The importance of water for French Pilgrims to Compostela: the Middle Ages and the Modern Era

Abstract

This article attempts to show that water is an important and recurrent topic in the French literary creations written in both the Middle Ages and the Modern Era that mention pilgrimage to Compostela. In these texts the water element is mainly identified with the idea of an obstacle; it is regarded as a daunting enemy that makes the journey more difficult, even dangerous. Water adopts several forms: geographical barrier, bearer of misfortune (violent invasions), weather factor and also body fluid. However, it also has the shape of natural benefits such as drink, or supernatural ones, such as miracles. Besides, it can be subdued by the civilizing power and the artistic talent of humans. Thus we can affirm that water is an interesting source of information about certain ways of travelling in Spain and France in the above-mentioned times.

https://doi.org/10.17398/2660-7301.40.63