Pilgrimage: The Great Pilgrim Routes of Britain and Europe Hardcover – October 26, 2017

I am giving this book as a gift. I haven't even taken it out of the packaging because it is so beautifully done. The book itself (I peeked at a few pages) is gorgeous, the cover art stunning. I am so happy with this book and I know the lady I am giving it to will treasure it.

Derry Brabbs has written this book about different pilgrim trails in Europe. It includes a condensed narrative about the French camino in Spain which I am very familiar with. The original publication about the French camino is out of print and a collectors book. I also have that book. I bought this particular book before it goes out of print. The photography is just awesome.. the narratives are well written.

Beautiful photos and reading this book makes me want to do the Camino even more than before. Great coffee table book.

This was better than I thought. Photos fantastic. Narrations wonderful. Highly recommend.

GORGEOUS photography and printing in this stunning coffee table book. This is truly beautiful.

Stunning book! A must for every pilgrim.

"The rural roads, bridle tracks and footpaths of Europe are once again echoing with the sound of pilgrims’ feet following a resurgence that began during the latter of the 20th century.”As pilgrims traverse many routes of Europe each year, on their paths they encounter rich history depicted in stunning architecture and woven with legends. This book brings such 10 routes varying from 5 to 50 days.History.The history depicts many interesting aspects including architecture of churches and its fame for a city, for ex. Canterbury Cathedral, on the Pilgrims Way route, makes the city of “Canterbury the cradle of English Christianity and subsequently Mother Church of the Anglican faith.”Rouen Cathedral awes not only today’s pilgrims it also “greeted the great Impressionist painter Claude Monet every day from the makeshift studios he set up opposite the cathedral in 1892 and again the following year.” Rouen is the starting city of Les Chemins du Mont-Saint-Michel route.From the start the history is woven with the spirit of Christianity and legends.Such as the spirit of early Christianity exhibited by monastery established in AD 635 by St Aidan on the island of Lindisfarne. It is the final destination of the St Cuthbert’s Way route.Such legends as of nun Winefride and well named after her St Winefride’s Well in Welsh town of Holywell – due to many documented miracle cures it was named the ‘Lourdes of Wales.’Iconic island of Mont-Saint-Michel reveals interesting story of veneration of St Michael the Archangel and the legend regarding the foundation of Mont-Saint-Michel.It also brings anything interesting between for ex. Napoleon and his army crossing one of the routes “the Great St Bernard en route to defeating the Austrians at the Battle of Marengo in 1800.”What gives this read sparks is the injection of the spirit of Christianity, legends and the soul of pilgrimage.What makes the soul of pilgrimage for me is the information pertaining exactly to pilgrims for ex. vivid depictions of the Holy Week in Seville, bringing unforgettable experience. And such small mentions as Rouen to Mont-Saint-Michel route is for those seeking tranquility of nature taking pilgrims through “typical French forests or vast tracts of open countryside.” Or Conques in France is one of very few places retaining the spirit of medieval pilgrimage.The book ends on a very high note with my favorite route of Via Francigena with the Great Bernard Pass in Switzerland being “the most iconic landscape feature on the pilgrimage (…) it winds alongside Lake Geneva through vineyards of the Lavaux.” And this part gets the best injection of soul of pilgrimage, pertaining to first pilgrims making their way through harsh terrain of the Alps.Good tips, for ex. to take extra time to rest at Pavia or to take a small detour to Carrara – “the source of the world’s finest marble” which Michelangelo used to chisel David and Pieta.

Gorgeous images and interesting text. (Brought back happy memories of places I've already been, and engendered hankerings to extend my travels to new places!) This book covers a good range of pilgrim routes throughout Europe and also a couple in England/Scotland and, right at the end, has a useful list of website links for finding still more information. My one disappointment was that it doesn't cover pilgrim routes in Wales and Ireland - and I'm sure there must be some!