The Camino de Santiago Map with the ISBN of 978-0-9872689-0-7 is a bold, innovative and accurate new map, visually depicting the 800 kilometres in portrait orientation between the French/Spanish Pyrenees and Santiago de Compostela and onwards to Spain’s Land’s End – Finisterre. This new map clearly shows its geographical context in relation to northern Spain and southwest France. The map names the eight World Heritage sites located on the Camino track itself or very close to it. This maps shows that the Camino de Santiago can be considered as the world’s longest “museum crawl”.
This new product is the thinking person’s map: science, data, and the very latest digital map making software are combined and shaped under the skillful cartographer’s (Tim Baigent from Geographx in Wellington, New Zealand) critical eye, plus the incredible passion for accuracy and fastidiousness with detail. This is not a map for dummies.
This map neither simplifies the context, nor the topography, and at the same time, it is NOT a normal French style Michelin® map where roads, highways, byways and freeways are all included – we believe that the visibility of the Camino track can be better appreciated and understood by having fewer extraneous details: LESS BECOMES MORE.
It is an intelligent map primarily aimed for people who have an interest in the pilgrimage routes in northern Spain. For some time now, the writer has identified a significant gap in resources pertaining to the pilgrimage routes of Spain. Certainly, there is no lack of sufficient written information: ranging from opinions, forums, views, attitudes, recounts, blogs (like this one) and all about the Camino de Santiago. However, what is lacking are high quality published maps which are data dependent by not simply being graphic designers’ various impressions.
What one observes consistently in English-speaking websites and blogs are the constant recycling of hand and computer drawn maps, some Google® originating maps, etc. but no new maps, which in turn are GIS (geographic information systems) based data with other cartographical information: all derived mathematically and scientifically. 21st century mapmakers are creative artists who also wear the applied scientific and mathematical hats.
Yes this map is indeed aimed for the POST-PILGRIMAGE market – all those incredible people who have walked the walk through all sorts of challenging weather conditions, day in and day out and would be most captivated by this new product. These post-pilgrim walkers would be most proud to have a framed map of this size hung on a wall in their home. Get your index finger to go along the Camino track: each place mentioned and marked will bring back a flood of memories and associations, allowing the pilgrim to wax lyrical…
This product is a triumph: it will evoke much in the person who has walked the walk.
Camino Downunder will never discriminate against anyone; therefore, whether they have done the Camino or not, anyone can buy this new product.
In the next blog – a number of photos will show this large overview Camino de Santiago map.
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