The Way of Sant James

• The Manager of the Xacobeo, Rafael Sánchez, led the expedition accompanied by twenty-three representatives of Galician Jacobean associations.
• During the trip, they visited the European Parliament, they were welcomed to the Fundación Galicia Europa and travelled to the city of Namur.
• Moreover, a round table took place at the Instituto Cervantes with the title “Reconstructing Europe through the Camino de Santiago”

Santiago de Compostela, May 11, 2017

This week, the Manager of the Xacobeo, Rafael Sánchez, led a trip for the promotion of the Camino de Santiago in Belgium accompanied by twenty-three representatives of Galician Jacobean Associations.

During the trip, organised within the framework of the 30th anniversary of the Declaration of the Jacobean Route as a European Cultural Itinerary, the Manager of the Xacobeo and the associates visited the European Parliament invited by the Member of the European Parliament, Francisco Millán Mon, Co-Director of the Inter-Group “Tourism and cultural heritage: the Camino de Santiago and other European cultural itineraries”.

During the visit, the group informed the Members of the European Parliament of the current situation of the itineraries of the Camino de Santiago in Galicia and the work planned regarding the next Holy Year in 2021. Furthermore, they were informed of the proposals of the European Union regarding the protection of the Jacobean routes, especially the three declared to be World Heritage Sites by the Unesco: the French Way, the Northern Way and the Primitive Way.

In addition, the group led by the Manager of the Xacobeo was welcomed by the Fundación Galicia Europa, where representatives of European organisms informed them of the possibilities intended to support the development of cultural itineraries.

The day ended with a round table in the Instituto Cervantes with the title “Reconstructing Europe through the Camino de Santiago” which was participated in by Pascal Duchene, President of the Association of Friends of the Belgian Camino de Santiago, Luc de Bolle, President of the Flemish Association of  Friends of the Camino Santiago, Monique Walrave, Member of the Management of the Dutch Association of Friends of the Camino de Santiago and Begoña Valdomar, Vice-President of the Galician Association of Friends of the Camino de Santiago.

On its way through Belgium, the expedition travelled to the city of Namur where it was welcomed by the authorities at the Provincial Palace and visited several local sites historically linked to the pilgrimage to Compostela.