1951 documentary on the Camino

[JabbaPapa]

Some Camino associations have restored a 45-minute 1951 documentary on the Camino, which seems to be French :

https://www.elcorreogallego.es/soci...ental-o-camino-santiago-frances-90141162.html

The pilgrims seemed to have used the Codex Calixtinus as a primary source for their itinerary.

They describe the film as descriptive of the first period of modern Camino revival in the 1950s, led by some French intellectuals -- though I'd personally comment that in the Holy Years of the 1930s to 1950s, there were already groups of Spanish foot pilgrims doing similar.

It seems they are planning to post the documentary onto Youtube.

In the same event, the associations presented a 3-volume 1917 English-language Camino "guidebook" by US author and medievalist and peregrina Giorgiana Goddard King, published in 1920, currently being translated into Spanish.

There's a brief review of the book here (in French) : https://www.persee.fr/doc/hispa_0007-4640_1926_num_28_1_2235_t1_0094_0000_2 Similar here : https://www.persee.fr/doc/bec_0373-6237_1923_num_84_1_460637_t1_0378_0000_001

Looks rather interesting !!

Reprints of all three volumes are available on Amazon, not expensive.

The description for volume 2 includes :

Completed in 1917, this three-volume masterpiece is a wide-ranging exploration of the history, literature, legends, and architecture of the Camino de Santiago. It is based on Professor King's "three years wanderings" on foot and by cart, mule, and other conveyance on the Spanish pilgrimage road, and on extensive academic research with particular emphasis on medieval art and architecture. Professor King was both a well-respected scholar and a keen observer of her surroundings. As a result, she has given us a fascinating, detailed description of both life and architecture on the Camino de Santiago nearly 100 years ago.

The books seem to be part Camino mémoir, part "guidebook" in the older sense of the term, i.e. something to read in preparation not carry with you on the Way, part historical notes on the cities, towns, villages and monuments along the Francès between SJPP and Santiago.

And yes, SJPP as the "starting point" even in the 1910s, so that it would seem that this notion is not a recent invention.

 

[mspath]

JabbaPapa,

Thanks for the link to the video.

Some fellow posters have been reading Georgina Goddard King in recent years to experience the difference 100 years makes by reading some of her early 20th c descriptions published c1920.

You can begin to research GGK and her Spanish journeys in this earlier Forum thread.

Indeed the times may have changed but thankfully most locations still remain !!

Happy reading and Carpe diem.

 

[JabbaPapa]

Thanks, I had been wondering if the text weren't available at the location mentioned in the other thread.

 

[Bradypus]

And yes, SJPP as the "starting point" even in the 1910s, so that it would seem that this notion is not a recent invention.

Just looked at the Goddard King book. Her own journey went from Lourdes through Bedous then Canfranc and Jaca and Punte la Reina. What we would now call the Aragones. She did also visit Pamplona and Roncesvalles though she only covers a visit to Roncesvalles in a brief appendix. SJPDP only gets one mention in the text when she is discussing the Aymeric Picaud itinerary. Why do you think her book settles the "starting point" argument in favour of SJPDP?

 

[Caomhin O Fearghaill]

Some Camino associations have restored a 45-minute 1951 documentary on the Camino, which seems to be French :

https://www.elcorreogallego.es/soci...ental-o-camino-santiago-frances-90141162.html

The pilgrims seemed to have used the Codex Calixtinus as a primary source for their itinerary.

They describe the film as descriptive of the first period of modern Camino revival in the 1950s, led by some French intellectuals -- though I'd personally comment that in the Holy Years of the 1930s to 1950s, there were already groups of Spanish foot pilgrims doing similar.

It seems they are planning to post the documentary onto Youtube.

In the same event, the associations presented a 3-volume 1917 English-language Camino "guidebook" by US author and medievalist and peregrina Giorgiana Goddard King, published in 1920, currently being translated into Spanish.

There's a brief review of the book here (in French) : https://www.persee.fr/doc/hispa_0007-4640_1926_num_28_1_2235_t1_0094_0000_2 Similar here : https://www.persee.fr/doc/bec_0373-6237_1923_num_84_1_460637_t1_0378_0000_001

Looks rather interesting !!

Reprints of all three volumes are available on Amazon, not expensive.

The description for volume 2 includes :

Completed in 1917, this three-volume masterpiece is a wide-ranging exploration of the history, literature, legends, and architecture of the Camino de Santiago. It is based on Professor King's "three years wanderings" on foot and by cart, mule, and other conveyance on the Spanish pilgrimage road, and on extensive academic research with particular emphasis on medieval art and architecture. Professor King was both a well-respected scholar and a keen observer of her surroundings. As a result, she has given us a fascinating, detailed description of both life and architecture on the Camino de Santiago nearly 100 years ago.

The books seem to be part Camino mémoir, part "guidebook" in the older sense of the term, i.e. something to read in preparation not carry with you on the Way, part historical notes on the cities, towns, villages and monuments along the Francès between SJPP and Santiago.

And yes, SJPP as the "starting point" even in the 1910s, so that it would seem that this notion is not a recent invention.

The early Camino material is very interesting. The academic Walter Starkie walked the Way in 1954 and published an account of his experience in 1957, called, "The Road to Santiago". A wonderful synthesis of his personl journey and the history of the pilgrimage.

 

[Bradypus]

The academic Walter Starkie walked the Way in 1954 and published an account of his experience in 1957, called, "The Road to Santiago".

Starkie travelled from Canfranc to Santiago. Along the way he used a lot of different means of transport - bus, car and lorry amongst them. Walking was only a minor part of his journey.

 

[Pafayac]

The pilgrims seemed to have used the Codex Calixtinus as a primary source for their itinerary.

Are there other sources now ?
(I cannot manage to access the video, could you provide the exact link ?)

 

[JabbaPapa]

Are there other sources now ?

There are several others.

(I cannot manage to access the video, could you provide the exact link ?)

It's not up yet.

 

[JabbaPapa]

Why do you think her book settles the "starting point" argument in favour of SJPDP?

Well I don't, but I guess I got a false inference from the Galician article.

 

[sillydoll]

Some Camino associations have restored a 45-minute 1951 documentary on the Camino, which seems to be French :

https://www.elcorreogallego.es/soci...ental-o-camino-santiago-frances-90141162.html

The pilgrims seemed to have used the Codex Calixtinus as a primary source for their itinerary.

They describe the film as descriptive of the first period of modern Camino revival in the 1950s, led by some French intellectuals -- though I'd personally comment that in the Holy Years of the 1930s to 1950s, there were already groups of Spanish foot pilgrims doing similar.

It seems they are planning to post the documentary onto Youtube.

In the same event, the associations presented a 3-volume 1917 English-language Camino "guidebook" by US author and medievalist and peregrina Giorgiana Goddard King, published in 1920, currently being translated into Spanish.

There's a brief review of the book here (in French) : https://www.persee.fr/doc/hispa_0007-4640_1926_num_28_1_2235_t1_0094_0000_2 Similar here : https://www.persee.fr/doc/bec_0373-6237_1923_num_84_1_460637_t1_0378_0000_001

Looks rather interesting !!

Reprints of all three volumes are available on Amazon, not expensive.

The description for volume 2 includes :

Completed in 1917, this three-volume masterpiece is a wide-ranging exploration of the history, literature, legends, and architecture of the Camino de Santiago. It is based on Professor King's "three years wanderings" on foot and by cart, mule, and other conveyance on the Spanish pilgrimage road, and on extensive academic research with particular emphasis on medieval art and architecture. Professor King was both a well-respected scholar and a keen observer of her surroundings. As a result, she has given us a fascinating, detailed description of both life and architecture on the Camino de Santiago nearly 100 years ago.

The books seem to be part Camino mémoir, part "guidebook" in the older sense of the term, i.e. something to read in preparation not carry with you on the Way, part historical notes on the cities, towns, villages and monuments along the Francès between SJPP and Santiago.

And yes, SJPP as the "starting point" even in the 1910s, so that it would seem that this notion is not a recent invention.

Academics have used GG King's trilogy for years as a yardstick for the art, architecture and history of the pilgrimage to Santiago.
At the time they were published, reviews of her books were not always complimentary, mainly due of her lack of faith, impatience with the legends and beliefs of others, and her rational approach to the ecclesiastic folk-lore of the cult of Saint James.

I love Walter Starkie’s book and have a first edition with dust cover and a paperback reprint. But not all reviewers at the time were impressed with it. In a 1957 issue of The New York Times, a reviewer ended with these words; “….it is better savoured than gulped. Tasty in bits it is monotonous and dull in large doses.”

 

[Vacajoe]

Elías Valiña’s guidebook from the 1970s doesn’t even choose SJPDP as the starting point of the CF. As the godfather of the modern pilgrimage resurgence (he started the yellow arrows!), his book highlighted the Aragon route as the original and felt that the CF jumping off point was just before SJPDP where several routes merged together.

 

[ChrisAP]

Some Camino associations have restored a 45-minute 1951 documentary on the Camino, which seems to be French :

https://www.elcorreogallego.es/soci...ental-o-camino-santiago-frances-90141162.html

The pilgrims seemed to have used the Codex Calixtinus as a primary source for their itinerary.

They describe the film as descriptive of the first period of modern Camino revival in the 1950s, led by some French intellectuals -- though I'd personally comment that in the Holy Years of the 1930s to 1950s, there were already groups of Spanish foot pilgrims doing similar.

It seems they are planning to post the documentary onto Youtube.

In the same event, the associations presented a 3-volume 1917 English-language Camino "guidebook" by US author and medievalist and peregrina Giorgiana Goddard King, published in 1920, currently being translated into Spanish.

There's a brief review of the book here (in French) : https://www.persee.fr/doc/hispa_0007-4640_1926_num_28_1_2235_t1_0094_0000_2 Similar here : https://www.persee.fr/doc/bec_0373-6237_1923_num_84_1_460637_t1_0378_0000_001

Looks rather interesting !!

Reprints of all three volumes are available on Amazon, not expensive.

The description for volume 2 includes :

Completed in 1917, this three-volume masterpiece is a wide-ranging exploration of the history, literature, legends, and architecture of the Camino de Santiago. It is based on Professor King's "three years wanderings" on foot and by cart, mule, and other conveyance on the Spanish pilgrimage road, and on extensive academic research with particular emphasis on medieval art and architecture. Professor King was both a well-respected scholar and a keen observer of her surroundings. As a result, she has given us a fascinating, detailed description of both life and architecture on the Camino de Santiago nearly 100 years ago.

The books seem to be part Camino mémoir, part "guidebook" in the older sense of the term, i.e. something to read in preparation not carry with you on the Way, part historical notes on the cities, towns, villages and monuments along the Francès between SJPP and Santiago.

And yes, SJPP as the "starting point" even in the 1910s, so that it would seem that this notion is not a recent invention.

Fascinating…I’ll check it out. Thanks for posting and sharing! Always up for historical perspective.

 

[Bradypus]

Just been dipping into the Goddard King book again. A photo captioned "The pass of Rabanal" caught my eye. Along with a passage about Foncebadon. The roofs look in better shape but otherwise the photo and the text are not far removed from Foncebadon as I first saw it. But obviously a busier place back then!



"There a brook trickled and dripped down the chief street, dammed at one place and another to form a pool under which old women washed rags. Thatch was still the rule. The Cura was asleep but his housekeeper came with the keys, pretty and civil-mannered. The church had nothing in particular to distinguish it, except a sort of shed down the south side, that served for shelter and storage."

 

[jayree]

JabbaPapa,

Thanks for the link to the video.

Some fellow posters have been reading Georgina Goddard King in recent years to experience the difference 100 years makes by reading some of her early 20th c descriptions published c1920.

You can begin to research GGK and her Spanish journeys in this earlier Forum thread.

Indeed the times may have changed but thankfully most locations still remain !!

Happy reading and Carpe diem.

Perhaps of interest to some …

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/311240831_Photographs_of_the_Dust_of_the_Highway_Georgiana_Goddard_King%27s_Way_of_Saint_James

 

[sillydoll]

Elías Valiña’s guidebook from the 1970s doesn’t even choose SJPDP as the starting point of the CF. As the godfather of the modern pilgrimage resurgence (he started the yellow arrows!), his book highlighted the Aragon route as the original and felt that the CF jumping off point was just before SJPDP where several routes merged together.

His 1982 guide shows both routes mentioned in the Codex Calixtinus. One from Sant Michel and the other from Borce - both which were in 'Spain' until the borders were changed in the 1800s.

 

[joramos]

In the translated (James Hall) and reprinted diary of Domenico Laffi, 17th century pilgrim from Bologna to Santiago de Compostela, it states how he and a fellow pilgrim "reached St-Jean-Pied-de-Port. It is the last town that belongs to the King of France." The diary proceeds to describe St-Jean-Pied-de-Port as, "quite big and lies at the foot of a high hill, atop of which is a 'citadel' with a strong garrison." He further describes how they walked "between precipitous mountains, which are terrifying just to look at. They seemed as if they were always about to fall on top of you." Was he talking about the Pyrennes?

Paragraph prior, on the same page, Laffi mentions St-Jean-Pied-de-Port as three leagues from a small village past St. Palais.

I believe this how St-Jean-Pied-de-Port became the popular starting point of the Camino Frances.

With regards to Elías Valiña, the priest who started the yellow arrows (flechas amarilla) and singularly encouraged future pilgrims, he got caught by the Guardia Sivil painting the yellow arrows on the Pyrennes towards Saint Jean Pied de Port during the early 1970s (?).

 

[joramos]

Just looked at the Goddard King book. Her own journey went from Lourdes through Bedous then Canfranc and Jaca and Punte la Reina. What we would now call the Aragones. She did also visit Pamplona and Roncesvalles though she only covers a visit to Roncesvalles in a brief appendix. SJPDP only gets one mention in the text when she is discussing the Aymeric Picaud itinerary. Why do you think her book settles the "starting point" argument in favour of SJPDP?

I just wrote a brief citation of how Domenico Laffi, a 17th century pilgrim from Bologna to Santiago de Compostela, visited and described Saint Jean Pied de Port during his pilgrimage.

 

[David Tallan]

I just wrote a brief citation of how Domenico Laffi, a 17th century pilgrim from Bologna to Santiago de Compostela, visited and described Saint Jean Pied de Port during his pilgrimage.

He describes St Jean Pied de Port, but it doesn't sound like he is describing it as the start of any route or pilgrimage, just as one of the towns he is passing through. Or am I missing something?

 

[Chizuru]

Surely the starting point of any ancient Camino was your front door and you made your way on foot, horse or cart as best you could until your path converged with the path of others, ever converging and funneling into a way that took you through the mountain passes at their easiest or safest gaps. SJPDP was one of those gaps.

 

[joramos]

According to Pilgrim Welcome Office;

https://oficinadelperegrino.com/preparacion/planificacion/:

Routes to Santiago

There are different routes to make a pilgrimage to Santiago. Traditionally, the pilgrim left his home to reach the "Casa de Santiago", the Cathedral, and therefore it would be difficult to establish all the pilgrimage routes. The Camino de Santiago is not an end in itself, but a means to reach the goal: the Tomb of the Apostle Santiago. However, we can say that there are several official routes or paths recognized under Law 5/2016 of May 4, on the cultural heritage of Galicia (art. 73.2) :

French way
Northern Way
Primitive Way
English Way
Fisterra – Muxía road
Inland Portuguese Way
Portuguese Coastal Way
Via de la Plata or Mozarabic Way
winter road

If you "click/open" the link; https://oficinadelperegrino.com/preparacion/planificacion/ then click or open "French Way," it open up a list of the different camino paths. On the top list are the ways inside France (Via Podiensis, Via Turonensis, Via Lemovicensis, and Via Tolosane). On the bottom list are the different ways and points along the Camino Frances. Starting at "Saint Jean Pied de Port!"

Prior to Law 5/2016 of May 4 on the cultural heritage of Galicia (Article 73.2), hundreds of thousands of past pilgrims used Saint Jean Pied de Port as starting point of their Camino Frances following hundred of years of tradition.

 

[JabbaPapa]

The number of "official routes" is much larger than that, and cataloguing them would involve gathering information on "official routes" both nationally in the various countries of Europe and regionally within those countries.

The current Major routes of the Camino are all within Spain, France, and Portugal -- though arguably the Jakobsweg should really be included (with its major variants) -- though by counter-example, the route down here, the Provençal/Via Aurelia was historically a very major route, leading not only from the South of France and Eastern and Southern Spain to Rome, but also from the South-East of France and Italy to Compostela. It's still anyway an "official" route, recognised, waymarked, and possessed of pilgrim support infrastructures.

 

[David Tallan]

The number of "official routes" is much larger than that, and cataloguing them would involve gathering information on "official routes" both nationally in the various countries of Europe and regionally within those countries.

The current Major routes of the Camino are all within Spain, France, and Portugal -- though arguably the Jakobsweg should really be included (with its major variants) -- though by counter-example, the route down here, the Provençal/Via Aurelia was historically a very major route, leading not only from the South of France and Eastern and Southern Spain to Rome, but also from the South-East of France and Italy to Compostela. It's still anyway an "official" route, recognised, waymarked, and possessed of pilgrim support infrastructures.

Yes, but joramos was referring to "official routes or paths recognized under Law 5/2016 of May 4, on the cultural heritage of Galicia (art. 73.2)" in his list. You left out the qualifying latter part in your quote. There are certainly many routes considered "official" in their regions, marked and supported. But the examples you provide are probably not recognized under Law 5/2016 and were thus not included in the list.

Although the relevance of this law to the 1951 documentary under discussion is not clear.

 

[joramos]

Yes, but joramos was referring to "official routes or paths recognized under Law 5/2016 of May 4, on the cultural heritage of Galicia (art. 73.2)" in his list. You left out the qualifying latter part in your quote. There are certainly many routes considered "official" in their regions, marked and supported. But the examples you provide are probably not recognized under Law 5/2016 and were thus not included in the list.

Although the relevance of this law to the 1951 documentary under discussion is not clear.

Law 5/2016 has no direct relevance to the 1951 documentary. I was merely pointing out that Saint Jean Pied de Port is a popular starting point of Camino Frances,' owing its popularity to medieval (17th) and modern histories (early 2000s). As another forum member alluded, current popular Camino Frances starts where the paths in France end, Saint Jean Pied de Port.

 

[joramos]

The number of "official routes" is much larger than that, and cataloguing them would involve gathering information on "official routes" both nationally in the various countries of Europe and regionally within those countries.

The current Major routes of the Camino are all within Spain, France, and Portugal -- though arguably the Jakobsweg should really be included (with its major variants) -- though by counter-example, the route down here, the Provençal/Via Aurelia was historically a very major route, leading not only from the South of France and Eastern and Southern Spain to Rome, but also from the South-East of France and Italy to Compostela. It's still anyway an "official" route, recognised, waymarked, and possessed of pilgrim support infrastructures.

My recent post about Camino de Santiago "official routes or paths recognized under Law 5/2016 of May 4, on the cultural heritage of Galicia (art. 73.2)" is, as it states, about "Camino de Santiago." More specifically, Camino Frances from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Santiago de Compostela.

 

[David Tallan]

If you "click/open" the link; https://oficinadelperegrino.com/preparacion/planificacion/ then click or open "French Way," it open up a list of the different camino paths. On the top list are the ways inside France (Via Podiensis, Via Turonensis, Via Lemovicensis, and Via Tolosane). On the bottom list are the different ways and points along the Camino Frances. Starting at "Saint Jean Pied de Port!"

I went and looked at this list, from the website of the Office of the Cathedral at Santiago de Compostela. It was very interesting!

First, it includes the four routes in France (Via Podiensis, Via Turonensis, Via Lemovicensis, and Via Tolosane) all as part of the Camine Frances. Underneath the section for those, there is the section, common to all, which starts with St. Jean Pied de Port. This makes sense, because they don't show every little village, only settlements of a certain size and importance, and St. Jean is the first of significant size after the routes join. What is especially interesting about this page is that it shows the four French routes converging on St. Jean for the Camino Frances. Traditionally, three of them are considered to do so, with the fourth (Via Tolosane) entering Spain through the Somport pass. It is possible to take the Via Tolosane through St. Jean (a friend of mine did so in 1990, starting in Arles but walking from there to St. Jean and Roncesvalles and on to Santiago). However, that isn't how it is traditionally shown. The Camino Frances page, despite showing the four French caminos, doesn't show the Camino Aragones.

 

[MichaelB10398]

Some Camino associations have restored a 45-minute 1951 documentary on the Camino, which seems to be French :

https://www.elcorreogallego.es/soci...ental-o-camino-santiago-frances-90141162.html

The pilgrims seemed to have used the Codex Calixtinus as a primary source for their itinerary.

They describe the film as descriptive of the first period of modern Camino revival in the 1950s, led by some French intellectuals -- though I'd personally comment that in the Holy Years of the 1930s to 1950s, there were already groups of Spanish foot pilgrims doing similar.

It seems they are planning to post the documentary onto Youtube.

In the same event, the associations presented a 3-volume 1917 English-language Camino "guidebook" by US author and medievalist and peregrina Giorgiana Goddard King, published in 1920, currently being translated into Spanish.

There's a brief review of the book here (in French) : https://www.persee.fr/doc/hispa_0007-4640_1926_num_28_1_2235_t1_0094_0000_2 Similar here : https://www.persee.fr/doc/bec_0373-6237_1923_num_84_1_460637_t1_0378_0000_001

Looks rather interesting !!

Reprints of all three volumes are available on Amazon, not expensive.

The description for volume 2 includes :

Completed in 1917, this three-volume masterpiece is a wide-ranging exploration of the history, literature, legends, and architecture of the Camino de Santiago. It is based on Professor King's "three years wanderings" on foot and by cart, mule, and other conveyance on the Spanish pilgrimage road, and on extensive academic research with particular emphasis on medieval art and architecture. Professor King was both a well-respected scholar and a keen observer of her surroundings. As a result, she has given us a fascinating, detailed description of both life and architecture on the Camino de Santiago nearly 100 years ago.

The books seem to be part Camino mémoir, part "guidebook" in the older sense of the term, i.e. something to read in preparation not carry with you on the Way, part historical notes on the cities, towns, villages and monuments along the Francès between SJPP and Santiago.

And yes, SJPP as the "starting point" even in the 1910s, so that it would seem that this notion is not a recent invention.

It is good to see Dr. King's work mentioned. I have had this three-volume set for many years. It was the first set of books that I ever purchased on the Camino. I recommend it to all those who have an interest in the Camino and enjoy an academic's own record of experience and research.

 

[JabbaPapa]

My recent post about Camino de Santiago "official routes or paths recognized under Law 5/2016 of May 4, on the cultural heritage of Galicia (art. 73.2)" is, as it states, about "Camino de Santiago." More specifically, Camino Frances from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Santiago de Compostela.

Sure, but I was just making a counterpoint that other tallies of "official routes" are possible, and that a particular regional law of Galicia doesn't define the Camino.

And that law and the concept of "official routes" certainly did not exist in 1951 !!

Law 5/2016 has no direct relevance to the 1951 documentary. I was merely pointing out that Saint Jean Pied de Port is a popular starting point of Camino Frances,' owing its popularity to medieval (17th) and modern histories (early 2000s). As another forum member alluded, current popular Camino Frances starts where the paths in France end, Saint Jean Pied de Port.

The point I originally made in this respect was not concerning the 1951 documentary, but rather Giorgiana Goddard King's references to Roncesvalles, and so that her comments on SJPP > Roncesvalles route, written in the 1910s, shows that the general significance of that route is older than just the modern revival of the Camino that started in the 1950s and 60s.

Otherwise, the "guides" and itineraries of the Mediaeval and Renaissance period show that typically, pilgrims from Paris after Bordeaux went rather via Bayonne and Vitoria, reaching the Francès at Burgos via what we call the Camino Vasco Interior.

So the shifting of the typical Pyrenean passage for northern pilgrims from Bayonne to SJPP seems to have occurred at some point between the 17th and 19th Centuries ? Possibly the French administrative crackdown on pilgrimage in this period, particularly for young men of military age, incited French pilgrims to take the mountainous route with its smuggling route aspects ?

Though I'm sure that the opening of the train station at Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in the late 19th Century has had a huge influence too, as @Kathar1na has suggested.

 

[JabbaPapa]

They had a showing of the restored documentary at Monte do Gozo the other day :

https://www.elcorreogallego.es/santiago/2023/10/22/estreno-monte-do-gozo-primer-93628734.html

 

[Kathy F.]

Hmmm.
Using the Codex as your guidebook on the Camino.
Now, there's a challenge I could sink my teeth into (I DO have a copy).

 

[David Tallan]

Hmmm.
Using the Codex as your guidebook on the Camino.
Now, there's a challenge I could sink my teeth into (I DO have a copy).

I wouldn't try and necessarily replicate their stages every day as a walker. Some of them are pretty long! And it is pretty clear they had horses for at least some of their pilgrimage.

 

[Kathy F.]

I wouldn't try and necessarily replicate their stages every day as a walker. Some of them are pretty long! And it is pretty clear they had horses for at least some of their pilgrimage.

Your advice is, of course, valid and pertinent.
I have a great aversion to crossing streams where there are no bridges, either. LOL. Where is the boatman when you need one?!

 

[Compostelle]

Just looked at the Goddard King book. Her own journey went from Lourdes through Bedous then Canfranc and Jaca and Punte la Reina. What we would now call the Aragones. She did also visit Pamplona and Roncesvalles though she only covers a visit to Roncesvalles in a brief appendix. SJPDP only gets one mention in the text when she is discussing the Aymeric Picaud itinerary. Why do you think her book settles the "starting point" argument in favour of SJPDP?

My father did this route from Puig Cerdá in theLate Spring of 1952.

 

[Pafayac]

As another forum member alluded, current popular Camino Frances starts where the paths in France end, Saint Jean Pied de Port.

Strictly speaking, that is not true: Camino Frances starts at Puente La Reina, when the 4 ways from France are joining.

Traditionally, three of them are considered to do so, with the fourth (Via Tolosane) entering Spain through the Somport pass

Yes, Codex Calixtinus describes this way as this.

 

[Kathor1]

My father did this route from Puig Cerdá in the Late Spring of 1952.

Welcome to the forum, @Compostelle. Do you know any details about your father's pilgrimage from Catalonia to Santiago in 1952? Perhaps even photos although that is presumably not very likely? It must have been quite unusual to do this route in those days. More than 70 years ago!

A few months ago, I was lucky to watch the documentary about the Chemin de Compostelle in Spain that Abbé Branthomme filmed in July 1951 and in which René de La Coste-Messelière participated. Both men played a significant role in making the Way to Santiago known to a wider public after WWII. This movie of 45 minutes provides a view into the world of a different Camino and of a different Spain that is no more.