Camino de Santiago

MISSION STATEMENT

Camino Downunder is committed to educating a wide audience about all facets of the pilgrimage routes of France and Spain: les Chemins de St-Jacques de Compostelle and los Caminos de Santiago by presenting formal classes and workshops in Australia and New Zealand in order to improve participants’ walking experiences and outcomes as pilgrims.
Camino Downunder researches, produces and markets both printed and digital resources to support 21st century independent pilgrim walkers undertaking these tracks, and is focused on increasing its original and innovative product range.

Camino Downunder’s VISION is to make significant, long lasting and positive differences to each person’s pilgrimage experiences; either by using its products and/or attending face-to-face classes, which are informed by ongoing research and good pedagogical principles.

Our VALUES:
• Understanding Spain’s heritage and traditions going back to the Middle Ages;
• Acknowledging the historical role Spain’s three cultures had on pilgrimage;
• Distinguishing between fact and legend;
• Integrity and non-discrimination in all its endeavours;
• Cooperating and collaborating with world-wide institutions and organisations who support pilgrimage;
• Promoting lifetime study and respect for all languages: however focusing on French and Spanish;
• Using modern pedagogical practices when teaching about the Camino and
• Having empathy and understanding for the independent pilgrim.

What's new?

At the next AFMLTA (Australian Federation of Modern Language Teachers Association) National Conference at the Australian National University in Canberra July 5, 2013 to July 8, 2013, Marc Grossman, principal of Camino Downunder, will be presenting a paper entitled: "The Pedagogy of the Pilgrimage routes in France and Spain". 
It will be appealing not only to teachers of European languages, but will also attract language teachers of Korean, Mandarin, Japanese and Tagalog. Without exaggeration, this paper will be a first for Australia in all respects, detailing two very different models for undertaking 21st century pilgrimage from an educational perspective, whereby the language practitioner and the language student undertake the Camino de Santiago and the Chemin de St-Jacques-de-Compostelle, not only for personal reasons but also for intercultural and language immersion reasons par excellence.

Camino de Santiago Wall Map on Zoomify viewer

Camino de Santiago Wall Map can now be viewed up close and in high resolution on Zoomify via the Geographx website, here.

With this Zoomify program, be like one of the magnificent Peregrine Falcons that fly over the Camino de Santiago track, crossing the Pyrenees between France and Spain from August to November each year. 

This Peregrine Falcon is a magnificent bird of prey. With a wingspan of up to 120 centimetres, it is a graceful flier; languid when resting, converting itself into a dramatic dive-bomber when attacking its prey.  It also has an incredible voice and when hunting is able to dive-bomb at over 300 km per hour, making it the fastest animal on earth.

With this map, Zoomify will allow you to go in up close to the ground, very quickly and to soar back up high; thereby allowing you to have commanding views of the whole of the Camino Francés at great speeds.  Enjoy!

2013: ANNOUNCING A MAJOR NEW PRODUCT RELEASE & A RELATED SERVICE

In early 2013, Camino Downunder will publish a new text "Successfully using the Spanish Language when doing the Camino de Santiago". This text will allow non-Spanish speaking pilgrims, from English speaking countries to;

(a) successfully move between English and Spanish;
(b) confidently move between the host culture and their own;
(c) successfully use linguistic and verbal strategies when negotiating their interests with Spanish speakers when on the Camino tracks.

This language specific text for use by pilgrims will be referenced to the A1 level of Spanish in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).  The CEFR is the most authoritative and dominant linguistic reference framework for accurately describing peoples' language skills and competencies and supported and legislated by the Council of Europe and the European Union.

This 2013 publication will be both a mini Spanish language course text with a comprehensive vocabulary and glossary list for English speaking pilgrims undertaking any of the Spanish Camino routes and tracks from the Camino Francés in the north, to the Camino Mozárabe in the south of Spain.

Related to this new publication, Camino Downunder will offer in addition to its regular workshops two intensive Spanish language classes each year, commencing in 2013 to be held in April/May and September/October.

Further details will be posted in March, 2013.

Camino de Santiago:
30 all-weather walking maps

These thirty maps weigh approximately 100 grams and are virtually indestructible in any weather situations. After nearly two years of research and development and road testing them in late 2009 they are now ready to be used by any pilgrim undertaking any section of the Camino Francés or the whole of it from the Pyrenees to Santiago de Compostela.

Or click here for where to buy in France.

What is the Camino de Santiago?

The Camino de Santiago (Spanish) or Saint James Way (English) is a network of Christian pilgrimage routes in France and Spain which have been in existence since the ninth century. The pilgrimage route which is the focus for Camino Downunder is called the Camino Francés. In the 12th and 13th centuries Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela exploded in popularity, overtaking the other two pilgrimage routes to Rome and Jerusalem. Read more »

The Spanish pilgrimage route Camino de Santiago is known in many languages:

• St James Way (English)
• Le Chemin de Saint-Jacques de Compostelle (French)
• Jakobsweg (German)
• Il Cammino di Santiago di Compostela (Italian)
• O Caminho de Santiago (Portuguese)
• Camiño de Santiago or Ruta Xacobea (Galician)
  
• Donejakue Bidea (Basque)

Camino Downunder website has its focus on the original medieval religious pilgrimage route dating back to the 10 century and called: the Camino Francés or the French Route.

THE Camino FrancÉs

The Camino Francés (which is the oldest pilgrimage route in Spain) is called the French route precisely because at the time it came into existence, the majority of pilgrims traversing it came from France.

However, the Somport Pyrenean pass (between France and Spain) was the preferred entry point until the 12th century, when the route between Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port and Roncesvalles took over in popularity because mountain banditry was better suppressed and massive new infrastructure built at Roncesvalles: the Real Colegiata including their famous pilgrim’s hostel was formally opened (consecrated) in 1219.

In the 21st century, people from around the world commence their pilgrimage at many different locations along this long route (freedom of choice), but are now no longer solely motivated to undertake it as a religious pilgrimage in the medieval traditions.

For many, they are motivated to commence this challenging journey because they want to have a unique Spanish, walking holiday. However, modern, long distance pilgrims gain a deep introspection and are changed. Along the journey, the original motivation gets modified. And serendipity plays itself out. The journey over time acts like a catalyst: it induces change.

You’ve come to the Camino Downunder website because you’re doing serious research and preparation to undertake the Camino Francés as an independent pilgrim-walker?

If yes, then read on…

To be a successfully independent pilgrim-walker along the Camino Francés when so many figuratively fall by the wayside… you should be armed with our just in time all-weather walking maps which double up as your one-stop guide with not too much information, but just the right amount, at the right time, when you so dearly need it.

These 30 all-weather maps will empower you:

• designed solely with the pilgrim-walker in mind
• the empathy of knowing what you will be feeling and needing
  – nothing more and nothing less
• You will be stronger each day and more confident.

When you’ve been walking some 6, 7 or 8 hours

• and the afternoon is wearing you down, you’ve had it and you’re sore
• within seconds and irrespective of any weather conditions (atrocious or beautiful)
• you will know exactly where you are and you will know which pilgrim hostel you wish to go and how much more walking you’ve got to do before getting there.
  

THAT’S PRICELESS
More details »

21st Century Camino de Santiago maps:
Hi-tech 3D: waterproof - washable - renewable

If you are having trouble playing the video, please click on the following link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uGGD6WhVlQ&feature=player_embedded

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