What is the name of the famous medieval pilgrimage route across northern Spain?

The story behind the answer

It’s the medieval network of paths that carried pilgrims across northern Spain to the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, believed to house the relics of St. James the Greater. From the 10th–12th centuries, seekers of penance and indulgences followed routes like the French Way and the Northern Way, all converging on that shrine.

The journey helped knit medieval Europe together: monarchs, towns, and monasteries built bridges, hospitals, and hospices to support travelers, spurring trade, art, and the spread of Romanesque styles. Waymarks such as the scallop shell and yellow arrows still guide modern walkers. Recognized by UNESCO, the route today attracts hundreds of thousands each year for spiritual, cultural, or athletic reasons, continuing a tradition more than a millennium old.