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Copyright © 2007 Jean Guy Lathuilière, All Rights Reserved
The abbatial church of Sainte Foy is located on St. James' way ( via Podensis, chemin de Saint Jacques de Compostelle, Camino frances ). In the middle ages and later, pilgrimage was held as a form of sins' expiation. So pilgrims were walking this long way to St. James leaving their family for months or more, imposing a penance on themselves. Nowadays, several thousands of modern pilgrims from every part of the world are walking on this path to join St. James. Tourists as well are making their way on this route starting from "official" starting city points such as Cluny, Vézelay, Le Puy en Velay, Arles and a few others. Conques takes its name from the latin word "concha" ( shell in English): the shape of the valley in which the abbey was built by monks in the eleventh century resembles a shell. The pilgrimage's symbol also is the scallop shell that one can see all along the way, engraved on churches walls, houses and on various places. Conques ( 320 inhabitants approx. ) is one of the most beautiful villages in the southern part of France.
Shortcut to this page: http://geoimages.berkeley.edu/wwp_rss/go/n3356
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