The Way of St. James

The classic Way of St. James begins in France, in the town of St. Jean Pied de Port beneath the Pyrenees, and leads to Santiago de Compostela in Spain - and even another 100 kilometres onward to Cape Finisterre on the Atlantic, which medieval pilgrims believed to be the end of the world.

buen camino

But the Way of St. James is actually an entire network of routes. They criss-cross Europe, all heading toward Santiago de Compostela. Along the way, modern pilgrims are accompanied by diverse landscapes, monasteries, churches, and historic towns - and by encounters with people from all over the world, often giving rise to lasting international friendships. In 1993, UNESCO inscribed the Way of St. James on the World Heritage List.

 

Pilgrimage to Santiago

The route leads to the relics of Saint James, who was martyred in AD 44. His burial place was lost for 800 years - until bright stars revealed its location. Santiago de Compostela literally means “Saint James in a field of stars.” According to records, pilgrims first arrived here in 951. In 2024 alone, a record 499,000 pilgrims set out on this journey.

The Way of St. James in South Moravia

Who says you have to walk the entire route and finish in Santiago? You can easily choose just a section — for example, the South Moravian one. It connects mainly with Austrian, Polish, and Slovak routes. The crossroads of the Moravian Ways of St. James is Brno, centred around the famous Church of St. James. Choose your direction. The path is marked by blue-and-yellow signs with the scallop shell of St. James, its heart always pointing toward Santiago. Along the way, you’ll find pilgrim boxes with stamps for your pilgrim passport — the credencial, which you can also purchase online.

 

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From Brno to the South

The Brno–Mikulov route begins in the very heart of Brno at the Church of St. James, the central hub of the Ways of St. James in South Moravia. Mass is celebrated here daily, and guided tours are available during the season. Beneath the church, you can visit Europe’s second-largest ossuary (tours are in high demand, so booking in advance is recommended). Collect your first stamp from the pilgrim box at the church entrance - or purchase your credencial at the parish office across the street.

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From Brno to the West

The Brno–Třebíč route starts in the heart of Brno at the Church of St. James. Collect your first stamp from the pilgrim box at the entrance or from the parish office opposite. The 88-kilometre journey leads through natural landscapes and historic towns.

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To Brno from the East

The route from Velehrad to Brno follows the Cyril and Methodius Route almost as far as Slavkov u Brna. Like all Ways of St. James, it is marked one-way toward Santiago de Compostela. It measures 93 kilometres, during which you’ll collect plenty of stamps from shell-marked pilgrim points.

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To Brno from the North

The Olomouc–Brno route is pleasantly varied, with plenty of pilgrim stamps to collect along the way. The 95-kilometre route is divided into stages — it’s up to you whether you walk it all.

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Facebook page with pilgrimage tips

On the Facebook page of the St. James’ Way in South Moravia, you’ll find inspiring tips not only for the Moravian route. The organized group also sets out on shared pilgrimages together. For those who are still hesitating, it’s a wonderful way to experience pilgrimage in the company of open-minded people. Anyone can join — from little ones in baby carriers to four-legged companions.

 

Where to next?

The ways in Czechia

The way of St James beyond our borders

The ways of St James in Europe