pilgrimage, or journey for religious purposes - one of the oldest forms of tourism, which has deep historical roots. One of the first tourists were the medieval pilgrims. Religious travel has three main objectives.

The first - and most common - visiting iconic sites for a given religion. Religious people go, or go to places where there were or there are legendary, important events: a lot of pilgrims since time immemorial come to Mecca, Jerusalem, to Golgotha, the Orthodox Church, Vatican City, the largest Buddhist temples.
; In the Middle Ages, people believed that such "centers of faith," their prayers are particularly effective. Associated with the name of a prophet, a saint or a divine sign, these places always have accumulated a lot of pilgrims. For example, today a major center of pilgrimage in France is Lourdes (Lourdes). In the middle of the XIX century, this town in the heart of the Pyrenees was the Autumn Phenomena Mary Bernadette Soubirous in the grotto Massabel.
But not only the world's religions have similar centers. Revived interest in ancient pagan religions encourage people to seek out and ancient temples - Slavic, Celtic. Of course, they are also places of power, memory - and places of pilgrimage.

second goal - healing. Frantic belief that the relics of saints, icons, altars, menhirs, a touch of papal hands have healing power, quench it lives in people. It is difficult to say for sure that it is healed and healing people: an indomitable faith (it - "placebo effect") or the impact of extraterrestrial forces. But facts are facts: cripple rose to his feet, the blind see, the lepers and got rid of the disease.
More important healing invisible - spiritual healing. Atone for sin - or to comprehend the truth under the guidance of a wise teacher, on the east and west of the religious journey in this regard were similar. To become better, wiser, atone for the sins - the person must pass the test. Medieval priests often penance, requiring a pilgrimage, and sometimes ordered to go all the way barefoot or in my shirt.

third goal - a very earthly and human: curiosity. Being an Orthodox Christian, Catholic or atheist, people can still go to Mecca - watch the religious activities. People are trying not just to visit the temple, but to get the service.
Even if it is alien to the religion - but a natural curiosity and thirst for knowledge lead man in the mosque or Buddhist temple, a Catholic convent or Orthodox church. Many diocesan administration introduced in the structure of foreign trade departments, which regulate the pilgrimage.
Not only for believers, but also for ordinary tourists often has a meaning: and if there is where I going, the temple? Often, besides the church in the town there is nothing interesting - but if there is a monastery, a man must linger a while.

C gorge EU ETS and «religious tourism vice versa." Do not guess?

holy relics go on a journey themselves - and their way people come to worship, to look, to ask for help, touch, pray. Thus, the "traveling" icons and relics of saints.
Religious tourism - one of the most elevated forms of tourism. Of course, it is now rarely seen pilgrims barefoot across borders Schengen. But still of interest to the divine, unearthly - to know, see Communion - is very great.