Digital heritage mapping of medieval routes : retracing pilgrimage to Conques through the Liber Miraculorum sanctae Fidis

This study explores the Liber Miraculorum sanctae Fidis, a collection of stories recording the miraculous deeds of St Foy, the patron saint of Conques. It examines the significance of the precise geographical references in the text and analyzes the motivations and perspectives of the multiple authors who compiled the Liber Miraculorum in the eleventh century. By developing a topographical map of the mentioned locations, the study investigates the relationship between the monastic community, their patron saint, and the surrounding lands. It specifically focuses on the northeastern region of Conques and proposes that the emphasis on miracles and the construction of chapels in this area was related to the pilgrimage boom in the mid-eleventh century and served as a strategy to control the arrival route of pilgrims. The study concludes that the Liber Miraculorum and similar sources are valuable for reconstructing medieval pilgrimage routes and discussing their tangible and intangible heritage.