The Way. The Truth. The Life.

El Camino: The Iron Cross

In 2017 Milanka Lachman, President and Founder of 206 Tours, set out on a Pilgrimage on the El Camino trail, like millions of Pilgrims before her.

Here she is with our guide, Javier, the man who has made 206 Tours Pilgrimages “shine” in Western Europe for over 20 years! In the background is the Iron Cross, or “Cruz de Fierro”.  The Iron Cross, is symbolic, as pilgrims leave a rock here, which they either carry from home or pick along the way – they leave it for God to take off their heavy burdens. There is a huge sundial to help pilgrims tell the time of the journey.

The origin of the cross is unknown, some say when the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela was being built, pilgrims were asked to contribute by bringing a stone. It may have been erected to mark the road when it snows, others believe it is just a pile of stones called Montes de Mercurio, erected since Celtic times to mark strategic locations on the roads. There is a chapel dedicated to St. James

See more wonderful photos from the El Camino trail, here!

Make your own Pilgrimage in the Footsteps of St. James!

Find details on our El Camino Walking Pilgrimages, here.