Medieval Pilgrimages

From penance to indulgence, everything you need to know about Christian holy journeys in Middle Ages Europe

- Emily Staniforth

For centuries, pious people have undertaken long, arduous journeys to display their religious devotion and visit sites of spiritual significance.

These ventures, known as pilgrimages, also served as spiritual and moral journeys for an individual who wished to bring themselves closer to their god, expunge themselves of sin or heal themselves from a specific malady. Pilgrims travelled to a number of different destinations, from large religious buildings and historic sites, to places of religious significance such as shrines to saints or holy historical figures.

It's unclear when the first Christian pilgrimage in Europe took place, but by the 4th century CE they were a well-established aspect of Christian faith. During the Middle Ages, the Christian Church was one of the main pillars of most communities and religion had a significant role in day-to-day life. Pilgrimages were encouraged by the Church as a way of spiritually cleansing oneself and strengthening your relationship with God. For the Church, pilgrimages also provided an opportunity to make money. Indulgences were paid by people to reduce their punishment for sins that had already been absolved through confession, and donations at shrines and other holy places filled the Church purse.

WHO WERE THE PILGRIMS?