Discover Romanesque: The environmental context

‘Along the routes’-type

In medieval times, a fundamental road-network type was that of pilgrimage routes. They were not exactly true roads, but rather paths, more or less marked, following the tracks leading towards places of special devotion.

It was frequently reported that sacred buildings sited in proximity of such routes were particularly widespread in the Middle Ages. Often, initially built as small chapels, they were subsequently enlarged and enriched with spaces meant for pilgrims, offering them a shelter and, hence, gradually assuming the features of real pilgrimage stopovers – to have some rest and refreshment, either  material and spiritual.