the council of europe established the cultural routes programme in 1987 to demonstrate how the heritage of all european countries and cultures creates a shared and living cultural heritage.
hundreds of thousands of travellers organise their pilgrimage to santiago de compostela every year.
there are a lot of branches to the route.
most pilgrims travel on foot, some by bicycle, and few choose to travel on horseback or even by donkey.
this ancient route creates an intense human experience, creating a great deal of companionship among travellers and a strong bond with the surrounding countryside.