Top Religious Sites in Europe from Ireland to Italy, Holy Places Draw Faithful Christians

Home , Lucerne

on religious travel: O karol10 slowikowski Top Religious Sites in Europe From Ireland to Italy, holy places draw faithful Christians

Northern Spain’s Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, with its magnificent Baroque facade, houses the relics of St. James.

very year millions of people travel 1. FATIMA, PORTUGAL home to dozens of imposing churches Eto see the Vatican. But Rome is not The Chapel of the Apparitions is and monuments. Shops selling religious the end-all for religious tourism. Dozens built on the site of a Marian apparition souvenirs, hostels and hotels can be of religiously significant cities and sacred that appeared before three peasant found throughout the city. (visitportu- shrines dot the vast and ancient land- children in 1917. Every year since then gal.com, rt-leiriafatima.pt) scape of Europe. on the anniversaries of the apparitions, The following list spotlights some of May 13 and Oct. 13, the streets of 2. CAMINO the most visited holy places on the con- Fatima swell with throngs of pilgrims DE SANTIAGO, SPAIN tinent, from its western seaboard to its who make their way to the holy site. One of the oldest pilgrimage routes

National Tourist Oﬃce of Spain Tourist National eastern boundaries: Fatima (88 miles north of Lisbon) is in the world runs through Northern

16 October 2011 LeisureGroupTravel.com Spain, terminating at the cathedral of only those educated in Armagh were Patrick’s Anglican Cathedral. St. Patrick’s Santiago de Compostela. This is the fit to spread the gospel, so numerous Trian, in a former church behind the burial site of St. James, whose remains educational institutions were founded. tourist office, has exhibits on city his- were transported from Jerusalem to The seat of both Protestant and tory and St. Patrick’s writings. Armagh Spain by boat. Pilgrimages to the area Catholic archbishops, Armagh is the is going through an extensive city-cen- haven’t ceased since medieval times, and most venerated of Irish cities. The ter regeneration project, which includes the route has enjoyed revived popular- main points of interest are St. Patrick’s upgrading all surfaces and adding new ity since the 1980s. Roman Catholic Cathedral and St. pedestrian walkways. (armagh.co.uk) Traveling pilgrims can expect barebones accommodations along the Camino de Santiago, or Way of St. James. Monasteries provide hostels for travelers and ask for small monetary donations in return. Pilgrims should ExploreEEplorExplorxplorpplplowithlorrre Goe thethAhead he WWorld Toursororlrldld be aware that a special Credencial, or religious passport, is required to stay at Go Ahead Tours offers more than a monastic hostel. American pilgrims 100 tours across the globe. With our need to register online in order to Best Price Guarantee and included receive one (americanpilgrims.com, airfare on every tour, you’ll travel santiagoturismo.com) at an exceptional value.

3. LOURDES, FRANCE The largest pilgrimage site in France is Lourdes, which takes in some five million pilgrims a year. Lourdes gains sig- nificance from the apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes and is a site of numerous miraculous healings. The stream un- earthed by Bernadette Soubirous in 1858 is believed to have special proper- ties that heal the ailments of sick people. Tourists stay in one of 270 hotels in the city in order to visit the Sanctuary of Lourdes (commonly called the Domain). The Domain includes the Grotto where pilgrims can dispense Lourdes water from the taps, and 22 separate places of worship on 126 acres. (lourdes-france.org).

» Why Travel With Go Ahead? 4. ARMAGH, NORTHERN IRELAND » Earn 2 FREE places !when you organize a group of 12. Armagh is a town with roots in Plus, cash bonuses Celtic paganism. When Christianity » Receive free marketing support including a personalized website. spread to the region in the 400s A.D., » Earn invitations to international Group Coordinator conventions. St. Patrick established his church there and Armagh became the ecclesiastical Call us at 1-800-438-7672 to learn more! capital of the island. He decreed that

LeisureGroupTravel.com October 2011 17 on religious travel: O

Protestant Reformation. Travelers can 5. EINSIEDELN, follow in his footsteps in the states of SWITZERLAND Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia, a region Einsiedeln gained popularity as a deemed Luther Country. Reforma- religious tourist destination thanks tion-related sites are located in Eise- to its Benedictine Abbey, one of the nach, Erfurt, Lutherstadt Eisleben and most important pilgrimage sites in Lutherstadt Wittenberg. Luther spent Switzerland. More than 100,000 reli- the majority of his life in Wittenberg, gious tourists visit annually to see the the site of the Schlosskirche (Castle statue of the Black Madonna in the Church), where in 1517 he nailed his abbey’s lavishly decorated Baroque 95 Theses, or demands for reform, on church. Also on visitors’ agendas are its doors. He is buried inside below the Diorama Bethlehem, regarded as pulpit. (visit-luther.com) Tourism Ireland Tourism the world’s largest nativity display The spirit of St. Patrick pervades with 450 hand-carved figures, and Armagh in Northern Ireland. 8. CZESTOCHOWA, POLAND Panorama Crucifixion of Christ, a The shrine to the Black Madonna at giant circular painting. 6. ALTÖTTING, GERMANY Jasna Gora Monastery attracts more The town is about 25 miles south- For more than 500 years this Bavar- than four million visitors a year. Its east of Zurich. Geneva and Zurich ian town has been Germany’s most painting of the Black Madonna has have sites associated with Reformation significant place of pilgrimage venerat- been the subject of miracles including leaders John Calvin and Ulrich ing the Virgin Mary. More than a bleeding after being struck with a sword Zwingli. (visit-einsiedeln.ch, my- million pilgrims a year visit the Chapel during a Hussite attack in 1430. The switzerland.com) of Grace (built around 700) and its 800-year-old buildings around the Black Madonna. As history tells it, a monastery bustle with tourist commerce. child drowned in a nearby river in 1489 (poland.travel/en-us) and his mother took his body to the altar at the foot of a wooden statue of 9. MEDUGORJE, BOSNIA the Black Madonna. He was miracu- AND HERZEGOVINA lously revived, and the news spread Apparitions of Mary have ap- quickly across the country. peared before six children since 1981 The late Gothic, twin-towered in this Adriatic town and made the Stiftskirche (Collegiate Church) and town a popular pilgrimage destina- the Neo-Baroque St. Anna’s Basilica tion. The site annually attracts one are two of many churches within million people, some of whom have walking distance of Chapel Square, witnessed visions in the sky including where Pope Benedikt XVI celebrated hearts and crosses around the sun. Mass in 2006. Across from the (medugorje.org) Chapel of Grace is the New Ecclesias- tical Treasury and Pilgrimage Museum, 10. ASSISI, ITALY which is named for the Pope, a Assisi, an Umbrian hill town north of Bavarian who has been familiar with Rome, is the birthplace of St. Francis. Altötting since childhood. Another His influence is remembered in the draw is the Crucifixion Panorama, a Basilica of San Francesco of Assisi. Two 360-degree painting. (altoetting.de) castles dominate the town, both built in the Middle Ages. In early May the Fes- 7. LUTHER COUNTRY, tival Calendimaggio re-enacts medieval GERMANY life with games, processions, dances, flag Martin Luther has forever been waving and theatrical performances. embedded into history for sparking the (umbria2000.it) LGT

18 October 2011 LeisureGroupTravel.com Schynige-Platte cogwheel railway Train travel in Switzerland. Switzerland’s public transportation network is second to none. It’s fast, efﬁcient, frequent and connects even the most remote places. Explore Switzerland with a single ticket for trains, busses and boats: the Swiss Pass.

Lucerne - in the heart of Switzerland. the construction of the Rhaetian Railway Lucerne has it all: the great transport mu- and the Bernina Express, which reaches seum, the first and the steepest cogwheel as far as Veltlin, Upper Engadin has been railways, a narrow-gauge panoramic train, accessible to the entire world - and peo- and historic steamships on Lake Lucerne. ple from all over the world love this valley, Thanks to its attractions, its souvenir and which delights visitors with its incompara- watch shops, the impressive mountai- ble nature at all times of the year. nous panorama and the nearby excursion mountains of the Rigi and Mt. Pilatus, Sunstar Hotels - Alpine Emotions. the town is a destination for many travel Sunstar, founded in 1969, is the only groups on their journey through the Lake genuinely Swiss Hotel Group, with nine Lucerne Region. A train buff‘s paradise! first-class hotels nestled in the Alps and offering a total of over 1,670 beds in 915 Engadin St. Moritz - rooms. Arosa, Davos, Flims, Klosters, UNESCO World Heritage site. Lenzerheide, Grindelwald, Zermatt and The UNESCO World Heritage recognition Wengen are the best-known resorts. of the high-altitude engineering wonder- Whether you come for a walking or winter land through Switzerland’s Engadin Valley sports vacation, to visit a spa center or to honors one of the most spectacular, tech- attend a meeting or other special event nically innovative and harmonious narrow- – at Sunstar Hotels, guests with varied in- gauge railways. Since the extension of terests will feel at home and enjoy “Alpine the road system through these passes, emotions”.

For information on Switzerland, please visit MySwitzerland.com/steam For bookings, call Rail Source International: 1-800-551-2085