Pilgrim and experience reports

The Via de la Plata, the Silver Road, or the "Bal'latta", the wide paved road (a Moorish name for this trade route from Roman times), the pilgrimage route that leads from Seville over 950km to Santiago de Compostela, long seemed to us a challenge that we shied away from when other pilgrims reported on the endless expanses, the long stages, the solitude, the heat, and the not very numerous hostels on this Camino.

I had already walked the Camino de Santiago once, and now the opportunity arose to let it pass me by. A month without newspapers, television, or internet, in beautiful surroundings and with pleasant encounters, also seemed very appealing.

Almost a year had passed between the official inauguration of the La Faba pilgrim hostel on September 22, 2001, and its opening.

At the last moment, it looked as if, due to construction delays, a not yet fully granted opening permit, and subdued enthusiasm from the authorities, another year would pass.

Dear members, dear hospitaleros,

Unfortunately, due to health reasons, I am unable to attend the Annual General Meeting. Therefore, I would like to share some information from years past with you, as this year and next will mark the anniversaries of both our club and our lovely pilgrim hostel. There are still a few stories to tell…

I arrived at our hostel as a pilgrim on September 7th, 2006. Anita Dehmer was the hospitalera at the time. I felt very comfortable there as a pilgrim. About six months later, Anita contacted me to ask if I could imagine working at the hostel. That was a stroke of luck, and I was over the moon. We started working together the very next year.

Last year I hadn't heard of this Camino de Santiago at all, but then it was recommended to us as a short but very beautiful alternative to crossing the Pyrenees to Pamplona, starting in Bayonne. And since we only had a good week, we set off on our 5-6 day hike this year on July 22nd, 2018.

I already walked this "alternative route across the Pyrenees" a year ago, in May 2019. But I didn't get around to writing a report about it as soon as I had with my previous Caminos. While the coronavirus has taken a lot from us this year, 2020, and now 2021 as well, it has given us one thing: more time for ourselves at home.

La Faba, a once derelict inn on the

The Spanish Way of St. James was rebuilt over ten years ago with commitment and money from Württemberg and

restored. Today La Faba are appreciated

Many pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago appreciate the Württemberg Pilgrim Hostel on the Way of St. James because of its unique atmosphere. - Beautiful Swabia