“At the Prouilhe monastery, we have been welcoming pilgrims for over 25 years”
How long have you been welcoming pilgrims?
We began welcoming pilgrims to Compostela in the late 1980s, and the reception expanded considerably in the 2000s. It was thanks to the association of the Chemins de Compostelle de l’Ariège, which sought to promote Christian reception centers, that we opened our doors more widely.
How many pilgrims did you welcome in 2023?
We do not keep exact accounts, but we have visitors almost every week. The flow of pilgrims varies greatly from April to November, although some brave ones come even in winter. The Piedmont Way is still not very busy, but we have noticed an increase in the number of pilgrims in recent years.
What does the pilgrimage bring to those who undertake it?
Pilgrimage is an experience of total change of scenery. We leave our usual landmarks to find ourselves. It is paradoxical and perhaps destabilizing, but it is by losing these landmarks that we rediscover ourselves. Walking is a physically demanding but deeply enriching experience.
Is it possible to establish a link between the experience of the pilgrim on the road to Compostela and religious life?
Absolutely. In both cases, we leave everything behind. Social reference points are turned upside down, and we seek a new balance. When we enter monastic life, as on the path, we do not always know what we are looking for, but we feel a force within us that pushes us, something that surpasses us. The path, like religious life, is a process that leads to another horizon.
If you had to walk one of the Camino de Santiago routes, which one would you choose?
I don’t think I would be able to do it, so that’s easy to say! But I would choose a path that is not too isolated, while still seeking some solitude.
