The year 590 trail
The earlier pilgrimage trails
Originally from Leinster in the south-east of Ireland, Saint Columbanus left Bangor Abbey around the age of 50, after 25 years of monastic life, to travel overseas. He settled at the foot of the Vosges mountains in the vicinity of Luxeuil, in eastern France, where he founded his first abbeys. This first great pilgrimage journey passes through Ireland, Great Britain and France, offering the traveller exceptional walking experiences, including a contact with historic places and landscapes, and a wide range of natural environments and scenery.
590 Turas Columbanus, The Columban Way - Ireland
The pilgrimage trail explores many hidden corners of inland Ireland, alternating between mountains, rolling plains, lakes, and rivers, while soaking in Irish history and rich heritage sites.
The stretch of the Via Columbani can be referred to as "Turas Columbanus" in Gaelic, or "The Columban Way" in English.
Details and mapping of the 650 km route can be accessed via the following link:
01. 590 Colomban Way - Ireland
590 The Columban way – Great Britain
His maritime route takes him down the Irish sea, to Cornwall and across it, from north to south. It is an opportunity to discover coastal and inland towns and villages, with its remarkable landscapes and its wild coastline.
This 45km route is accessible through the following link:
590 Chemin de saint Colomban - France
The next part of his journey crosses France from West to East, offering a huge diversity of landscapes, reliefs, historical and cultural heritage sites, to Luxeuil-les-Bains where he successively founded three abbeys on the lands offered by the king.
This 1120km route is divided into three parts that can be traveled separately or successively. They can be accessed through the following links:
04. 590 France (1/3)
05. 590 France (2/3)
06. 590 France (3/3)