Camino route - The Moravian-Silesian Way
By Tiffany Turner Fite
I first arrived in Europe in the summer of 2023, and before beginning my studies at Masaryk University, I walked approximately 875km on the Camino de Santiago de Compostela in France, Spain, and Portugal. This excursion served as a transition from my career to life as a student at Masaryk. I recommend the pilgrimage to anyone, and you can walk as many km’s as you feel up to or have time for. Although rooted in religious meaning, many pilgrims walk for religious and/or different reasons today.
There is an extensive network of pilgrimage paths throughout Europe, and all lead to the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain. You can read more about the history of “The Way” here. The routes are marked with yellow arrows and /or the signature scallop shell.
Once settled in Brno, I was surprised to find a Camino marker! After a bit of research, I found an official Camino route - The Moravian-Silesian Way – goes through Brno south to Mikulov. In June of 2024, after the first year of my studies and exams were complete, I walked out of my flat’s door and walked south for three days to Mikulov.
I enjoyed walking again!
It was especially wonderful to get to know a small piece of Czechia in a slow and meaningful way. I slept in guesthouses in Vojkovice, Strachotín, and Mikulov. I walked through small villages, over hills, through castle ruins, and alongside beautiful vineyards.
There are stamps to fill a credencial. The stamps may also offer you pilgrim discounts at certain guesthouses. You can purchase a credencial in Brno, and find the stamp locations and more information here. The stamps are often found at cathedrals along the Way.
Unfortunately, this was all I had time for this summer. It was very inexpensive, and only a 60-minute trip, to return to Brno via a public bus. It was quite amusing to think I walked for three days in what took only one hour to drive!
I would like to complete the route from the northern start at the Polish border and south to Brno next.
I recommend walking a Camino pilgrimage route when you get a chance.
