10 places of pilgrimage around the world: discover the most spiritual destinations. Sometimes accessible at the cost of a little effort, they all stand out for their architectural prowess and their historical and religious significance.
Spiritual journeys to places of pilgrimage are all the rage. Believers and non-believers alike, many travelers are looking for meaningful journeys that nourish their spirituality. A pilgrimage is a powerful experience in its own right. Solitary or not, it induces a profound reconnection with oneself and often reflects a need to return to one’s roots.
Of course, if you’re a believer, a religious trip takes on even greater significance and intensely nourishes your faith. As well as being religious and historical sites, pilgrimage sites move and fascinate, while offering practitioners the opportunity to perform their rituals.
To find out where to take your inner and outer journey, follow the guide. Here are 10 places of pilgrimage around the world.
1. Jerusalem – Israel
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If there were only one religious trip to make in one’s life, it would probably be to the Holy Land, to Jerusalem. The thrice-holy city is unique in the world, being a symbol for Christians, Muslims and Jews alike.
Christians gather at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, home to Jesus’ tomb and Golgotha (crucifixion site). Jews, on the other hand, pray at the Wailing Wall, placing their prayers in the eternal stone. Finally, Muslims walk the Mosque Esplanade on the Temple Mount, home to the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa Mosque.
2. Mecca – Saudi Arabia
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For Islam, the birthplace of the Prophet Mohammed is the holiest of places. Mecca, one of the world’s pilgrimage destinations, is reserved exclusively for this religion. The city hosts the Hajj – meaning great pilgrimage – once a year, during the second week of the last month of the Muslim calendar.
The procession also extends to Mount Arafat and Mina, on the outskirts of Mecca. This religious journey is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, and an obligation for many practicing Muslims. Every year, more than three million Muslims come to pray in the square containing the Ka’ba, inside the Great Mosque.
3. Benares – India
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Benares, and more specifically the banks of the Ganges, is the most important pilgrimage site in the world for Hindus. With its ancient name of Varanasi, this capital of Hinduism was founded in the 7th century B.C. and is one of the oldest cities in the world.
Arriving at the heart of this city dedicated to Shiva, Hindus make their way to the Ghats: the famous banks where one stone step follows another, allowing believers to descend into the river and purify themselves. While this is the most popular spot for Indian pilgrims, many tourists from all over the world simply come to visit. It has to be said that the banks of the Ganges offer a sight that is both unheard-of and overwhelming for every human being.
4. Sanctuary of Our Lady of Guadalupe – Mexico
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North of Mexico City stands one of the world’s most visited Catholic monuments: the sanctuary of Our Lady of Guadalupe. No fewer than fifteen to twenty million pilgrims flock here every year.
This world-famous pilgrimage site is nicknamed Lupita. It is shaped like a shepherd’s tunic with the image of the Virgin Mary depicted on it. Its basilica is remarkable for its hundred-meter diameter and azure hues. If you’d like to visit on the most celebrated day of the year, December 12th is the day to do so. Catholic faithful commemorate the apparition of the Virgin Mary in 1531.
5. St. Peter’s Square – Vatican
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How fortunate for the world’s smallest country to be home to the world’s largest church. What’s more, it’s the world’s leading Christian pilgrimage site. Not surprising, given that St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome is also the seat of the papacy.
Every year, millions of believers and non-believers flock to St. Peter’s Square. Apart from its religious significance, this spiritual epicenter for Catholics attracts visitors for its architectural magnificence. A splendor that culminates in two coveted masterpieces: the Sistine Chapel and the ceiling painted by Michelangelo.
6. Santiago de Compostela – Spain
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This world-famous pilgrimage site offers a spiritual journey between France and Spain. It can be completed in a few days or even several weeks.
The Pilgrim’s Way to Santiago de Compostela is both a religious and cultural itinerary. It passes through many remarkable towns and landscapes. The goal of the pilgrimage is to reach the supposed tomb of James the Greater, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, in Galicia. Here, the cathedral also houses the world’s largest censer: the Botafumeiro. Pilgrims from all over Europe come here to do penance.
And often, among them, simple enthusiasts of architectural works or individuals in search of a spiritual retreat.
7. Lourdes – France
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Lourdes is the world’s most important pilgrimage site for Christians, after the Vatican and Our Lady of Guadalupe. The town in the >Hautes-Pyrénées fascinates visitors and believers from all over the world. It is said to have been the scene of eighteen encounters between the Virgin Mary and Bernadette Soubirous, deep in the caves. The Virgin is said to have recommended drinking from and washing in the fountain.
Ever since these apparitions, many sick people have flocked to Lourdes in search of a miraculous healing in its waters. You’ll also be delighted by its basilicas and church. Visitor numbers peak on the feast days of August 15th and October 7th.
8. Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima – Portugal
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Some of the world’s pilgrims arrive at this place of pilgrimage… on their knees! Nestled in the small village of Fátima, in central Portugal, the Sanctuary of Our Lady welcomes visitors from all over the world. Legend has it that the Virgin Mary appeared to three children on six different occasions.
She then revealed a secret to them. A secret whispered in 1917 and still the subject of numerous rumours. Four million pilgrims and curious tourists visit Fátima every year. Attendance peaks on May 13th.
In addition to its spiritual and religious significance, this sanctuary also stands out for its great architectural beauty and immaculate whiteness.
9. Little Adam’s Peak – Sri Lanka
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This world-famous pilgrimage site is halfway between a sporting trek and a spiritual journey. This mountain, which sprang up in Sri Lanka, is mainly visited by the country’s Buddhists. However, all types of believers and ordinary tourists also flock here. People come to venerate the footprints hoisted to the summit of the peak: Adam’s for Christians and Muslims, Buddha’s for Buddhists and Shiva’s for Hindus.
Most pilgrims begin their ascent of the four and a half thousand steps in the middle of the night. They then reach the summit, perched over two thousand two hundred meters above sea level, at sunrise. They witness an intense communion in a mystical atmosphere, as well as a breathtaking natural and panoramic spectacle.
10. Mount Popa – Burma
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Mount Popa is an extinct volcano in Myanmar, rising to an altitude of over fifteen hundred meters. Among the world’s pilgrimage sites, it is mainly trodden by Buddhists. At the summit, they come to honor the thirty-seven great Nats, similar to the genies of Good and Evil.
These figures, in the form of statues, are jealously guarded in the Taung Kalat monastery and grouped around the Buddha. To climb Mount Popa, you only need to leave your shoes on halfway up. Most ascents take place during the full moon.