How the Guide Goes About Introducing You to Spiritual Shrines of France
The Pilgrim's France is arranged by regions in France. Within each topic area are the places to visit with maps and other helpful information for the pilgrim travelling by car, train or bus. There are even samples of French phrases you might use in the event you can't find a specific shrine and need to ask a native. And of course, there's a wealth of historical information on the places and how they became shrines and to whom they're dedicated.
The Pilgrim's France isn't a general guide to France. It'll get you from shrine to shrine and provide you with a wealth of information that you probably didn't know about each place. I can't imagine a better guide for a spiritual journey within France, but you'll probably need another guide for the everyday stuff-train connections, hotels, and restaurants.
Who can use The Pilgrim's France? Is it only for Religious Folks?
What traveller hasn't been to a great cathedral or two? Do you just stand there and gape? Me, too. Last year I went to Chartres, France, and visited the famous cathedral. Any guide might have told me something like, "in 876 King Charles the Bald (I like him already) presented the church with a relic of Mary's veil, making Chartres a major pilgrimage destination." But I probably wouldn't have known about Chartres' magnetic spirituality. That's right, according to The Pilgrim's France, "Scientists have recently discovered that fourteen water channels travel under the Cathedral to merge at a single point under the choir. This convergence produces a measurable vibration level as elevated as those found in some Tibetan monasteries and Egyptian pyramids." The druids knew this, of course, because they performed ceremonies on the same spot in ancient times; we're just catching up.
So while the book primarily traces the lives of the Catholic saints, it digs deeper through the historic rubble that churches and faiths are built upon. And you'll be pointed toward places you couldn't even imagine without this helpful book.
The Pilgrim's France: The Bottom Line
Armed with The Pilgrim's France, you'll visit hidden labyrinths, you'll be pointed toward the quietest places and times to meditate within each shrine if you so desire, and your experience, even if not totally transformative, will at least be full and rich. It's likely The Pilgrim's France will transform your vision of shrines and cathedrals--you'll come away with a rich and artistic tapestry of knowledge instead of a snapshot of crumbling columns and large apses.
I can't find a single fault with the book. The places and their spiritual relevance are discussed in a concise and interesting way, the maps give you just what you need to know, and the coverage of hidden secrets will make you value the book even more. In short, the advice to travelers is top notch. I have to give this one a five out of five stars.
The Pilgrim's Italy, a book with the same theme written by the Heaters, is equally beneficial and is available (check prices)
You can find out more about the authors, the Pilgrims guides and their publishing venture at Inner Travel Books
