The partners of the European ULTREIA SUDOE project, co-financed by the Interreg Sudoe programme, met in Toulouse (France) to advance transnational cooperation around the Camino de Santiago routes.
Over two days of technical meetings and exchange activities, the participating entities shared progress and proposals within the framework of this initiative, whose main objective is to revitalize inland tourism in rural areas linked to the Camino de Santiago routes.
The project is led by the Fundación Camino Lebaniego, with the support and expertise of Spanish entities such as the Association of Municipalities of the French Way of St. James (AMCS), Amica, the Culture, Heritage and Landscape team of the Government of Cantabria, and the Galician public agency S.A. de Xestión do Plan Xacobeo.
The consortium also includes Portuguese partners such as the Municipality of Vila Pouca de Aguiar and NOVA University Lisbon, as well as French representatives from the Agence Française des Chemins de Compostelle.
Project Meeting Held in Toulouse
The meeting, held at the Assézat Palace – Bemberg Foundation, brought together institutions from Spain, France, and Portugal involved in the cultural, tourism, and socio-economic enhancement of the Camino de Santiago routes.
During the event, various reports were presented, including those related to accessibility and inclusivity, and progress was made in planning new international technology workshops scheduled for next year.
In parallel, the development of territorial HUBs has begun. These are conceived as spaces for innovation and citizen participation, and are already being implemented in the towns of Potes, Belorado, Eauze, O Cebreiro, and Vila Pouca de Aguiar.
Work is also progressing on the launch of the “Paradas en el Camino” (Stops along the Way), located in San Vicente de la Barquera, Belorado, Eauze, O Cebreiro, and Vila Pouca de Aguiar. These spaces, both physical and virtual, will allow visitors to taste, purchase, and send local products, as well as access cultural, tourism, environmental, and leisure information—thus helping to energize the territory and enrich the pilgrim experience.
On-the-ground cooperation
On October 21, the agenda included a technical visit to the Camino de Santiago, between the towns of Sainte-Juliette and Lauzerte. The project partners walked this emblematic stretch with the aim of analyzing, on site, the heritage, natural, and tourism resources linked to the Jacobean route. This activity made it possible to directly assess key aspects for the implementation of pilot actions within the ULTREIA SUDOE project, reinforcing the territorial approach and transnational cooperation around the Camino de Santiago.
In the coming days, a group of people with disabilities, together with professionals from Amica, Fundación Camino Lebaniego, and COCEMFE Cantabria, will continue working on the project’s fourth accessibility and inclusivity assessment, this time focused on the area of Eauze.
The meeting concluded with the planning of upcoming milestones, including the 2026 International Seminar, training activities on inclusivity, and the next partners’ meeting, which will take place in Galicia.
Key Challenges and Values of the Project
The ULTREIA SUDOE project aims to strengthen cooperation between territories in Southwestern Europe to improve the management, promotion, and sustainability of the Camino de Santiago routes, which are recognized as World Heritage and serve as a backbone for local development. The project began in 2024 and will run until the end of 2026.
All actions are carried out with respect, awareness, authenticity, sustainability, and a strong commitment to the values of the Camino. In this way, the project seeks to foster more active, dynamic, and resilient rural areas, with greater opportunities for entrepreneurship through local resources and by leveraging the international visibility of the Camino de Santiago.
ULTREIA SUDOE has a total budget of €1,407,300, of which 75% is co-financed by the Interreg SUDOE programme.