People visiting pilgrimage churches often wanted to walk around the church and observe the architecture. After walking down one side aisle, they would walk in front of the altar to amble down the other side aisle. Oftentimes this was disruptive to an ongoing church service. Ambulatories provide a pathway around the back of the altar for visitors to walk across covertly. Pilgrimage churches usually implemented this design to accommodated the large influx of people they anticipated would be walking through the church.
pilgrimage churches, Romanesque style churches built along pilgrimage routes.
walkers
Pilgrimage churches were build following the Romanesque-cross plan containing two arms.
A pilgrimage church is typically shaped like a cross, but the shapes can vary. Pilgrimage churches are frequently located by the graves of saints and are usually built where a miracle had taken place.
The churches along the Way of the Cross route that are significant for pilgrimage and reflection include the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Church of the Flagellation, and the Church of the Condemnation and Imposition of the Cross.
The grotto of Massiabielle is in Lourdes. Just above the grotto is one of the churches there, and there are several other churches very close by.
to accommodate the rising # of visitors
Romanesque, basilica
it added perimeter buildings to house pilgrims
Lourdes is a popular destination.
the helnan ho0tel,, its beautiful
Another popular pilgrimage was the Camino de Santiago in Spain, also known as the Way of St. James. This pilgrimage route has been traveled for over a thousand years by pilgrims seeking the tomb of St. James the Apostle in Santiago de Compostela.