An International Forum Dedicated to the Ukrainian Routes of the Camino de Santiago Held in Vinnytsia

On 14 April, the international forum ‘Ukrainian Routes of the Camino de Santiago: European Integration, Partnership, Development’ took place in Vinnytsia. It brought together representatives from Ukraine, Spain, Belgium, Poland, the Netherlands and Lithuania to discuss the future of pilgrimage routes and their significance for local communities.

Discussions centred on the Podillia Way of St James (Camino Podolico), which has existed since 2021 and was accepted into the European Federation of the Way of St James as early as 2023, as well as the new Camino Ruteno route, which is currently being developed.

It is known that the Camino Ruteno will run through the Ternopil, Ivano-Frankivsk and Lviv regions and will cover the princely cities of historic Galicia: Chortkiv, Halych, Zvenyhorod and Lviv. Its final destination will be the village of Shehyni on the border with Poland. The total length of the route will thus be 460 kilometres.

'I am convinced that the Camino Podolico, the Camino Ruteno and their integration with the European routes of the Camino de Santiago via Poland represent an important step towards shaping a shared European future for Ukraine’s Camino routes, enabling us all to feel like one united European family,” said Andrii Ocheretnyi, Vice-President of the European Federation of the Way of St James and Deputy Mayor of Vinnytsia, who opened the forum.

Natalia Tabaka, Head of the State Agency for Tourism Development, emphasised the importance of such initiatives for the development of domestic tourism in Ukraine and noted that the Ukrainian Camino will be one of the first to be included in the ‘Journey to Oneself. Paths to Recovery’ project-programme, aimed at the systematic emotional and psychophysical recovery of Ukrainians through travel within the country.

International dialogue and the European context

The President of the European Federation of the Way of St James, Ildefonso de la Campa Montenegro, attended the forum in Vinnytsia in person. His visit not only demonstrated close professional cooperation but also served as a gesture of solidarity and support for Ukraine during these difficult times.

'Once again, I express my personal and resolute support, as well as that of the European Federation of the Way of St James, for the people of Ukraine and their struggle for independence, sovereignty and freedom – not only for their own territory, but for the entire European continent… You can count on the European Federation of the Way of St James to support everything you are doing to restore, protect, manage and promote the Way of St James routes in Ukraine: both the Camino Podolico and the Camino Ruteno,' emphasised Mr Ildefonso.

A key part of the programme consisted of presentations by international partners from Spain, Belgium, Poland and the Netherlands. They shared their experiences of developing Camino routes across Europe and highlighted successful examples of how these routes are boosting the economy and community development.

The forum was also attended by Jānis Grandāns – a journalist and author of the most popular blog on family travel in Latvia. This was his eighth visit to Ukraine with his family since 2023, and this time he plans to cycle the Camino Podolico from Vinnytsia to Kamianets-Podilskyi.

Signing of the memorandum: a new phase of cooperation

A key highlight of the forum was the Camino Ruteno team’s signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation aimed at developing and promoting the Way of St James in Ukraine.

The document was signed by Diana Vozna, Chief Specialist of the Department of Sport, Youth and Tourism of the Lviv Regional State Administration; Taras Hrynchyshyn, Chief Specialist of the Investment and Development Division of the Executive Committee of the Bibrka City Council; Vitalii Muzhik, leading specialist of the Hospitality Standards Division of the Tourism Management Department of the Economic Development Department of Lviv City Council; Marianna Batsvin, deputy director of the ‘Ancient Halych’ National Reserve; and Ildefonso de la Campa Montenegro, president of the European Federation of the Way of St James.

In fact, the signing of the memorandum marked an important step towards the formation of a unified Camino network in Ukraine. A shared vision of the future

Particular attention was paid to the pilgrims’ experiences – during the expert panel, participants shared their own stories of walking the Camino Podolico, their motivations and personal transformations along the way.

The invited guests were:

• Yurii Tsybukh – a Lviv-based tour guide, activist and architect who has walked the Camino Podolico twice;

• Dmytro Syvak – a traveller, mountaineer and caver who led a group of 15 children on the Camino Podolico;

• Olha Shramko – author of a blog about travel and lifestyle;

• Nadiia Okhopko – a hiker who met a little dog named Zhulia on the route;

• Svitlana Hordiichuk – a hiking guide and ambassador for the Camino Podolico.

In recognition of their active involvement and promotion of the route, they were presented with symbolic certificates as ambassadors of the Podillia Way of St James during the forum.

Finally, forum participants worked in thematic groups, where they discussed specific steps for the development of Camino routes in Ukraine.

The event thus confirmed that Ukraine is moving confidently towards integration into the European cultural and tourism space. And the development of the Camino de Santiago routes is becoming not only a tourism project, but also a tool for international partnership, cultural exchange and community regeneration.

The forum was organised by the Vinnytsia City Council’s Department of City Marketing and Tourism, which acts as the coordinator for Camino Podolico. The event took place at the ‘Etnochary’ art space and served as an important platform for forging partnerships, making new connections and networking.