How It All Started
In 2008, a group of pilgrims returning from one stage of the Way of St. James agreed that the journey had given them so much, and now they wanted to give something back. This idea led to the founding of Ultreia, named after a popular pilgrim’s greeting and a song that propels one “onward and upward.”
Initially, our activities focused mainly on providing informational resources for pilgrims traveling to France and Spain. We also started issuing a pilgrim’s credential. With a growing number of resources on foreign routes, we started shifting our focus to Czech routes. We are a transit country with pilgrimage routes that connect to Poland, Germany, and Austria.
We maintain close ties with cities, municipalities, villages, and individual pilgrims, which has helped us create infrastructure that makes travel as smooth as possible for pilgrims.. Thanks to local volunteers, patrons of individual stages, we can provide up-to-date information on accommodation and food options. We also collaborate with local tourist centers to increase the number of places where pilgrims can access travel guides and have their credentials stamped.
Above all, we love traveling on foot through the countryside. We organize pilgrim walks that allow us to explore and appreciate our beautiful country even more. We still love walking today, just as we did in Ultreia’s early days.
If you would like to support us, please check out the Donate section.
The association
This association was founded to support our activities. Ultreia z.s. is an open association of friends of St. James’ Way and travel on foot in general. Membership is open to anyone interested in pilgrims and pilgrimages.
Photos from the annual meeting of pilgrims 2019