In french language Bourdon ! What's that ?
An insect ?
A bell ?
A state of mind ?
The one that weighs several tons and produces a deep sound, which is played at equally deep moments
A term of typography ?
To signal an omission (of a word, of a paragraph) a vertical line is drawn on the text which resembles a kind of stick like the one carried by pilgrims who went to Santiago de Compostela
The Staff is a reference...
…to the iron-tipped staff that pilgrims once carried with them as support during their walk or as a weapon against wild animals and bandits.
Along with the satchel, the gourd, and the scallop shell, it is one of the symbols of the pilgrim.
The Project
Identify, Value, Promote
the Camino de Santiago ways in the South (Italy, France, Spain)
Strengthen the links between the inhabitants and the Camino
Identify
Principals
- Three staffs. Three routes
- Passed from hands to hands
- From associations to participing associations
⇒ From italian boder (Montgenevre,Menton)
⇒ To the spanish border (Roncevaux, Somport, Panissars passes)
⇒ From Corsica (Bonifacio / Ajaccio ⇒ Marseille)
Principals
- In Italy
⇒ Sending-off ceremony in Rome (mass, blessing of the pilgrim’s staffs and the pilgrims)
⇒ Possibles stops in Italy (Sacra di San Michele …)
- In Spain
⇒ gathering of the 3 pilgrim’s staffs in Logroño
⇒ reception/event in Santiago
3 staffs, 3 routes on the Southern Ways
- Bourdons « Panissars » : Departure from Montgenevre on the Domitia Way to the Panissars Pass. The route will then be relayed by Catalan associations from the Panissars Pass to Logroño.
- Bourdons « Somport » :
Departure from Menton on the Via Aurelia to Arles and the GR653 to the Somport Pass, where the route will then be relayed by Aragonese associations to Logroño
- Bourdons « Roncevaux » : Departure from Corsica, sea crossing from Ajaccio to Marseille. Then the Via Phocea to Arles to join the GR653. The route branches off at Saint-Gervais-sur-Mare onto the Piémont Pyrenean Way to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, where the route will be relayed by Spanish associations to Logroño
The routes of the staffs
On the Southern Routes from Rome to Compostela
A participatory action for a path that connects people, countries, and their traditions
Participation framework
- Participation, which is voluntary, is open to all St. James associations located along the southern routes and to any other organizations that wish to join us. It is subject to approval by the Steering Committee.
- The various routes have been divided into sections (100 km on average), each under the responsibility of a participating association in charge of the detailed organization of each stage.
- A charter has been established (respect for St. James values, the schedule, the route, communication times, etc.). This charter will bind the associations and the Steering Committee.
- At the end of each stage, the leader will provide a report (photos, videos, testimonials, etc.) on a dedicated website. A tracking system for pilgrims staffs will be in place.
- Each association will be responsible for risk management (liability insurance).
- The arrangements for potential funding are yet to be determined, the initial principles being free and based on volunteer work.
Promoting / Engaging
⇒ In the departure and arrival cities
⇒ At the main points of passage for the pilgrim’s staff (Menton, Marseille, Arles, Saint-Guilhem, Carcassonne, Toulouse, Auch, Saint-Lizier, Lourdes, Oloron-Sainte-Marie, Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, etc.)
Departure Rituals, sending mass, blessing of the pilgrims
Accompagning the walkers : the first/last km
- Reception : elected officials, press…
- Visits : sites on the St-James way or other notable sites, exhibitions
- Entertainments : Conferences, drinks/ dinners
- Inaugurations : minor heritage sites (markers, plaques, studs)
- Ceremonies : religious/seculars
Promote
The relays must help raise awareness among
- Elected officials
Local associations/institutions (cultural, heritage, hiking)
Civil and religious authorities
Tourist offices
The press and local media
Schedule
Departure
- Montgenevre : 17th march 2027
- Menton : 21st march 2027
- Marseille : 3rd april 2027
- The schedule for the preceding stages (Italy) will be communicated later.
First gathering
- Arles : arrival on the evening of April 9th
Second gathering
- Montpellier : arrival on the evening of April 15th
Third gathering
- Logroño : arrival between May 31th and June 4th
Arrival in Santiago
- Santiago : before July 10th
Contacts
Steering Committee
- Daniel SENEJOUX (PACA-Corse) daniel.senejoux@orange.fr
- Catherine CASANOVA (Provence) catherinecasanova@orange.fr
- Guy MATTEO (Occitanie) gmatteo@club-internet.fr
- Alain VIATGE (Occitanie) alain.viatge@orange.fr
- Olivier GRENIER (Occitanie) grenier.olivier@free.fr
- Dominique BARRUS (Aquitaine) dominique.barrus@orange.fr