultural route and this recognition makes much more sense when it is not broken up into separate national entities.

I visited Arles, which is one of the starting points of the four main routes in France, and I can strongly recommend a visit out les Alyschamps to see the Church of St Honorat, it is also a very interesting WHS site in itself.

I visited Mt St Michel in 2006 and there is are a few Scallop shells around the town (picture), keep an eye out for the nice hand basin just inside the main gate.

About 15 years ago I visited the charming town of Rocamadour, as mentioned below, it was a lovely place, with a great Eagle sanctuary and prehistoric cave (frustratingly not part of the very …

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